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Laptop Desk - DowelMax

Project by MsDebbieP posted 862 days ago 813 views 3 times favorited 8 comments Add to Favorites Watch
Laptop Desk - DowelMax
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Saturday is my son-in-law’s birthday and this week I made a present for him – twice.

The first one wasn’t “good enough” (we won’t discuss that) and so I chose to make a second one and fix my errors.

Why a laptop desk? He uses a laptop and often sits with it on the couch. I thought it would be nice to have a little desk that he could sit the laptop on while he worked or took a break.

Why walnut? To match the table that I made for my daughter last month.

Process:
I wanted the desk to be about 12” wide and my boards were about 8”, so I had to join two boards together to form the top.

I planed the boards and then ran them through the jointer.

I then let Rick cut them both down to 6” each on the table saw.

I sanded the pieces and then cut them to length, cutting off (2) 12” “legs” from the bottom of each board.
This left my boards to be appropx 2’ in length for the desktop.

Using the DowelMax, I joined the two top pieces together.
I then used the DowelMax on the legs.

Then, I had to reconfigure the DowelMax to clamp along the bottom of the top and to give me a little edge on the side for a handhold. Then, I made the holes, glued the dowels in place and voila. Done.

Well, almost done; Rick is going to take the two gifts to his work and have them sprayed with their choice of finishes. I think they are leaning towards a simple poly finish, although they also prefer the really dark stain.

Next birthday: my Mom’s 80th in Sept (actually… I have 2 birthdays to prepare for.. well 3 really…
my Mom: September 13
my granddaughter: September 13
my son: September 24.

I have to get busy!! Any ideas?? :) (My son’s and granddaughter’s have to travel across the country)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)


8 comments so far

View Bill's profile

Bill

2561 posts in 1059 days


posted 862 days ago

How about some willow boxes – jewelry type boxes. I know you would love to work with that, and Don would give you all kinds of ideas on small boxes. Rumor is he likes boxes….

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14167 posts in 1058 days


posted 862 days ago

a small wooden box!! ingenious
Who doesn’t love a small wooden box.

Good idea.. now to personalize them..
hmmm
My mom quilts.. so it could hold her needles, thread, etc
My granddaughter.. well she’s young and anything can be collected and put in a box!
My son.. hmm computer guy… ah!! EA Games.. he has to have games.. he needs a box to put them in :)
(probably already has one, but it wasn’t made by his Mom!!! :)

Thanks Bill.. It is now on my list of options.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View mot's profile

mot

4903 posts in 934 days


posted 862 days ago

Awesome, Debbie! I like it alot!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7352 posts in 1144 days


posted 862 days ago

Nice thoughtful project, must be a good friend. jockmike.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View Don's profile

Don

2590 posts in 1075 days


posted 862 days ago

Good work, Debbie!

Did I hear a rumor about you making a small box? I just love small wooden boxes!

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14167 posts in 1058 days


posted 862 days ago

thanks everyone :)

yes Don.. there is such a rumour floating around. Haven’t decided yet, though. We’ll see :)

Oh, and Jenn test=drove it today and she says that is so comfortable while sitting on the couch. Tim is going to love it. :)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View woodspar's profile

woodspar

705 posts in 997 days


posted 862 days ago

Well Debbie, I am impressed. I am working on a block of walnut that is really tough, like stone. I know that there certainly are tougher, denser woods, but walnut seems pretty tough as woods go. Nice job!

-- John

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14167 posts in 1058 days


posted 861 days ago

re: Walnut. Yah.. drilling the holes for the dowels, I could really see how hard it was—that and it made the table saw whine.

Thanks :)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

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