More Repurposing and Junk (PC Desk/Cabinet)

[Larry Buskirk]

Not really a progress report, but then again maybe so.

 

I started checking out the old Oak toilet tank topper that I'll be salvaging the wood from, and it needs a bit more work than I anticipated.

It's another of those found along the highway gets, and it had been found after it probably spent a couple of days out in the rain when I found it.

I wasn't to concerned about the pressboard parts of the cabinet, but the solid Oak parts had also suffered some damage from getting rather soaked.

So for now I'm in the process of regluing some of the seams in the side and top panels which is pretty much all I'll be reusing of this cabinet.

I'm not sure if I ever had the original doors, but I'll be using the door from the "White Clad" cart that I started repairing earlier in this part of the build anyway.

 

So while those parts are sitting in clamps, etc. I decided to get busy with the "Brasso" on the hardware I'll be using.

I may end up owning stock in the "Brasso" Co. by the time I get all of the hardware done.

 

I started with the following two items, which I'm sure some of you will really like. 

I found these a few years ago at an Antique Store a couple miles down the road from me, and can't remember if I paid $5.00, or $10.00 each for them.

They were in a booth that the seller had decided to give up, and had a 50% off sign for everything in his/her booth.

They were both Black as cast iron, and marked as such. This is them after a bit of cleaning up.

I first scrubbed them down with a scrub brush and Dawn dish soap before starting with the "Brasso". 

The one on the left is after the scrubbing, the right one is about half done with the "Brasso"

 

So without further ado, I'll "Bring on the Brass" 

 

 

My neighbor with the Antique Mall is bringing a couple boxes of "Stuff" he has stashed over the years for me to check through to see what other "Goodies" besides those I have stashed over the years to add to the build. I'm still looking for a couple of boxes of "Gas Lamp" parts that I can't remember where I stashed.  I'll find them yet!!

 

That's all for now.

 

Until later. 

 

 

 

[Grandpadave52]

49 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

I started with the following two items, which I'm sure some of you will really like.

Well you had me at the "Brasso..." 

Those are just way cool...you're gonna' have to find a straw hat to wear just to use this old. new 20's 'puter.

[Larry Buskirk]

1 hour ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Well you had me at the "Brasso..." 

Those are just way cool...you're gonna' have to find a straw hat to wear just to use this old. new 20's 'puter.

Dave,

I think a bit further back then that.

 

 

 

[Larry Buskirk]

Anyone care to venture a guess as to what these will become? 

 

[lew]

Not sure what you will use them for but I think they would look awesome holding LEDs to indicate HDD activity 

[Grandpadave52]

Not a clue, but I like them...A LOT!

[Larry Buskirk]

40 minutes ago, lew said:

Not sure what you will use them for but I think they would look awesome holding LEDs to indicate HDD activity 

Lew, 

Nice guess, but I already have a HDD activity indicator. 

23 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Not a clue, but I like them...A LOT!

Dave,

I got those parts from my neighbor the other day, they were in his brass to be scrapped!! 

You know I just couldn't let that happen! 

 

Ok guys, I'll let you know what these will become.

 

What's a "Radio" without speakers? 

[lew]

40 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

What's a "Radio" without speakers?

Too bad you don't have one of these-

[Grandpadave52]

40 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

Ok guys, I'll let you know what these will become.

Thanks...I promise not to tell anyone...

40 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

What's a "Radio" without speakers? 

Kwool!! You know they do may lighted speakers don't you?

[Gunny]

7 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

Thanks Curtis, I always save the plugs, you never know when you might need to plug a hole. 

Exactly!!  Took a page from your book and went with a hammered finish for the electrical conduit and box.  Grey plastic wasn't going to be classy enough!

 

[Larry Buskirk]

On 1/11/2019 at 6:45 PM, lew said:

Too bad you don't have one of these-

Lew, I know where I could get a pair similar to those but the price would be more than I'm tying up in this whole build. They're a bit big for this build, but one never knows what the future holds.

On 1/11/2019 at 6:45 PM, Grandpadave52 said:

Thanks...I promise not to tell anyone...

