Build This Workstation For $80

[homestudioguy]

Well, I've been able to retreive some older low res photos that show step by step how I built my workstation that my equipment resides on.
I have all but one photo uploaded to my website and will start adding written directions as time allows. http://mysite.verizon.net/homestudioguy
(Build This Workstation page)

The workstation (with a Stealth Fighter Jet kind of shape ) can be placed in the corner like mine is or against a flat wall giving you room to place (more) monitors on floor stands behind the "wing" sections.

It is based on using one piece of 3/4 inch 4' X 8' plywood as the top and monitor stand, some 2" X 4"s for legs supports, 4 sections of 16 inch rack rail and lots of screws and bolts plus some basic tools such as a good measuring tape, safety glasses, gloves, power saw, drill, hammer, screw-drivers, etc.

A 3/4 inch 4' x 8' sheet of plywood can run as low as $25-$30 on sale. 8 Ft. 2 X 4's can run $1-2ish depending on quality as well as where and when you buy them. If you have access to scrap piles from construction sites or bargain bin pieces at the lumber supply store, any 36 inch pieces (or longer) of decent 2" X 4" 's will help reduce cost.

The photos are in the "Build This Workstation" section of my website.
I'll get directions copied and pasted into the page as quickly as life will allow

[Bill Furnett]

Pretty dang cool man.

[homestudioguy]

Originally Posted by Bill Furnett

Pretty dang cool man.

Thanks, Bill.
To be honest, I think most will easily grasp the concept of how to build this just by looking at the photos.
One (of many) thing(s) to keep in mind:
If you choose to make rack space in the leg sections, some rack-rail kits require more than a 19" wide space, so be sure to buy your rack rail first and read their instructions before tightening down the leg sections to the top.
I used 16 space rack rail kits, FYI.

[Track Rat]

True enough on the rack rails. I've both made my own out of 3/4" plywood which works surprisingly well and factory made metel ones. The dimensions of the rack rails drives the inside width of the rack. You have to get that right or the gear won't fit.

[homestudioguy]

Thanks, TR!

Here's another line of thought:
If I could have done it over again....

I would have made the middle platform (where AW16G sits) less deep and less wide. However, I built it this way in hopes for a small to medium sized format digital mixer some day to go along with the RADAR 24 - 24-track hard disk system on my wish list .

With the AW16G in mind I also would have made the monitor stand not so high. However. I'll need the extra heighth when I get the mixer which will, of course, have an extensive meter bridge. HA!

If you look closely you will see that I added the cute little corner cuts to the "wing" sections (see the Stealth Fighter Jet design of the overall top section? ) above the rack compartments. They add some nice character and a few extra inches to the "wing" length but it was a bear trying to trim those out. At least a few hundred gray hairs added for each corner The extra trim added to the cost too!

I will most likely be adding a few more holes into the top for cable runs.

I will also be adding sections of PVC pipe underneath to help manage the miles of cable. It adds to the cost but will be a blessing. I currently am using 4 ft. sections of 1.5 inch foam pipe insulation for that. I think using shorter sections of PVC will make things easier to manage.

Nuff for now.

[Hart]

I really like what you've done. It's got my creative juices flowing. Thanks for posting it.

[homestudioguy]

Originally Posted by Hart

I really like what you've done. It's got my creative juices flowing. Thanks for posting it.

Hart,
Thanks for your comments!
Good Luck with your room project too!

[homestudioguy]

R. wrote:
Nice work.
I wish there were more articles and web pages devoted to the Carpentry of Recording.
I'm so useless when it comes to woodworking, but I have so many things that I want to build.
Give us the step by step if you can.
Tell us how you knew how to construct it.
Did you copy another design?
Do you have cabinet-making experience?
Is it easier than it looks?
Can I do it with an X-acto knife, a dremel tool, and some gaffer's tape?
R

My experience?
Well, first, my grandfather had an engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University (C.I.T. back then) and he taught me how to use tools when I was a boy(Thank You Grandpa!). Secondly, my many faceted career life has included time working construction so I have enough knowledege to be dangerous . Thirdly, I have a family so money IS an object of concern when it comes to projects such as this, so keeping the cost down was of primary importance.
Design?
I can't say that I used a design from somewhere else but I will admit that perusing the on-line catalogs of Middle Atlantic Products and other studio furniture manufacturers provided me with a direction based on my own needs.
Conceptually, it's just drawing a square airplane with wings and cutting it out. If you look at the photo on the "Build This Workstation" page that has the actual measurements drawn on the 4X8 sheet of plywood, you will easily see that this desk starts with a 28" X 28" square (fuselage) centered on the plywood sheet with "wing" sections coming away from the "fuselage" at 45 degree angles. That very simple design creates the top of the desk.
The rest is just building base supports with 2X4's and finishing it out with fascia and trim.
Step by Step?
I will definitely get the step by step on my website.
Is it easy to build?
That question is best answered based on your skill, experience, and sense of adventure. However, in the bigger scheme of things, I believe that it can be an easy build with a few technical cuts requiring a little time and patience.
Tools?
Power saw, hand saw, screw drivers, tape measure (very very important!) and a sharp pencil, some wrenches, drill and bits, etc.
Gotta go for now.
Thanks!

[kojdogg]

hey hsg-- i saw this before on your site and, once again, it looks great! i am reworking my own space, but fortunately for my health and the health of those around me, i have come into some deals on some of the prefab stuff and won't have to take up hammer and nail. i think it's awesome and really commendable that you are looking to help out your fellow home recorders out with this stuff man!

[homestudioguy]

Originally Posted by kojdogg

hey hsg-- i saw this before on your site and, once again, it looks great! i am reworking my own space, but fortunately for my health and the health of those around me, i have come into some deals on some of the prefab stuff and won't have to take up hammer and nail. i think it's awesome and really commendable that you are looking to help out your fellow home recorders out with this stuff man!

Thanks, Man!
I appreciate your kindness
By sharing money-saving ideas like this with others, as many do on this forum, it allows us to spend more money on music instruments and recording equipment which allows for better quality music and recording.
Bob G.
FYI-my next project (once I get this one spelled out step by step)will be to share with folks owning TUBE MP style units how to have a sheet-metal shop build a small stand for those units that bring them up and "in-your-face" at a 45 degree angle as opposed to being flat on the table. All it takes is an 18" X 6" $5-$10 piece of sheet metal and whatever labor the sheet-metal shop charges. (My sheet-metal shop charged me $10 to do the bending) More later.

[punkin]

Nicely done!

[homestudioguy]

Originally Posted by punkin

Nicely done!

Thanks!
I've added a few more photos and have started writing instructions.

[homestudioguy]

I have added the Material List and Tool List to my website!!!

[homestudioguy]

I have added quite a bit of written instruction on how to build this $80 workstation on my website and am beginning to see the light at the end of the table
http://mysite.verizon.net/homestudioguy/index.html

[homestudioguy]

FYI, ever since I posted this thread (8/29/2006), I have received almost 4000 hits (about 22 or so shy).
Thanks to those who stopped by.

[homestudioguy]

Originally Posted by homestudioguy

FYI, ever since I posted this thread (8/29/2006), I have received almost 4000 hits (about 22 or so shy).
Thanks to those who stopped by.

Almost 9000.