I made a bench shelf / cabinet - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 05:12:40 am
content: It's 3/4" birch plywood, I can sit on the top shelf and it will support my weight. Back is the pegboard for venting, zip-tying wires and some sunlight.

author: kek
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 05:25:23 am
content: Very nice! In the process of figuring out how to handle the extra pieces of gear I've acquired over the past year myself.

author: tyblu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 07:16:00 am
content: Nice work! I like the fitted shelving. I am also finishing up a new workbench, and will post pictures here

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 07:21:36 am
content: me too, i just finished my new bench a few weeks ago, will take some pics tomorrow

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 10:35:21 am
content: nice. benches/racks sold on my local market are sux, they used "dust of wood" (dont know what to call) which glued together to become "recycled wood", once got wet with water, it will bulge and screwed, i prefer diy like this one using true wood, will last for years... and cost very little too.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 10:45:49 am
content: It's called particle board, around here its much cheaper than real wood. So that's the main advantage for using it.There is also MDF (medium density fibreboard) and HDF (high) Which is similar to particle board, it's just better quality and made of much more densely packed particles.You really have to paint all of them as they looks ugly and as you say, if you don't seal them any moisture/water eventually makes them swell up.But for an electronics desk or shelving (where you plan to keep water away from anyway) painted MDF or HDF is fine I reckon. Unless you really want to spend extra for real wood to have the polyurethane or stained wood look.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 11:02:42 am
content: Quote from: Psi on January 16, 2011, 10:45:49 amso there is no advantage around here, except you dont have to build a thing and it a little bit looks nicer. by true wood diy, it will cost me just a fraction like 1/5 or 1/3 (for a bigger unit) or worst the same cost (for smaller unit) as the particle board unit sold. but the durability is like earth and heaven. i guess Q&C and standard here is not so good, or very poor, the sealing, nailing/stapling, strength etc. it will tear into 2 or break if you try to sit on it.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 11:28:01 am
content: yeah cheap partical board is pretty useless like that, i normally pay a little more and get MDF/HDF, it's so much better than normal partical board.From memory, when i last got some wood, a sheet of MDF about 1800 x 600 x 15 mm was around NZ$20 but a similar size in real wood was around $80 (though im not sure what type of wood that was)

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 04:29:03 pm
content: Wartex, good job. It's nice to see real rabbeted joinery for the shelves. Most folks take an easier route, and the shelves fail much sooner than they should.It's funny, so many of us are building new benches all at the same time. Inspired by the WOTW segment on AmpHour perhaps?I'm doing a TOTAL overhaul of my shop, and after many years of using cast-off desks and tables for benches, I'm finally building a -REAL- electronics bench. Like everyone else I'll post pics when appropriate.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 04:49:21 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on January 16, 2011, 11:02:42 amMDF will actually sag under it's own weight over time if used as a shelf with no middle support, it creates a ton of dust when you cut it. Here in north america they use it for door and window trim, cabinetry, doors, shelving etc. Did I mention the glue that holds the dust is toxic?Thick quality plywood is the way to go. I can stain and varnish mine and it will be piano-finish hard, and where you see the layers on edges, you can stick a wooden strip that's sold in rolls and it will look like wooden furniture. I bought a 8 x 4 feet (240 x 120 cm) plywood for $37 USD. Cordless track saw is $1000 and the router is $300

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 05:12:50 pm
content: My desk is made from 25mm MDF with a timber stain. No storage.The opposite wall is all bookshelves with various storage containers in them - and a few books

author: JohnS_AZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2011, 05:21:00 pm
content: I've pretty much stopped using MDF/HDF/OSB for anything. It's fine for light loads, but I'll build a work table or shelving thinking it'll see light duty, and then I need to set an engine block on it or something. The base of my bench is all solid lumber, and the top is two laid up pieces of 3/4" ply.Hey Wartex, you didn't do the obligatory "identify the test equip. on your bench" post.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2011, 03:32:00 am
content: and another thing to mention, is that by diy, we can make the dimension to be perfectly fit of what our lab already is, and also perfect for our purpose and liking.

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2011, 02:36:07 pm
content: mdf can be very strong if properly braced...the structure in the photo below is 100% mdf. it was sanded, sealed, then sprayed gts blue. suspended by steel cables.-sj

author: tyblu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2011, 02:51:22 pm
content: Quote from: sonicj on January 17, 2011, 02:36:07 pmIs it braced, then? Wouldn't expect it to hold more than 200lbs, if not.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2011, 03:24:33 pm
content: Quote from: GeoffS on January 16, 2011, 05:12:50 pmyou can see the brace under the lamp. Take it off and get on your table, see what happens

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2011, 03:29:57 pm
content: now i remember, maybe this mdf or hdf stuff is usually used as car's speaker enclosure. my bro got alot of it, and yes it is harder than the particle i was talking about. gotta meet him sometime to ask for the price.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2011, 03:51:09 pm
content: Quote from: shafri on January 17, 2011, 03:29:57 pmyes, pretty much every time.

author: Longhair
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2011, 04:32:45 pm
content: Looks nice.Are you planning on staining it to make the grain pop

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 18, 2011, 12:07:08 am
content: Quote from: Wartex on January 17, 2011, 03:24:33 pmThe desk is cantilevered out from the wall so I didn't have to have legs at the front to get in the way. Without these supports, of course it will fall down.It's been up to the job for anything I've needed to put on it. I didn't design it to be sat on, I've got chairs for thatThe workbench I have for my lathe is MUCH stronger and not a piece of MDF in sight.