Build This LOW COST workstation/desk

[bobg (homestudioguy)]

Hey!
I now have step by step photos on my website as to how I built my VERY LOW COST workstation/desk that houses most of my equipment.
***http://mysite.verizon.net/homestudioguy/index.html***
Recording Magazine has had the photos and my DIY article for about 1.5 years and at this point it doesn't appear that it will be published anytime soon if at all so I'm sharing them on my website as I have had countless numbers of queries from the different forums I "lurk" in .
It can be built for about $80 U.S. (not including rack-rail) or perhaps even less (I used a lot of oak on mine and total cost was about $125 plus the rack-rail kits) and the primary pieces are cut from just ONE piece of 4' X 8' 3/4 inch plywwood.
The photos and the in progresss instructions are on the "Build This Work Station" page.
Once you see the photos, you will see that it is a relatively "easy to build" project and it certainly fits the bill in the low-cost realm. It is definitely not Ethan Allen furniture but it gets the job done.
The unit, as is, fits nicely into a corner (and by doing so brings it's inherent corner placement related phenomenon) but can also be placed against a flat wall giving you space to add floor stand mounted monitors behind it as well as placing them on stands on the workstation as I have done.
The design, with it's Stealth Jet Fighter kind of profile, brings the equipment a little closer in to you thus making it somewhat ergonomic. It provides for a lot of desktop space and can accomodate 24 total rack spaces in the lower "bays" (12 each side).
Of course, someone could take this design and make it a beautiful work of art or just use the basic flat surface, it just depends on your need.
If you have questions, please let me know, otherwise, use the concepts in whatever way you can to help make great music .
Adios!

[drumsound]

Looks good Bob!

[Spark]

Thanks for posting this! I will be building a desk soon and this could be a godsend!

[bobg (homestudioguy)]

Thanks for posting this! I will be building a desk soon and this could be a godsend!

I'm glad it could help.

[Rodgre]

Nice work.

I wish there were more articles and web pages devoted to the Carpentry of Recording. I'm so useless when it comes to woodworking, but I have so many things that I want to build. Give us the step by step if you can.

Tell us how you knew how to construct it. Did you copy another design? Do you have cabinet-making experience? Is it easier than it looks? Can I do it with an X-acto knife, a dremel tool, and some gaffer's tape?

Roger

[bobg (homestudioguy)]

Nice work.
I wish there were more articles and web pages devoted to the Carptentry of Recording.
I'm so useless when it comes to woodworking, but I have so many things that I want to build.
Give us the step by step if you can.
Tell us how you knew how to construct it.
Did you copy another design?
Do you have cabinet-making experience?
Is it easier than it looks?
Can I do it with an X-acto knife, a dremel tool, and some gaffer's tape?
Roger

My experience?
Well, first, my grandfather taught me how to use tools when I was a boy(Thank You Grandpa!). Secondly, my many faceted career life has included time working construction so I have enough knowledege to be dangerous .
Design?
I can't say that I used a design from somewhere else but I will admit that perusing the on-line catalogs of Middle Atlantic Products and other studio furniture manufacturers provided me with a direction based on my own needs.
Conceptually, it's just drawing a square airplane with wings and cutting it out. If you look at the photo on the "Build This Workstation" page that has the actual measurements drawn on the 4X8 sheet of plywood, you will easily see that this desk starts with a 28" X 28" square (fuselage) centered on the top of plywood sheet with "wing" sections coming away from the "fuselage" at 45 degree angles. That very simple design creates the top of the desk.
The rest is just building base supports with 2X4's and finishing it out with fascia and trim.
Step by Step?
I will definitely get the step by step on my website.
Is it easy to build?
That question is best answered based on your skill, experience, and sense of adventure. However, in the bigger scheme of things, I believe that it can be an easy build with a few technical cuts requiring a little time and patience.
Tools?
Power saw, hand saw, screw drivers, tape measure (very very important!) and a sharp pencil, some wrenches, drill and bits, etc.
Gotta go for now.
Thanks!

[Rodgre]

Is it easy to build?
That question is best answered based on your skill, experience, and sense of adventure. However, in the bigger scheme of things, I believe that it can be an easy build with a few technical cuts requiring a little time and patience.
Tools?
Power saw, hand saw, screw drivers, tape measure (very very important!) and a sharp pencil, some wrenches, drill and bits, etc.
[/b]

I think I have all of those tools except for the Patience. I wish I knew what aisle at Home Depot to find that stuff, but after being in there for ten minutes, I usually get so frustrated that I just give up.

Thanks for the info!

Roger

[bobg (homestudioguy)]

I'll get on the "play by play" as soon as I can.

[thesimulacre]

Nice looking desk, homestudioguy! What did you use to ebonize and finish the top, or did you do formica? I like your design as far as desk space goes, because I do not seem to ever have enough, and the monitor stand was a great idea that you seem to have implemented quite well.

Here is another set of bluprints from the desk I recently completed, but you might have to add a jointer, planar, and set of chisels to the list of tools. That and another piece of plywood (or veneered MDF) and 40 board-feet of strong hardwood of your choice for additional materials. On second thought, don't build this desk. I like having the only one.

http://usera.imagecave.com/thesimulacre ... nts1rs.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/thesimulacre ... nts2rs.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/thesimulacre ... nts3rs.JPG
http://usera.imagecave.com/thesimulacre ... nts4rs.JPG

There are a couple of pics of it in action on my myspace page (innerspace not cherry sound) Oh...and Rodgre, the patience is necessary. It took me the better part of a semester to complete mine, but all of that waiting made it that much more satisfying when it was finally finished.

[bobg (homestudioguy)]

Nice looking desk, homestudioguy!
What did you use to ebonize and finish the top, or did you do formica?
I like your design as far as desk space goes, because I do not seem to ever have enough, and the monitor stand was a great idea that you seem to have implemented quite well.

Thanks for sharing your comments and design. Nice!!
I used a Minwax OXBLOOD semi-gloss polyurethane stain on the top and a Minwax black polyurethane on the support sections and the monitor stand sides.
I may have to lower the height of the monitor stand as I now have progressive lenses in my glasses (oh the ravages of aging )

[bobg (homestudioguy)]

now have the Materials List and Tools List on my website.

[bobg (homestudioguy)]

I've added quite a lot of written instruction and am closing in on the finish

[bobg (homestudioguy)]

I am truly amazed and honored.
4000+ folks have visited my site since sharing this DIY project.
Thanks to those who stopped by.

[OneZero]

I think I have all of those tools except for the Patience. I wish I knew what aisle at Home Depot to find that stuff, but after being in there for ten minutes, I usually get so frustrated that I just give up.

Word!

[bobg (homestudioguy)]

I am truly amazed and honored.
4000+ folks have visited my site since sharing this DIY project.
Thanks to those who stopped by.

OK, I lied.
Over 6000 now.
The DIY project was featured on the MAKE-ezine web-blog last month and got hit just under 2000 times in about 3 days and more since then