Kwool!! You know they do may lighted speakers don't you?

Yes I know they make lighted speakers Dave, but I'll have plenty of lights by the time I'm done. I'm accumulating a pretty good supply of Brass for added "Bling" Some of it will house quite a few LED's by the time I'm done.

On 1/11/2019 at 9:26 PM, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Exactly!!  Took a page from your book and went with a hammered finish for the electrical conduit and box.  Grey plastic wasn't going to be classy enough!

 

Thanks Curtis, Hammered paints can really dress up an otherwise drab looking item. I don't throw out anything until the job is done myself, as you will see shortly.

 

Weekend progress report.

 

As I stated above I don't throw out anything until the job is done. Here's a case in point.

Remember the front edge I cut off of the "Ice Box" because of the broken out chunk?

I used the piece to fill in the front edge along the sides of the keyboard/trackball tray. The right side was simply glued back into place, and I used some of the good edge to make a piece for the left side which only required sanding to match the rounded side edge.

 

 

Then I went to work on the upper hutch section of the Desk/Cabinet. First I lined up the side panels by inserting cleats into the shelf dados to see if the side panels were match fitted. They weren't.   One side was almost 3/16" wider than the other, and the curves didn't match either.  

 

 

So I planed the front edges to match, and then hand sanded the curves to also match.

It took me most of yesterday, and part of today to get it good enough for me, but then I'm picky. 

 

 

By the way, the toilet tank topper is now upside down, and mostly inside out from it's original configuration.

The top shelf is turned backwards from it's original position also. 

I just got it fit together a little while ago, as a matter of fact the side clamps are still on as the glue dries.

 

Here's the pile of parts that made up the hutch framework.

The monitor shelf is made from a piece of 1/4" X 5 1/2" piece of solid Oak, and two pieces of 1/2" X 1 1/2" Oak strips, and one piece of 1/4" X 1 1/8" Oak lattice.

 

 

Here's a rear view with the monitor in place.

 

 

I'll be building a back panel chase behind the PC going up to the monitor shelf.

 

Here's a front view of the hutch with the monitor in place. It's still a bit higher then I would have liked, but livable.

It's just above a straight ahead view from sitting on the couch.

 

 

And a view of the top.

 

 

Well that's about all I got done for the weekend.

(Other than finding more Brass to polish )

 

Until next time. 

 

Edited January 14, 2019 by Larry Buskirk

[Grandpadave52]

All is very cool but I'm really loving that radio tuner dial with the green backlight...awesome.

[Larry Buskirk]

Todays progress report.

 

Today I worked on closing up the front part of the rear chase (Behind the PC case) 

These are made from 1/2" X 5 1/2" panels of Oak.

Here is a view of the rear of the PC as it fits into the Desk/Cabinet.

 

 

I still have to fill in across the top, and do some sanding on the side panels, but as you can see I'll have a wiring chase that will hide the behind the PC, monitor, etc.. 

There will then be a 1/4" oak veneered plywood back that will cover the rear of the Desk/Cabinet.

 

That's about it for today.

 

Until tomorrow. 

 

 

[Larry Buskirk]

Todays progress report.

 

Today I accomplished several things on this build. First off I used the part of an old Oak desk that went below the center drawer to make a ledge at the back side of the "Ice Box" top. This ledge will allow me to split the back into sections. Here's a couple views of the part I used.

 

 

And here are a few views of what I did with it. First the top side.

 

 

And now a rear view.

 

 

And a side view, the notch will help fit the following part.

 

 

I then took a look at the toilet tank toppers door frame, and decided to use it for framing the rear of the "Ice Box. 

 

 

It was 4" to wide for the cabinet, so I removed 2" from each side. I then glued the frame back together. I'll be doing like the "White Clad" doors, and paneling the back side with 1/4" Oak veneered plywood that was salvaged from a bookcase my neighbor threw out. I'll be using the same plywood for the back of the hutch also.

 

 

I then went to work on making the supports for the brass "Eastlake" shelf brackets. 

