• Updated 2023-07-12: Hello, Guest! Welcome back, and be sure to check out this follow-up post about our outage a week or so ago.

MacFurniture™ . . .

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
I posted a link to an album of some of the furniture I've been working on in another thread. It was a little premature on my part, but I was trying to help a comrade with apartment/furnishings/collection planning. Nothing's actually finished (so to speak) and won't be completed a/o "finished" until springtime outdoor painting season arrives.

Anyway, here's the link:

http://img141.imageshack.us/g/supportmacslwbasexx.jpg/

BTW, let me know if you have trouble navigating the album, it doesn't seem to work right somehow . . .

Well the album link will be gone soon, as I add the rest of the pics, commentary and HowTo info for anyone interested in building any kind of inexpensive custom shelving unit.

Whatever . . . here's the play by play description of some of the convoluted processes I inevitably wind up going through whenever I try to do a project that ought to be fairly simple and easily accomplished . . .

. . . heh! ::) As Noah said, on Bill Cosby's take on building the Arc . . . Riiiiiggggghhhhhhhhhtttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:)

1) It all started with the MacCoffeeTable™ which is simply the 24" x 48" x 1/2" round-edged, Clear Plexi Top I made to replace the beveled glass top of the Coffee Table I made that's still in my ex's living room back in NYC. It's made from scrap I had in the shop, and was done in order to protect the Rug Rat when he began cruising around the joint. Now it's supported by my 840av and my 8500, which I teamed up almost accidentally when I first moved into my apartment. You can see bits of this in some of the pics, but I need to clean it off and take some shots to post or get the 35mm film developed & CD'd with the 20mm Ultra-Wide Angle perspective.

2) . . . then I started work on what was to be a low workstation at first, with room for a couple of really large prints hanging over it . . . that's the unprimed shelving behind me in the shot where I'm sticking my tongue out at my dad for sneaking in a picture. The shapes of the parts for this first rev are seen in detail the outdoor pics. What's really nice about the unit is that the hot air from the DA, the 950 and the 81/110 are all aimed at the air return vent for my heating/cooling system. In the summer, I leave the fan running all the time so it distributes the waste heat from whatever computer is running and the AC unit's output evenly throughout the apartment, instead of having computers heating up the cool downstairs and having an unbearably hot upstairs.

3) . . . and then, almost as an afterthought, I started the third project to consolidate production: It's now just a low shelf, to protect/surround my 40" CAMMJet from people (and incidentally, to keep people from tripping over its base or banging into the sharp corners or the protruding Toner Cartridges) and to act as my "fireplace" (a bunch of candles) that's supported by my Quadra 700 Trio, specially modified for the task. Piccies to be posted fairly soon of the MiniQuadraFeetsMac™ hacking procedure, which allows a bottom intake vented system to run for more than a few minutes before self-destructing while sitting on carpet. [;)] ]'>

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This low unit was intentionally designed to match the Geek/Chic motif of the MacCoffeeTable™. It's supported on the wide end by a Q950 and a Radius 81/110 with a nifty CD Box sittin' on top to make it match the height of the Q950. The black feets between the bottom shelf and the computers, that you can see in the pics, came off the bottom of the corner media station ($17 from Goodwill [;)] ]'> )The remainder of the unit is supported by 1/2" threaded rod, one of my favorite materials. It's incredible what you can do with some threaded rod, Connecting Nuts and Hex-Head or Carriage Bolts for leveling feets and to cap off the top. I just need to find a local source for 1/2" Flat Head Bolts that I can countersink to avoid the bumps of the carriage bolts.

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Here are a couple of shots of the priming process, they show the rounded shapes of the original components. The material is MDF: Medium Density Fiberboard and this is the first time I've used it. Now I know why my cabinet-maker friend raved about it so much, It cuts really clean with a good sabre/jigsaw blade, it drills/machines and sands very nicely. All of the rounded edges were done sans router, just sandpaper /sanding blocks involved and MDF takes paint like a champ!

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. . . but I then I took it a bit over the top . . . for a change . . . ::)

The whole thing started because I was using my mouse pad on top of the 3 way ADB KVM sitting on top of my 466 DA. You can see the KVM Switch in the pic below, the labeling is color coded as are the cables in the wiring harness from my rolling three-sided workstation in the shop back in the Big Apple.

