New Pallet Desk!!

For the past few years I've had a desk in my room for my computer. It worked out well. Metal legs and sides with a glass top and pull out keyboard platform. However, it's started to bug me a little with the fact that it's always smudged up, wiggles around a lot, and is always cluttered because there is no storage. Well that's all about to change. I wanted something sturdier, that had area for me to store things like a normal desk, and was a little bigger as well. So I got started planning.

First thing was first, since I'm kinda cheap I decided to use pallets again for the majority of the sides and top. However, thinking about it and actually putting the slats on the top of the desk and not being able to get it smooth, I decided to go with a couple pine planks. Now keep in mind that this is a nice wood computer desk/ workbench made on a small budget. I could have went out like my girlfriend did and pay $300- $400 for a nice desk, but I just don't have that kind of money sitting around. I got the frame put up the same night I tore the pallets apart. Then next day the sides and top were cut and put on. This is when I realized that I needed something else for the top and went with 3 pine boards jointed together.

 

Even though I took the top slats off the desk, I will be using them to make up a small tabletop workbench for leatherworking and small wood projects.

 

As of this weekend the top has been sanded smooth, the last two front pieces added, the screws were ground off and a notch in the back cut for wires so it's ready for stain

The stain turned out a little darker then I thought it would but overall it turned out well. I added a shelf to it last minute and pla on adding a few more things down the road. 

Fish Tank Stand

 
 
 
 
On my other blog dedicated to my Saltwater tanks (http://darkwrymsreef.blogspot.com/) I put up a page and post showing off the stand that I built for a 20 gallon long tank that can fit up to a 40 gallon breeder. Its made out of pallets except for the 4 4x4's used for the corners.


Frame all put together.

 

Top put on. I had a little bar for a couple nights until I could get back to working on it haha.

 

 

Tops been cut to size and sides have been put on along with the floor on the inside.

 

 

Back support for the shelf has been added.

 

 

The shelf being put in.

 

 

Front pieces are put on.

 

 

Shelf has been finished.

 

 

Doors made, fitted, and attached.

 

 

 

Stained. I thought the stain was going to be darker, but I never tried it out first to see the color.

 

 

Light stand added and stained.

 

 

Semi-finished product.

 Overall you could say that I am happy with how this turned out. There's room for two 5 gallon jugs inside and the shelf is where I keep all my testing equipment as well as rock rubble and plugs for coral frags. I put some deck nails in the sides up top to be able to hang a towel, turkey baster, tongs, and my bag of other fragging equipment. A power strip has been mounted inside so all the cords are tied together and running straight to that strip which keeps them out of the way nice and neat. The top of the light stand still needs to be finished. It'll be boxed in to kinda make both a shelf as well as another little cubby to store things for my tanks. Feel free to add your comments or questions!