| Project by SimonSKL | posted 136 days ago | 627 views | 12 times favorited | 15 comments |  |
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This is a fun project and very functional. We all have electronic gadgets (cell phones, PDA, MP3, camera, etc) that need to be charged and ready to go. The problem is keeping them in one place and easily accessible. So I decided to have a built-in gadget station. I found an dead space on a wall close to our exit to the garage.
After putting an opening of 20”x12” in the wall, I proceeded to build this gadget station. It is made of 1/2” MDF. The top compartment is the charging compartment and is wired to provide 4 electrical outlets. To vent any heat generated from the chargers, four 1” holes were drilled at the top. There is an 1” gap in the back to allow power or charge cords be routed. The back partition also hides most of the cords. There are two small drawers to keep things like car keys, wallets, pens, etc. Here is a Sketchup drawing of the gadget station.
You may notice there is a secret compartment in the bottom of the station hidden by a false bottom. To access the secret compartment, the bottom drawer must be removed and the false bottom panel lifted out. The secret compartment is only known to our family (and now to you all :)). The gadget station is conveniently located as we enter and exit the house so we can place my keys and wallet, and charge the cell phones and MP3 players. Since it is a built in, I think it blends in well into the decor and the wall. The whole project took me about 1 week to finish after I cut a hole in the wall and cost about $50, including the electrical supplies.
-- Simon, Danville, IL
15 comments so far
jerryz
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109 posts in 176 days
posted 136 days ago
Nicely done and perfectly executed. I like it.
whitedog
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166 posts in 355 days
posted 136 days ago
wow that is great… that is something every house needs
-- Paul , Calfornia
jm82435
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508 posts in 640 days
posted 136 days ago
good Idea. i think we could all use one of these. Although, I don’t think I have any wall cavities that deep… hmmm
-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...
yosoybyrd
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19 posts in 431 days
posted 136 days ago
great idea
-- William Byrd- WAR EAGLE!
Greg Wurst
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716 posts in 730 days
posted 136 days ago
Great idea and nicely executed. Definitely something to look into. Thanks!
-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.
jockmike2
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7352 posts in 1144 days
posted 136 days ago
Most excellent idea. Clever also.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
deucefour
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80 posts in 152 days
posted 136 days ago
Thats a great idea.
-- "I gotta have more cowbell"--------Bruce Dickinson
Bret
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88 posts in 392 days
posted 136 days ago
I love this. I’m going to have to look for a suitable wall when I get home, though I doubt I’ll be cutting into it just yet. Might tick off the wife. :-)
Thanks for sharing!
-- Bret, Colorado
SimonSKL
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105 posts in 137 days
posted 136 days ago
Bret,
You are just like me. I had to get special permission from my wife to cut that hole in the wall. That was the biggest concern that I had not knowing what was behind the wall and making sure any stud that I was going to remove was not weight bearing. A small pilot hole will be a good idea just to peek in to make sure you don’t have a pipe or electrical conduit behind it.
-- Simon, Danville, IL
a1Jim
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17022 posts in 475 days
posted 136 days ago
Hey simon
nice design and good build
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com
MsDebbieP
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14171 posts in 1058 days
posted 136 days ago
isn’t that brilliant!!!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Mike Gager
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229 posts in 165 days
posted 136 days ago
nice job!
mtkate
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664 posts in 223 days
posted 136 days ago
Clever! It beats tearing down the wall to put in a cabinet!
BTKS
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492 posts in 362 days
posted 136 days ago
I like this, we need one similar in our home. BTKS
Derek Lyons
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266 posts in 466 days
posted 136 days ago
Nicely done.. just might have a spot for one in my place…
-- Derek, Bremerton WA --