The curved shelves were designed to allow free swiveling and rocking all the way back in my tan Swivel/Rocking Chair (from Goodwill of course! [;)] ]'>) without knocking into the shelves a/o computers/monitors sitting on them.The depth of the unit was sized to allow one end of the MacCoffeeTable™ to complete the circular Work/PlayStation. The design/prototyping process is apparent anywhere you see blue foam shelves a/o the scrap trimmed off the roughed out shapes in finalizing the depth, width, curvature and chair clearance of the different shelving levels.

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It has now morphed into quite a large MacWallUnit/WorkStation/DisplayWall™ for a bit of my collection. Originally I was going to pull it away from the wall in order to change my air filter. It's still self supporting on its threaded rod columns alone, but I didn't want to pull it away from the wall, so I enlarged the shallow clearance slot, that you can see in the outdoor priming shots, enough that I only have to move whatever Compact Mac replaces the Classic Shell I have in there now and the APD/DuoDock II in order to change the air filter.

In this shot you can see the DuoTiltSwivelBase™ that started out as a way raise the level and angle of the Duo in order to use it on the MacCoffeeTable™ comfortably! This little mod has since been taken over the top! It's to become the basis for a future DuoDock_III_Hack™ utilizing the same leftover 5xxx AIO base (with the top section turned around backwards) from the old MacWasteBasketHack™ which has been trimmed into the wide format WaterLessMacQuariumHack™ that I mentioned a while back. The Duo's RubberSideBumpers hold it snugly between the stiffening ribs of the AIO Base Tilt Section with no modification whatsoever! [:D] ]'>

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Also note that the yellow shelf is the one I was prototyping in blue foam for the orange level in the previous shot. When I decided to take it ALL the way over the top as a Rainbow Apple Logo rip, everything got changed around and I took a bite outta' that one and made up a muuuuch larger/deeper orange level to show off my NASA property tagged Portable at a comfortable standing work height.

In the shot above you can see the changes to the original (unplanned at the time) "purple level" that allow for a Compact Mac to be displayed. Through the empty/backless Classic shell you can see more "purple" changes along with deeper cutout for Air Filter access on the "blue layer" in between the the trackball & Classic..

Here's a shot from over the top of the new-to-me, Mid-Century Modern Recliner/Ottoman combo I snagged at my church's tent/yard sale fund-raiser for just $15. [:D] ]'> It's more comfortable, looks a LOT better and blocks the view of the MacWallUnit/WorkStation/DisplayWall™ so much less than the Swivel Rocker that it's just amazing.

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Note the open/closed views of the very first computer workstation I ever designed and fabricated. It's interesting to note that it's now back to its original configuration, albeit with greatly upgraded electronics:

Commodore 64 -> HP_Mini on the pullout "KBD Drawer" for my first "personally owned" computer, the C64.

15" Sony Trinitron TV w/o Remote Control -> 22" HP 1080p Monitor w/HDMI input.

Commodore 64 FDD -> HP DVD Burner, Belkin Multiple Card Reader and 8 Port Powered USB Hub.

VHS VCR WITH Remote Control -> up-converting DVD Player w/HDMI Output & Remote Control

The Smoked Plexi Door Panels allowed us to channel surf or watch movies, using the VCR Remote Control with the doors closed. Now I can use the work station to watch up-converted DVDs on the 1080p LCD with my Chair tilted back, my feet up on the Ottoman and the doors closed! [:D] ]'>

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Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Here are some of the "in Process" pics, commentary to be added later. [;)] ]'>

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Bunsen

Admin-Witchfinder-General
Love your work big guy.

I'm a little concerned about the support for the top shelf resting on the top of your AFP monitor (as shown at the gallery). I'd be wanting a strip of MDF under that leg to spread the load across the plastic, I reckon, especially if that top shelf is going to house anything weighty.

BTW, you know working MDF is hideously bad for the lungs, right? I've heard it called the "new asbestos".

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
Love your work big guy.
Thanks,comrade, wait until get the 20mm WA shots in the F developed/CD'd, then you can see the whole thing in one shot. [:D] ]'>

I'm a little concerned about the support for the top shelf resting on the top of your AFP monitor (as shown at the gallery).
No worries, mate, that shelf/sag prevention leg was specifically designed to display my NASA Luggable ONLY! My M.E. lil' bro loved that lil' leg and said the load was nopro and overall a great idea. In the shot where you see the blue foam prototype for the orange level and the trimmings, you're actually seeing what became the yellow level after I decided the Portable needed to be displayed prominently at a standing work height. Its Sony shrunk PB100 descendant is displayed right next to it.

