Sit Down / Standing Desk
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. The Waterlox (low VOC) sealer I used takes about 8hrs to a day between coats and now that I'm done (probably got 10 coats on it all together), I want to let it cure for a week before I assemble the desk. I applied the waterlox as a wipe on, cut 50/50 with paint thinner. It may have gone faster if I had used it full strength, however when I did that on the back of the desktop it turned out too thick and plasticy, The finish I have now just shows some of the grain of the wood, but is too shinny, so I used some synthetic white steel wool on it with water, which seems to have done little, however I read that it will dull over time. Waterlox does sell a satin finish, but I read that some folks have trouble with getting it level, and it is expensive. If the finish is too shinny in a week, I am gonna hit it with the synthetic steel wool again, and maybe try polishing it with some paper bags (read that may work). I also bought some screw in inserts which will let me use machine screws (10-24) to hold the desktop and other components on, rather than use wood screws (makes it easier to break down if I decide to move it). In any case, here are some pics from the (long) process. Unfortunately I did not get pics after each coat, and there were 3 coats of the gel stain (with some light sanding between), and about 10 light coats of Waterlox on the top by the time I got done. I used Minwax on the back, but sanded most of that off and went with 3 coats of gel stain and 2 brushed on coats of full strength Waterlox which looks too glossy. I will add some captions to the pics later (UPDATE 8/8/2014 - pics added of the finished desk).
UPDATE: At this point I would not recommend Waterlox anymore. Aside from the long dry times between coats, I have noticed outgassing for the past few weeks, and finally put the desktop outside where it will remain until it does not stink anymore - or it will become a really nice work bench. I went ahead and bought another GERTON since the other options from Ikea are too weak to support my monitor stand, and I needed something quick. For $80, the GERTON is a really nice solid wood desktop to start with. Right now I have done nothing to the second top, it is basically raw (they put a very light coat of oil on them at the factory). I am looking for a more nose friendly stain / sealer combination than the oil based products and am currently leaning towards the General Finishes water based stains, and one of several natural sealers (though I am still figuring that part out). It sucks to have put so much work into something and then have it look great, but stink (literally). The only silver lining is that there was a lesson learned. I will make a separate page for the 2nd desktop finishing process when I start it.
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. The Waterlox (low VOC) sealer I used takes about 8hrs to a day between coats and now that I'm done (probably got 10 coats on it all together), I want to let it cure for a week before I assemble the desk. I applied the waterlox as a wipe on, cut 50/50 with paint thinner. It may have gone faster if I had used it full strength, however when I did that on the back of the desktop it turned out too thick and plasticy, The finish I have now just shows some of the grain of the wood, but is too shinny, so I used some synthetic white steel wool on it with water, which seems to have done little, however I read that it will dull over time. Waterlox does sell a satin finish, but I read that some folks have trouble with getting it level, and it is expensive. If the finish is too shinny in a week, I am gonna hit it with the synthetic steel wool again, and maybe try polishing it with some paper bags (read that may work). I also bought some screw in inserts which will let me use machine screws (10-24) to hold the desktop and other components on, rather than use wood screws (makes it easier to break down if I decide to move it). In any case, here are some pics from the (long) process. Unfortunately I did not get pics after each coat, and there were 3 coats of the gel stain (with some light sanding between), and about 10 light coats of Waterlox on the top by the time I got done. I used Minwax on the back, but sanded most of that off and went with 3 coats of gel stain and 2 brushed on coats of full strength Waterlox which looks too glossy. I will add some captions to the pics later (UPDATE 8/8/2014 - pics added of the finished desk).
UPDATE: At this point I would not recommend Waterlox anymore. Aside from the long dry times between coats, I have noticed outgassing for the past few weeks, and finally put the desktop outside where it will remain until it does not stink anymore - or it will become a really nice work bench. I went ahead and bought another GERTON since the other options from Ikea are too weak to support my monitor stand, and I needed something quick. For $80, the GERTON is a really nice solid wood desktop to start with. Right now I have done nothing to the second top, it is basically raw (they put a very light coat of oil on them at the factory). I am looking for a more nose friendly stain / sealer combination than the oil based products and am currently leaning towards the General Finishes water based stains, and one of several natural sealers (though I am still figuring that part out). It sucks to have put so much work into something and then have it look great, but stink (literally). The only silver lining is that there was a lesson learned. I will make a separate page for the 2nd desktop finishing process when I start it.
Wires still need some cleaning up. The mount is a dual monitor mount I bought on Craigslist, can't recall the brand, but it is awesome. It is clamped to the back of the desk currently. This is gonna be a great desk, I couldn't a done it without my team though.
