Building a desk

[ependydad]

With our upcoming trip, I need a "proper" workspace. That means space for my laptop, second monitor, ergonomic keyboard, a real mouse and not something that I have to move in order to leave the bedroom for a potty break or lunch or you name it. And, it has to be easy to setup/take down. A decent chair is a must; sitting on the bed isn't an option. And finally, I need a private and quiet workspace.

The bunkhouse wasn't an option because that's the kid's space. (Same holds true if we got a toy hauler with garage- that would still be their room.) The dinette is out because it isn't private. Outside is a no go in the heat and sun glare. The bedroom was the only logical option.

To avoid moving anything, it meant working facing the front of the camper and having my back to the door. This would allow me to leave the room if I've taken the aisle up with desk space.

I decided that I wanted to build on top of the existing dresser. The challenges here- 1) it's only 13" deep and 2) that window is an emergency exit and needs to continue to function.

With my wife's help, we came up with the idea of a shelf with a sliding drawer underneath. That would hold my second monitor on top and laptop underneath. Plus, I could close the laptop and just push the drawer in at the end of my work day. I still found that the desk I'm building has to be deeper to support both monitors side by side.

And, that didn't solve the keyboard mouse/issue. If you've never seen one, an ergo keyboard is split in the middle and they're wide. Like really wide; my keyboard and mouse together are 28" from side to side! So we came up with the idea of that being a flip over portion. (I still need to figure out how to support that, though.)

I carried my equipment out last night and started mocking up ideas.





Once I was happy with that, I drew it up:




Then I loaded up a trio of girls and headed to Home Depot.


In a shocking turn of events, I had 2 amazingly helpful clerks help me out. The guy back in the wood area went above and beyond with cutting boards. He did almost all of the major cutting that I needed. Once home, I mocked it up in wood.


I don't have time or inclination to stain it. I'm waiting on an email back from a friend with a router to hit a handful of sides with one. Hopefully he can squeeze me in tomorrow morning. Otherwise, I'm going to have to go without.

I'll post again once I get the last cuts done and assembly completed more.

[ependydad]

I made good progress tonight. I sanded each piece (the downside to Home Depot doing all of the cuts is that their cuts are very splintery and rough). I got a radius cut into one of the corners. I drilled all of the holes so tomorrow should be a lot of assembly, but not a ton of work. I mounted the drawer slides on the risers. I cut the drawer/shelf (this was too fine of a cut for the HD saw). And mounted the piano hinge for the flip-over keyboard holder.

And now in the "keeping it real" department...

- first, a doofus move. I got my guide and work piece all clamped down and started cutting and realized I never checked for the corner of the table. Doh!

- I cut the danged drawer/shelf 1/2" too wide because I don't read; I skim. The directions said "the drawer should be 1/2" more narrow than cabinet"; I just happened to miss "on each side" because it wrapped to a new line. Shame on me.

- and well, I still haven't verified that my drawer in the dresser underneath is accessible... That could put a major cramp/roadblock on this project. I have to admit- I'm really nervous.

There is still 1 major cut that needs to happen and that is to the table top itself. I'm a little nervous, but should be able to figure it out. AND- I'm hoping a buddy comes through with his router; otherwise, I may have to drive an hour each way to my father-in-law.

[ependydad]

Tonight's pictures...

The drawer slides have consumed me:



And then I was summonsed to see a choreographed show by the girls (decent job, actually!) and then they hit me up for a 10:30 CVS run to get ice cream. CVS was closed, so to the grocery store we went!


And tell me- does this get any better?


It did, power tools!


And then my cutting mistake.



And finally, my drawer goof. From excitement that it was coming together.


To reality that I really do suck at this stuff!

[KateE]

ependydad-That looks great! If you only need to recut one piece of wood for the project, that's not bad. Let us know how it works out with the dresser drawer being able to still function. The girls look pretty happy and well tended to, so you can't be TOO consumed with the project.

[ependydad]

Woohoo! Fixed!



1 more cut and then routing some edges.

[OldCoot]

Ever think about making some sort of wall mount for the big monitor or a removable corner shelf to sit it on?

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Ever think about making some sort of wall mount for the big monitor or a removable corner shelf to sit it on?

Thought about that, but in my list of challenges, I forgot to mention that I have a closet in the corner behind the desk. We keep laundry stuff in there and it gets accessed on a fairly regular basis while I'm setup for work.



The one thing I did think about was an articulated wall mount that would let me adjust the monitor to where I want it. But I wasn't sure about the wall having backers and didn't plan ahead to buy something.

