[Dave10]

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]

 

[Dave10]

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]

Looking like the other desk is negotiable. I can do something with the colors. I may have an idea. I'm letting it cook a bit more.

 

[Dave10]

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]

I think this will do!

 

[Reaperwoodworks]

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]

I think this will do!

- 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?

 

[Dave10]

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]

Here's my final result for this idea: [link]

 

[Dave10]

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:

[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!

 

[SirGareth]

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:

[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.

 

[CJC716]

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:

[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!

I too suffer from a similar issue working with a multitude of USB stick drives, adapters and external hard drives at work. Maybe inset one of the USB hub strips you can find cheap online? Then you could plug them in vertical and they would be secure and easy to grab.

 

[Dave10]

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:

[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!

I too suffer from a similar issue working with a multitude of USB stick drives, adapters and external hard drives at work. Maybe inset one of the USB hub strips you can find cheap online? Then you could plug them in vertical and they would be secure and easy to grab.

- CJC716

The only issue I can see with 'plugging them in' is that some USB drives have a removable cap instead of being retractable. I've seen some that are little dolls or animals. That's why I was thinking towards the 'pigeon hole' approach.

 

[CJC716]

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:

[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!

Very good point. I usually lose the caps for those before the end of the first day so that never crossed my mind. This is quite the impending rabbit hole of design challenges for sure.

I like the 'pigeon hole' design but I know one issue I have always had using round containers for various Thumb Drives and SD readers is that when i have to pull 1 out I always snag a odd-shaped one also on the way out and it drops of me desk or I need the card reader that has sunk to the bottom. This may be a personal dilemma but just a thought.

I will be following your design process for sure though.

 

[Dave10]

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]

 

[Mean_Dean]

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]

Sounds like an interesting project-I'll follow along!

 

[Dave10]

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]

Here's what I did with this idea. [link]

[Fun Fact] The word for 'link' in Esperanto is: ligilo

 

[Dave10]

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!

 

[Texcaster]

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!

Quite a bit here.

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=church+furniture+designs&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=899&site=webhp&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiK3861ioXLAhUk2KYKHZiLCoMQsAQIIA

 

[robscastle]

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!

Dave back in jul Aug 2012 I repaired a Pew and used the existing design from one of the good ends

This is the inished result, the original was Cedar but I was unable to find larg pieces of cedar so used a alt glue up and stained it.

The end is different in texture but matches reasonably well.

The original is on the left and the glue up replicant on the right.

Hope this is of some assistance.

I will be very interested to see your final results as there are certainly lots to choose from.

 

[Dave10]

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!

Pretty much the first thing I do when looking for design ideas is go to a Google image search. Sometimes it's a matter of finding the right words to search with. In this case I'm looking for a bench that would look OK indoors. It doesn't need to look exactly like a pew. It does need a back and a seat with some sort of contour to it for rudimentary comfort. A form is beginning to coalesce in my mind, but I know it will evolve considerably before I build a prototype to show 'Those whose approval is required'.

 

[Dave10]

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!

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!

 

[Dave10]

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]

 

[jimintx]

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]

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.