Mixer desk build...(turned out nicely)

  • Thread starter Thread starter RawDepth
  • Start date Start date
RawDepth

RawDepth

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Let me know if the pictures are too large for your screen. Maybe I can upload smaller ones.
desk1.jpg


I started with a pair of legs robbed from an old Mackie mixer stand.
I reinforced them a little bit to support more weight and attached them with fat wood screws.
desk2.jpg


All the frame and support pieces are hardwood (Oak) for strength.
The upright ribs (in later pics) and shelves are softer wood for economy.
I used a variety of drywall, deck, wood, and sheet metal screws throughout.
I pre-drilled pilot holes for every last screw (in the entire desk) so no wood would split anywhere.
I decided not to use glue because I may need to disassemble this desk someday to move it through a doorway.
As an alternative I used plenty of screws.
desk3.jpg


The area beneath the mixer remains open for cooling and to accommodate racked equip.
I removed the plastic sides and original wrist support from the mixer so it would have that "built-in" look.
desk4.jpg


I wanted to be able to remove the mixer for service.
If I remove the top shelf from the desk, meter bridge slides up and out,
mixer slides out either forward or rear.
desk5.jpg


All the angles are based on the mixer surface and the tilt angle of the meter bridge.
I provided a handy little inlaid shelf for the mouse and keyboard for the computer DAW.
desk6.jpg


I shaped the end pieces by sawing a few angles and then rounding them off with the power sander.
All visible wood was sanded, primed, and painted with a satiny Latex.
desk7.jpg


The padded arm rest is simply a 2x4 with foam and vinyl upholstery fabric wrapped and stapled,
then screwed to the front shelf from beneath.
desk8.jpg


I wanted my computer monitors to be as low and as close as possible without blocking the mixer meter bridge.
They are bracketed to the shelf so they cannot fall.
desk9.jpg


I even have a row of large hooks across the rear to hold up cables.

There you go! Next, I'll work on upgrading equipment to better quality.

RawDepth
 
How many hours/dollars did you put in on that project?? Looks very clean. Well done.
 
89gtsleeper said:
How many hours/dollars did you put in on that project?? Looks very clean. Well done.
Click to expand...
Yes, inqiring minds want to knw...

Also, how 'bout a picture of the backside? I'm interested in how you have your vid monitors secured to the shelf.
 
Hey RawDepth,

You have done an exceptional job there. I looked at these pictures for 20 minutes admiring your work. I love building all sorts of things myself and to see someone who has put a lot of time and effort into their work is great to see. You should be proud!!!

Well done!! :)
 
Looks really nice!

but I was wondering...how sturdy is it in the middle? esp. with all the stuff in it.

if you would lean or sit on the armrest, would the whole thing collapse?
 
OUTSTANDING! That looks VERY cool and functional.
 
89gtsleeper said:
How many hours/dollars did you put in on that project?? Looks very clean. Well done.
Click to expand...
Well that is hard to say because I didn't really keep track of time or costs.

I worked on it something like 3 or 4 hours in the evenings after work, a little more on weekends. It took me about three weeks overall to finish but, I skipped some of those evenings. I'm guessing it was maybe 12 or 14 days that I actually worked on it. On the last few days, the progress went slower because I was painting.

I already had some of the wood left over from other projects. Those wide shelf boards (I used for upright ribs) are around $20 or $30 each. I have 5 or 6 of those in there. Toss in a few oak 1x4's and some cheap pine 1x6's and you have easily over $200 in wood.

I have a workshop with lots of different screws and brackets and things. I still ran to the hardware store at least 4 or 5 extra times for unforeseen items.

I also used a few quarts of primer and paint. Figure in paint pans, rollers, vinyl, brackets, sandpaper, a broken saw blade or two, and I would estimate that the total cost was somewhere in the vicinity of $300 or $400.

Not bad when you figure that these kinds of desks sell for way over a grand.
 
pdlstl said:
Yes, inqiring minds want to knw...

Also, how 'bout a picture of the backside? I'm interested in how you have your vid monitors secured to the shelf.
Click to expand...
I removed the original plastic monitor stand/pedestal part. (I can always snap them right back on if need be.) These monitors just happened to have four screws in the right places holding the back cover on. I replaced those screws with longer ones so I could attach some angled aluminum. These angled pieces keep the screens lined up nicely. I tweaked the alignment with small washers under the angled aluminum.

Those larger 8" L brackets are steel, screwed down to the shelf. There is a piece of flat aluminum underneath the monitors to raise them up a bit, also shims under the brackets, so the previous pedestal mounts don’t touch the shelf. (I tried to remove them but no way dude, they almost broke. I could not swing them aft very far either. So they stayed.)

The monitors are actually pretty stable.
desk10.jpg
 
Last edited:
Mo-Kay said:
...how sturdy is it in the middle? esp. with all the stuff in it.

if you would lean or sit on the armrest, would the whole thing collapse?
Click to expand...

Well, perhaps I am asking a lot of those little legs. I don't know if it would break. The oak framework seems pretty strong. But the whole thing may teeter forward if someone sat on it. I am considering attaching a narrow metal strap to the wall so that can't happen.

I sort of wanted legs with more strength and stability but this was all that I could find on short notice.

I suppose I need a new rule..."No screwing your girlfriend on the mixer." :D
 
Thanks for all the compliments, everyone. I am very happy with the way it came out. A few of my friends asked me where I bought it.

Cool!!!
 
As my son would say, "That's Tight". Impressive results.
 
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