BTW, you know working MDF is hideously bad for the lungs, right? I've heard it called the "new asbestos".
I'm VERY leery about ALL particulate matter, especially wood, foam, resinous wood replacements and wood glues. Carpenters were getting "Jointer's Disease" long before asbestos came along as a construction material. [;)] ]'>

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
This might be a relevant KB when making furniture out of macs:http://support.apple.com/kb/TA46754
That's an excellent link, but it seems to relate to monitors sitting on top of horizontally positioned Macs, where spans, monitor base sizes and loadings are serious issues

When boxy Macs are placed vertically, they're sufficiently strong to act as columns. I was collecting Q700's and their '030 precursors for the bottom row of a large shelving unit, with a variety of Mac IIs used for taller sections, mixed in with some Q800 variants and yet more Mini Mac IIs for a multi-level effect.

Of course it was for displaying Macs & PBs, NOT for use as a bookshelf! I'll have to dig up and post some of my old MacStack™ piccies from way back in the day to show the genesis of that notion. [;)] ]'>

 

Mars478

Well-known member
Yep, probably the boxy macs on their side can hold more weight because they have a metal casing inside of them, and it's thicker plastic. At least that's my experience with my IIci's

jt: You should get that checked! Maybe it's a side effect of the MDF Bunsen pointed out!

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
:lol: jt: You should get that checked! Maybe it's a side effect of the MDF Bunsen pointed out!
:lol: NoPro, very large cranial capacity runs in my family!

Then again, it could be attributed to exceedingly thick skulls! :eek:)

When your hat size is special order only at a store named "Lids" you've got a BIG head! ::)

You're right about the thicker plastics running across the lids and bases, that's meant to provide proper support for a monitor when the case is horizontal, so the wider the case, the stronger the "column" for MacFurnitureHacking! [;)] ]'>

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
}:)

. . . as promised, a large continuation and a lot more info has been edited into the "real post" above. [;)] ]'>

. . . more yet to come! :eek:)

 

Bunsen

Admin-Witchfinder-General
the DuoTiltSwivelBase™ / utilizing the same leftover 5xxx AIO base / The Duo's RubberSideBumpers hold it snugly between the stiffening ribs of the AIO Base Tilt Section with no modification whatsoever! [:D] ]'>
That. Is. Genius. 8-o

I love simple hacks like that. Give that puppy its own thread!

When I decided to take it ALL the way over the top as a Rainbow Apple Logo rip
Oh! I see what you did thar :D Nice :D Any thoughts of painting or papering the wall behind to match? Or you prefer to keep it subtle?

 

Trash80toHP_Mini

NIGHT STALKER
the DuoTiltSwivelBase™ / utilizing the same leftover 5xxx AIO base / The Duo's RubberSideBumpers hold it snugly between the stiffening ribs of the AIO Base Tilt Section with no modification whatsoever! [:D] ]'>
That. Is. Genius. 8-o

I love simple hacks like that. Give that puppy its own thread!
[:D] ]'> [;)] ]'>

THX, never fear, it's coming along with the MiniQuadraFeetsMac™ HowTo!

As for the tilt/swivel base, I'm in the middle of sourcing another DuoDock I, then all I'll need to take that puppy ALL THE WAY OVER THE TOP will be another MiniDock! It'll be the DuoDock III™ . . .

. . . when I finish cobbling a whole bunch of goodies together! }:)

When I decided to take it ALL the way over the top as a Rainbow Apple Logo rip
Oh! I see what you did thar :D Nice :D Any thoughts of painting or papering the wall behind to match? Or you prefer to keep it subtle?
Is Platinum or Beige subtle? :eek:)

I'm in the middle of figuring out if I really want to relief carve the template/protoshelf leftovers for the green "level" or to stay with the original plan of contour-slicing more shelves for the green level, dunno, we'll see . . .

It'd be nice to have a little more display room for the smaller peripherals and Apple knick-knacks in my collection . . . :?:

I've got some more in-progress shots ready to upload and graft into the first two posts . . .

. . . they're sort of a work in progress alongside the actual project. [;)] ]'>

 
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