[OldCoot]

Hang it on the wall.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Hang it on the wall.

I think thought about that, but I think on the desk should work just as well. Thanks for the idea, though.

[OldCoot]

Understand, but it clears the desk and you can make the wall mount so the monitor just slips in it and is easily removable for travel. Get creative man!

Picture hangers and cup hooks if nothing else.

[ependydad]

Oh man- you have no idea how creative this is for me! And more so to tackle the idea from start to finish on my own. I'm pretty happy.

Even if I do get periodic doses of humble pie... Like why bother checking my drawing for measurements, I'm sure 13" is correct (on one of the most visible cuts if done wrong!):


I ended up cutting a 1/4" strip to tuck into the back. 2/3 of it freehand because I don't own any clamps deep enough to clamp down my guide. It's not perfect, but I'm MUCH happier:


Or getting lucky that the drawers are still accessible because I didn't check that before designing and building the whole grand plan. Fortunately, that worked out:


And it's always a fun day when I get to bust out my Japanese pull saw:

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by KateE

ependydad-That looks great! If you only need to recut one piece of wood for the project, that's not bad. Let us know how it works out with the dresser drawer being able to still function. The girls look pretty happy and well tended to, so you can't be TOO consumed with the project.

Welp, it was 2. See below. One very visible one was cut too short. I'm too cheap and lazy (our out of time) to go buy another board, so a quarter inch sliver at the back will have to fix me up.

[BamaBob]

Question - do you have a TV in your bedroom? If it is HDMI, you could use it as a monitor.

Also, take a look at this new keyboard. If you touch type, this IS the keyboard you want (I beta tested a pre-production unit and it is awesome!)

https://waytools.com

I have not started the design yet, but I was thinking of making a U-shaped box desktop that would house a mounted 27" monitor. I like your ideas though and will probably shamelessly steal them once we get the Cardinal and I have a idea on how much space I will have to work with

[ependydad]

I do, but it's current placement is too high for use (above the window). The TV mount is high enough that getting the TV out of it is a challenge. AND- with the cable, Roku Stick, there's just too much of a hassle to moving it. I already have the 2nd monitor for my home office desk. It doesn't hurt to carry it along.

I think one of my buddies got in on the Kickstarter for the Waytools keyboard. I need a full-size ergonomic keyboard to be comfortable and not in pain after a few days of work. This desk setup will be used at least 4 days a week and for 10+ hours per day.

I should get this thing assembled tonight (unless my buddy happens to offer to stain it and I'd be a fool to not let him!). I'll post pictures of the final product with equipment in place.

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by ependydad

I do, but it's current placement is too high for use (above the window). The TV mount is high enough that getting the TV out of it is a challenge. AND- with the cable, Roku Stick, there's just too much of a hassle to moving it. I already have the 2nd monitor for my home office desk. It doesn't hurt to carry it along.

I think one of my buddies got in on the Kickstarter for the Waytools keyboard. I need a full-size ergonomic keyboard to be comfortable and not in pain after a few days of work. This desk setup will be used at least 4 days a week and for 10+ hours per day.

I should get this thing assembled tonight (unless my buddy happens to offer to stain it and I'd be a fool to not let him!). I'll post pictures of the final product with equipment in place.

Looking forward to seeing your completed design!! And I will steal shamelessly

[rockfordroo]

Or getting lucky that the drawers are still accessible because I didn't check that before designing and building the whole grand plan.

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good!

[ependydad]

So here's where I'm at. My buddy ruined the main piece while routing it. So I had to run to Home Depot and get a new board; but, that meant I got to fix my cut from earlier properly.

Here it is almost done:


And me pretending to work (har-har how's that differ bet from a normal day?):


And here it is closed up:


I have decided on a simple leg for supporting the keyboard desk. I've bought a pair of dowels and have cut down a piece of 1x4. I'm going to keep it in place on the top with Velcro.

And lastly, for all of the measurements I took- I still messed up and the drawer is running into part of the window hardware. I need to cut a bit out for that to work, but that'll be easy. I've got it marked.

[rockfordroo]

And me pretending to work (har-har how's that differ bet from a normal day?):

I LOVE work. I can sit and watch it for hours!

[Iwritecode]

How tight of a squeeze is it getting out of the chair and then opening the door?

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

How tight of a squeeze is it getting out of the chair and then opening the door?

It's more of a squeeze getting around the chair between the dresser and end of bed. I usually push back, stand up, and then fold the chair before going anywhere.

Otherwise, the door open/closed just fine behind me when I'm seated.