 

 

I still have to make the fillers for the hutch's side panels, but did get the shelf brackets mounted. I'm doing it this way so I can get all of the holes drilled before applying finish to the Desk/Cabinet. Almost all of the brass still needs to be polished, but I'll do that while the wood finish is drying.

 

 

That's about it for today.

 

Until next time. 

 

 

[Grandpadave52]

For a lack of adjectives on my part...very cool. Brackets are perfect.

[Gunny]

14 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Brackets are perfect.

I agree a very nice classy touch!!

[Larry Buskirk]

Yesterday, and todays progress report.

 

Yesterday was our bulk pick up day, so of course I went scrounging for goodies. I didn't find much, but I also went to my storage, and saw my neighbor.

 

First this is what I found for this build.

 

 

I found a pair of these doors from an entertainment center. They are just about the perfect width to make the back panels for the Desk/Cabinet.

I also went to my storage and pulled out a couple of items that I'll be using with the PC/Desk builds.

First off a set of desk drawers. The bottom drawer was being glued at the time I took this photo but is present.

 

 

And a side view.

 

 

This was all I had of this desk, and will serve as a base for these Oak file cabinets that I got from my neighbor at a real good price.

 

 

 

I've got an Oak top from another desk that I'll be cutting down for this storage unit that goes alongside the Desk/Cabinet.

 

I also scrounged through my neighbors, and my brass lamp parts and came up with this. I'll be lighting this up with LED's, the holes in the center ring will get red indicator bezels, and I'll be making up a few marble lens's for the arms etc.

 

 

That will get mounted here.

 

 

As you probably noticed, I've filled in the sides and added a galley rail to fit in with the Nautical theme. I've got more brass to add that will also fit the theme.

I'll be doing a bit of hand cut fret type work to the filled in side panels. 

 

That's all for now.

 

Until later. 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Larry Buskirk

[Grandpadave52]

You hit the salvage lotto today. I'm getting giddy just seeing all the possibilities.

Ya' need a couple really small port holes in the mix somehow...slow pulsing deep blue back-lit.

This whole build is developing drama just like old time suspense radio.

You had me digging through some boxes at a couple flea market the other day to see if I could find anything worthy and "period correct" to add to the mix. Nothing that trip, but I'll keep looking.

[Larry Buskirk]

25 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

You hit the salvage lotto today. I'm getting giddy just seeing all the possibilities.

Ya' need a couple really small port holes in the mix somehow...slow pulsing deep blue back-lit.

This whole build is developing drama just like old time suspense radio.

You had me digging through some boxes at a couple flea market the other day to see if I could find anything worthy and "period correct" to add to the mix. Nothing that trip, but I'll keep looking.

Dave, 

I'll have to see if my neighbor still has the Brass Port Hole mirror with the broken mirror. might make a neat back lit access panel. 

The ornamental lamp was just a pile of brass when I started assembling it. I can hardly wait to see it lit up. 

I'll have to get a photo of the Oak desk chair that I got from my neighbor awhile back. I rescued it before it went into his storage.

It's really old, and needs to have the cane seat replaced, but I hopefully have enough matching caning to redo it. 

It goes really well with the desk build. 

[Larry Buskirk]

On 1/17/2019 at 10:02 PM, Grandpadave52 said:

Ya' need a couple really small port holes in the mix somehow...slow pulsing deep blue back-lit.

Working on that Dave! 

I think you'll get a kick out of what I have in mind. 

 

Progress report for the past week, and a half.

Between the past 3 snowstorms, and cold weather I haven't got a whole lot accomplished but here's what I did get done.

I mounted the back/access door to the hutch section. I decided not to cut this door down, instead I'll be adding to the top of the hutch.

 

Being that this is going more the Sci/Fi route that topper trophy just wasn't Sci/Fi enough. 

So I went through the stockpile of Brass to see what else I might come up with. 

And since I happened to have ran across my set of Cambridge Soundworks 5.1 surround sound speakers. 

I knew I had to add the speaker system to the mix. 

So here's what I've came up with so far...

 

Rear view.

 

 

View from overhead.

 

 

View from front.

 

 

Close up of front center.

 

 

And look what my neighbor came up with. 

 

 

More later.