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18K views 56 replies 15 participants last post by  Dave10 
#1 ·
Thoughts on an Adjustable Standing Desk

I've got a challenging project coming up for my church. The new preschool director has asked for a stand up computer desk. I was going to build something similar to the one I built previously for the church secretary [link], but more square instead of angled. Now I'm thinking I want to make this project:

a) mounted to the wall, (like the other one)
b) able to be lowered somewhat easily for those who don't want to stand up. The computer there might be used by others during vacation, sick days, etc.
c) similar in appearance to the 'other one'

In my mind I'm kicking around ideas of how to accomplish these goals. One idea is to mount a sort of spine to the wall, and have the desk travel up and down it on a sort of socket. Ideas for making it stay put include a hole and peg configuration, some sort of ratchet system where the desk can be, say tilted up to move it up or down, or … something else.

I'm not finding anything like what I'm imagining, at least not made of wood. I guess I'm breaking new ground here.

EDIT: Here's my final result for this idea: [link]
 
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#4 ·
I think this will do!

Furniture Shelf Output device Shelving Rectangle


- Dave Rutan
Whoa! I like that one! Curious how cord management would be in there. What about maybe finding an old drill press on Craigslist or something that has an adjustable table. Maybe incorporate that somehow into the design and use that to raise/lower the work station?
 

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#6 ·
USB Stick Caddy

I'm creating this series to help record and mull over ideas for future projects. As usual, input, comments and questions are welcome. It might be interesting to see how many of these eventually become projects.

I have my share of those USB memory sticks. There are two places that I keep them, my night stand drawer and on the end table where I keep my laptop. I keep thinking that there ought to be something that I could make to hold all these USB sticks so that they don't get lost. One problem is that they vary in size and design, anything from the size of a AA battery to a Bic lighter (and larger in any of the 3 dimensions).

Since the idea is to keep the sticks at hand, anything with a drawer or a lid might be out of the running, except if ultimate neatness is the true necessity. I also want to keep them separated because piling them in a box just adds to the difficulty of finding the one you need.

So far I'm considering something like this:

Tool Wood Natural material Hand tool Metal


[EDIT] I grabbed the picture above from the internet. I have in no way put tool to wood regarding this idea.

OK, so here's another tack on this problem: A picture cube where the empty interior is divided for this purpose. A lid could then be added when ultimate neatness is required. Hmm… keep thinking… Better idea will come!
 

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#7 ·
USB Stick Caddy

I'm creating this series to help record and mull over ideas for future projects. As usual, input, comments and questions are welcome. It might be interesting to see how many of these eventually become projects.

I have my share of those USB memory sticks. There are two places that I keep them, my night stand drawer and on the end table where I keep my laptop. I keep thinking that there ought to be something that I could make to hold all these USB sticks so that they don't get lost. One problem is that they vary in size and design, anything from the size of a AA battery to a Bic lighter (and larger in any of the 3 dimensions).

Since the idea is to keep the sticks at hand, anything with a drawer or a lid might be out of the running, except if ultimate neatness is the true necessity. I also want to keep them separated because piling them in a box just adds to the difficulty of finding the one you need.

So far I'm considering something like this:

Tool Wood Natural material Hand tool Metal


[EDIT] I grabbed the picture above from the internet. I have in no way put tool to wood regarding this idea.

OK, so here's another tack on this problem: A picture cube where the empty interior is divided for this purpose. A lid could then be added when ultimate neatness is required. Hmm… keep thinking… Better idea will come!
An interesting idea, Dave. I have thumb drives, sd cards and adapters in my computer desk drawer. Having a drawer insert to hold these devices at the ready, but without cluttering up my desk top would be ideal.
 

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#11 ·
Coaster Caddy/Stand

The other day I was sitting at the conference room table I made for my church. Our pastor loves it and always has some small piece of statuary on it. He also has a small pile of cheap coasters behind the statuary.

