Well, this isn’t fine woodworking by any stretch of the matter. After figuring out the technology I was going to use for the shop computer, I failed to spend alot of time thinking where I was going to put it. I’ve been unhappy with a little inset shelving unit that is above my bench. It’s too small to really hold anything, serving a purpose for another use of my shop space about 10 years ago. In the picture, there is alot of crap stuffed into it, but most of it doesn’t need to be there so removing it is going to provide some shop housekeeping as well.
I took out this cabinet and using some scrap pine and plywood cutoffs that I had in the scrap pile, I built a new cabinet. Instead of it being 4” deep, I made it 8” deep and inset it 6” into a 4” wall (stud plus 1 thickness 1/2” sheetrock) Now, it only sticks into the shop 2 inches, not impeding my workbench yet is deep enough to actually hold stuff. The things that are now in it are things that I use in the shop and like to have access to.
The entire cabinet is literally thrown together with brads and pocket screws, but serves it’s purpose wonderfully.
With the door open, it reveals it’s little secret. You had to know this was coming.
Again, pretty pedestrian woodworking, but this one is all about function and little about form.
Cheers!
Tom
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
14 comments so far
WayneC
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5689 posts in 548 days
posted 346 days ago
It came out great. Very functional. Inspires me to re think my shop.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
TomFran
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2340 posts in 445 days
posted 346 days ago
”The entire cabinet is literally thrown together with brads and pocket screws, but serves it’s purpose wonderfully.” - Tom
What? You mean to tell me you didn’t use all mortise and tenon joinery! I’m ashamed of you ;^D
Just kidding, Tom. I like your common sense approach with this solution.
Great project!
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
MsDebbieP
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11647 posts in 612 days
posted 346 days ago
well done. A great storage unit for a useful tool for your shop :)
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Thos. Angle
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3244 posts in 413 days
posted 346 days ago
Form folloows function and this will function very well, indeed. I’d been wondering how you were going to put the computer in the shop. You said you would quite a while ago if I remember correctly. Looks good, Tom.
Tom
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
Buckskin
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487 posts in 439 days
posted 346 days ago
I will take serviceability over glitz any day. Excellent shelving and cabinet for the computer.
David
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1812 posts in 590 days
posted 346 days ago
Tom -
Your shop computer workstation (SCW) turned out great! What an awesome upgrade.
I am surprised the ole domino wasn’t used in the construction . . . unless of course is is out on the CTS circuit somewhere!
Congratulations! By the way someone has been cleaning up in the shop . . . !
David
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
woodgizmo
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42 posts in 354 days
posted 346 days ago
Isn’t hard to use the mouse once you glue it to the door so it won’t fall when shutting the cabinet <grin>!!!
-- Hard work spotlights the character of people; some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all!
Greg Mitchell
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1372 posts in 520 days
posted 346 days ago
Great job on the media station. Nice to have you computer enclosed. I have taken my laptop into the shop, and it doesn’t take long to get it completely covered in dust. Great idea.
-- Greg Mitchell--Lowell, AR--gdamitchell@sbcglobal.net
mot
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4839 posts in 487 days
posted 346 days ago
Thanks guys. It does the trick. I tried to make it so it didn’t interfere with my front vice either, so when the tray is down I can still used the bench. I just have to find a good way of securing the keyboard. The mouse can just go beside the monitor, but the keyboard should stay in place. I’ll bend a bracket up in the garage to hold it…either that or sling some plumbers tape across it…that would look really special! LOL
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Bob Babcock
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1811 posts in 537 days
posted 346 days ago
Very, very cool. Great use of the space. I wouldn’t sweat the lack of “fine” woodworking. Some things deserve it. Others don’t. I like the idea of using the stud space and the swing down door is a great idea.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
Douglas Bordner
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2467 posts in 515 days
posted 346 days ago
I’m sure the Shopnotes version would have had inlay banding on the keyboard tray, but they make plans for folks with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. You have better things to prettify. Nice work, Tom.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Lee A. Jesberger
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2596 posts in 430 days
posted 346 days ago
Hi Tom;
Nice work in hiding your computer from the dust. Very good use of space, and a shop as clean as mine USED to be.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Dick Cain
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4833 posts in 750 days
posted 346 days ago
Very nice Tom,
I was wondering about how you prevent the cooling fan from sucking up sawdust, or is that not a problem?
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
mot
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4839 posts in 487 days
posted 345 days ago
Hey Dick,
I used a little different method of adding the computer to the shop. There are no cooling fans present. I describe the setup in Part I of the series.
Tom
Oh, and Lee, I cleaned it up for the pictures…it generally is a tripping hazard most of the time.
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)