I've been working on a standing desk for a couple weeks (since sitting is the new smoking)- well really just the finishing the top. I got a deal on some legs like these. I needed a top, so I bought the birch butcher block top they sell at Ikea, called "GERTON" by those in the blue and yellow shirts.
I've never been good at finishing wood, the best I've done is to just spray with a tinted poly which turns out more like painting. This time I tried the standard Min-Wax "stain" and had disappointing results (surprise). I just can't get Min-Wax to leave enough even color on wood (and I follow the instructions, using the sealer prior to the stain), but I admit I am probably do'in it wrong. Fortunately, the power of teh Internets once again comes to the rescue (thanks Wood Whisperer!). And so it was that I found General Finishes Gel Stains, which will be my new favorite way to stain wood (though I plan to experiment with dyes plus water based gel next time). The gel stains are basically idiot proof, to a degree. Just wipe with the grain and don't leave too much on, and you're good. I actually did have a problem requiring re-sanding back to the wood (due to sanding marks which I missed) - so it's not completely idiot proof, but I'm a special case. Also re-learned the value of good sandpaper. The cheap stuff (*cough* Harbor Freight *cough*) fills up quickly with the finish being removed, or wood dust, etc. However the good stuff (like 3m and Norton brands), have papers which are more "open", so I could use just a couple sheets of each grit on the whole project.
I'm not quite done with this desk, but it will be a couple more days since the sealer needs a good drying time between coats. I'm gonna post it up some pics on the project page next week when it's all done. I can't wait to get rid of my kludged up standing (and sometimes sitting) desk.
UPDATE 9/1/2014: The desk is done (sort of). Unfortunately the Waterlox sealer is still outgassing after a month so it was recently removed to the patio where it will stay until it shapes up. In the mean time I have another GERTON desktop from Ikea which I am deciding on how to finish using more friendly water based stains and sealers. That will be another project though.
This project has got me thinking about another lift desktop that I could put on a standard desk to raise the work surface 20" using both a 10" stroke linear actuator, and the awesome power of a scissor lift. I need something like this for the desk I use most of the time. I've got the design down, but it will cost almost $200 bucks in parts (mostly because I lack the woodworking and/or welding tools to make a strong frame and corner joint necessary - so I'd probably need to use 8020 channel$ for the frame. Aside from the price, I need to make sure this will fit since the mechanism requires space (a bit more than 29"). Below is a pic of the rough design using many off the shelf parts available on Ebay, and a few custom plates which I could make on the mill. This project is not a go yet, I need to get the cost down first.
UPDATE: Pics added here.
I've never been good at finishing wood, the best I've done is to just spray with a tinted poly which turns out more like painting. This time I tried the standard Min-Wax "stain" and had disappointing results (surprise). I just can't get Min-Wax to leave enough even color on wood (and I follow the instructions, using the sealer prior to the stain), but I admit I am probably do'in it wrong. Fortunately, the power of teh Internets once again comes to the rescue (thanks Wood Whisperer!). And so it was that I found General Finishes Gel Stains, which will be my new favorite way to stain wood (though I plan to experiment with dyes plus water based gel next time). The gel stains are basically idiot proof, to a degree. Just wipe with the grain and don't leave too much on, and you're good. I actually did have a problem requiring re-sanding back to the wood (due to sanding marks which I missed) - so it's not completely idiot proof, but I'm a special case. Also re-learned the value of good sandpaper. The cheap stuff (*cough* Harbor Freight *cough*) fills up quickly with the finish being removed, or wood dust, etc. However the good stuff (like 3m and Norton brands), have papers which are more "open", so I could use just a couple sheets of each grit on the whole project.
I'm not quite done with this desk, but it will be a couple more days since the sealer needs a good drying time between coats. I'm gonna post it up some pics on the project page next week when it's all done. I can't wait to get rid of my kludged up standing (and sometimes sitting) desk.
UPDATE 9/1/2014: The desk is done (sort of). Unfortunately the Waterlox sealer is still outgassing after a month so it was recently removed to the patio where it will stay until it shapes up. In the mean time I have another GERTON desktop from Ikea which I am deciding on how to finish using more friendly water based stains and sealers. That will be another project though.
This project has got me thinking about another lift desktop that I could put on a standard desk to raise the work surface 20" using both a 10" stroke linear actuator, and the awesome power of a scissor lift. I need something like this for the desk I use most of the time. I've got the design down, but it will cost almost $200 bucks in parts (mostly because I lack the woodworking and/or welding tools to make a strong frame and corner joint necessary - so I'd probably need to use 8020 channel$ for the frame. Aside from the price, I need to make sure this will fit since the mechanism requires space (a bit more than 29"). Below is a pic of the rough design using many off the shelf parts available on Ebay, and a few custom plates which I could make on the mill. This project is not a go yet, I need to get the cost down first.
UPDATE: Pics added here.
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