The thought occurred to me to build a sort of small stand that the statue could rest on and would also hold coasters in such a way that they wouldn't just be a pile of coasters. I'm getting an image of an octagonal sandwich with the coasters as the filling. An octagon shape would go well with the table since it has clipped corners. Let's see if I come up with something cool enough.

EDIT: Here's what I did with this idea. [link]
 
#14 ·
Broken Pews That Need Replacing

Our church has a pair of 12 foot long pews in the narthex (foyer). They are breaking apart and cannot be easily repaired. For a while I've been trying to think of a bench design that would be simple, sturdy and good for the indoors. I know I can't build a 12 foot long bench. I just don't have the ability to transport the wood, nor the finished bench. I figure I could build 6 foot benches, but the big question is what to make them look like?

Anyone out there have ideas? Photos are always helpful.

[EDIT] This has become a moot point. The church got some free reception are type chairs this week for free! The good news is that I get the pews for wood!
 
#19 ·
Charging Station

My wife has requested a charging station for our personal electronics. I've been thinking about this for a while, but now she has requested it as a Mother's Day gift, (though it doesn't have to be finished by then.)

What we have in mind is a sort of 'place' that the electronics can live on as well as be charged as needed. We have two laptops, two iphones, an ipod, an ipad and my Nook. a nice add on would be a place to keep earbuds and memory sticks.

I haven't found anything that grabs my interest on Google images. Right now I'm picturing a stand to hold two laptops vertically with 'something' between them for the other devices between them, everything being held together as a unit.

I'll have to run the preliminary design past the wife, but in the meantime I'm thinking, thinking, thinking…

[EDIT] See posts below about design changes.

[EDIT] The finished project is posted here. [link]
 
#20 ·
I'm actually useless on this, and don't have any good input. In our place, we tend to have a place for each item. That place is either selected, or has evolved, because it makes that device most convenient. A central station would be counter to the individual device usage and convenience approach. I am going to be interested to see what ideas this topic generates.
 
#28 ·
They've rearranged the office

A while ago I made a customized shelf/desk for my church's office, and some time later I made this spine desk which is a knock off of a commercially available one. (You can click on the photos below to see the project page for each one.)

Computer Personal computer Table Furniture Computer monitor


Computer Table Computer desk Personal computer Furniture


But now they've rearranged the office and instead of the spine desk, that person wants a booster desk to go on her desktop. Plus the person I made the shelf/desk for wants something else as well. I don't mind the changing needs in an office, it's sort of normal after all. I like the new way things are rearranged too, and it makes me feel needed.

So because of this rearrangement I'll have to relocate the spine desk, build two shelves, remove the shelf/desk (I think, it might still be good as a shelf), and design and build a desktop standing desk with a coolness factor. (The coolness factor is my requirement, not the user's.)

I'll built the two shelves in the same style as the tables of the spine desk. I've gotten many compliments on it. I'll be relocating the spine desk to the person's desk who previously used the shelf/desk, so at least it will continue to be used.

My great challenge is to design the new desktopper. It needs to be convertible in case, for example, the user breaks a leg and has to sit at the desk, but basically it will always be in the raised position. I already have an idea for it. I want it to also have a resemblance to the shelves I'm to build and the tables of the spine desk. I'll definitely have to do a mock-up to check a few design features. Wish me luck.
 

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#29 ·
They've rearranged the office

A while ago I made a customized shelf/desk for my church's office, and some time later I made this spine desk which is a knock off of a commercially available one. (You can click on the photos below to see the project page for each one.)

Computer Personal computer Table Furniture Computer monitor


Computer Table Computer desk Personal computer Furniture


But now they've rearranged the office and instead of the spine desk, that person wants a booster desk to go on her desktop. Plus the person I made the shelf/desk for wants something else as well. I don't mind the changing needs in an office, it's sort of normal after all. I like the new way things are rearranged too, and it makes me feel needed.

So because of this rearrangement I'll have to relocate the spine desk, build two shelves, remove the shelf/desk (I think, it might still be good as a shelf), and design and build a desktop standing desk with a coolness factor. (The coolness factor is my requirement, not the user's.)

I'll built the two shelves in the same style as the tables of the spine desk. I've gotten many compliments on it. I'll be relocating the spine desk to the person's desk who previously used the shelf/desk, so at least it will continue to be used.

My great challenge is to design the new desktopper. It needs to be convertible in case, for example, the user breaks a leg and has to sit at the desk, but basically it will always be in the raised position. I already have an idea for it. I want it to also have a resemblance to the shelves I'm to build and the tables of the spine desk. I'll definitely have to do a mock-up to check a few design features. Wish me luck.
Well, projects should always have a "coolness" factor!

I'm curious to see what you come up with, so I'll keep an eye on this project.
 

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#30 ·
Luthier toolbox

The rumors of my demise have been exaggerated. Between starting to learn this new job, mostly from home, and running my daughter back and forth to concert rehearsals, I've had little time to do much aside from gearing up to repair instruments. Which brings me to the title of this post.

Right now these tools are living in a shoebox, both the ones I'm using and the ones I anticipate needing in the future. I've been thinking about what kind of tool box I could build to house these tools and keep them accessible. I think it will end up being briefcase size, but smaller is better. It was suggested I go with tool rolls, but then I have to lay them out somewhere. I will also need spaces to store common parts like bridges, fine tuners, tuning pegs, etc. I'm almost thinking that stacked trays of tools would work, but I'm also thinking a sort of fold out mini tool rack might work. Maybe a sort of tackle box on steroids, except that it needs to be portable.
 
#40 ·
Short list for future projects

Taking a break from wood projects is making me itchy. I've got a short list of things I wamnt/need to build soon.

Cajon - Yes, another one. It's a probable comission piece though, so it'll bring in a few dollars at least.

Cases/boxes for a set of lutherie tools that I bought. The kind I cannot make myself=they cost money=I'm making a case to keep them safe/together. A tool with a home has a place to be found when you need it.

I want to build a string instrument. Either a teardrop fiddle, or a panjo.

I also want to build another dulcimer. Once my daughter heads off to college, my wife is planning on joining a local dulcimer playing group. I'm anticipating someone asking her about her dulcimer and wanting one. I'd rather have one on hand ready to trade for money than to have to scurry around and make one for an order. Obviously I won't be doing custom work, but selling whatever I make.

This list doesn't include items I will HAVE to make verses the ones I WANT to make.
 
#42 ·
Coming soon... (sadness)

Bird Vertebrate Pet supply Parrot Line


Well, I know a project I'll be making pretty soon. My daughter's parakeet, Gilligan, who I think of as my little birdie grandson is dying. He's 11 years old and likely has a tumor that is affecting his breathing. His discomfort is also affecting his appetite, so it won't be long.

I'll be making a box for him from mohagany.
 

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#43 ·
Coming soon... (sadness)

Bird Vertebrate Pet supply Parrot Line


Well, I know a project I'll be making pretty soon. My daughter's parakeet, Gilligan, who I think of as my little birdie grandson is dying. He's 11 years old and likely has a tumor that is affecting his breathing. His discomfort is also affecting his appetite, so it won't be long.

I'll be making a box for him from mohagany.
Oh no, poor Gilligan. Saying a prayer for peace for you all, Dave.
 

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#45 ·
Workbench Vise Location

In the next few weeks I'll be building a small workbench to use at work. I'm currently using a fold-away table saw stand (not the table saw itself) with a sort of cradle to hold up double basses and cellos to perform certain repairs because it is lower than the high work table I typically use.

I'll be building a somewhat traditional style bench about 33 inches high. I want to put a vise on the face and one on the end to use with dog holes. The thing is, as I currently use my space, putting the end vise on the left would be most convenient, so I'd put the face vise on the right end of the bench. This feels correct to me BUT most of the traditional benches I see pictures of have vises on the opposite sides/ends from what I'm thinking.

Is there a real reason behind why other benches are opposite of what I feel I need?
 
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