Scratch Build – In Progress [Scratch Build] 'Completed' Project Ethos & Cube - The Baby Grand

Thanks! Looks like they don't have any for 12mm OD, just 13mm..
Anyway, polished copper pipe is probably going to look awesome in a wood desk

A little hint that might come in handy for you: The pipe bender I used was really crappy quality. So for getting good bends, you need to fill the pipe with sand and close it, and some spray like WD40 can also help getting a nice bend. Have fun!

 

Thanks mate
My brother is a plumber so has all the tools, and expertise.

I will be calling on him to come and do all the bends

 

I really like how it's living up to the name, desk of awesomeness.

 

you should call this desk project awesome man

 

Got a funny shape & I see a little element like a grand piano, very nice.
I recently seen ET's face in another project which was also awesome.

 

Thanks guys

Yup a few people have said its a baby grand piano, I take it as a compliment haha.

 

Bit of an update from today.
Did:
1) Make cover for Blu-Ray drives
2) Mount vandal switches
3) Drilled holes for mobo tray
3) Cut outs for cable from PSU at the back
4) Run network cable under the carpet to link the desk to the TV unit

Designing and thinking of the cover:


Measuring out my idea






Messing with the pumps moving them around for seeing the space




Back to making the Drive cover




Glued together and small nails


Looks nice and covered
We will stain it to match the colour of the desk


Mounting the power and reset switches for both machines


From the back did a larger hole so that we could use the nut


All 4 holes done.
Top 2 for power switches


Bottom 2 switches are slightly smaller and these are reset


Reset switches


Switches fitted from behind


Marking and drilling holes for where the mobo tray fits into




Cut out the back for where the psu and power cables go through
It needs to get sanded down and also another tool to cut it straight (didn't have it on us )




Back cut out for cables for mobo






Network cable run under the carpet, nice flat cable

 

Sorry there hasnt been much of an update.
Life has been hectic!

But here is a small one from last night.

Sanding down the side, getting rid of the filler


Stained the Drive bay cover


Doing mounts for PSU






It actually hold the PSU in really well!




How it will look with the other PSU once I get it


Side is stained, but you can see the join unfortunately.
In person it doesn't look so bad


Screwed down the mounts for Mobo tray




With the tray




Then we had another issue to take care of, my Chair...
I needed to remove the arms, as they were not allowing the chair to slide under the desk fully.
So one would think it would be simple as removing a screw or bold.
But no... This one had an double lock mechanism.
So after some sweat and frustration the head got stripped.

Next thing... Drill it out, as I was over it!






Phew it came off!

After that it was finish fitting the middle rad


Had to counter sink the screws again


All fitted nicely

 

After that we made some little risers for the Res so that they stay above the pumps




Then back to finishing off the staining




After the stain is dry its varnishing time






Even the little risers get the treatment


Last thing we did was to fit the handles for the draws:
Measuring out






All done


That's it for now...
Hopefully do a bit more here and there.

 

Looking great. You haven't finished yet, and I see it's already full of old lighters.

 

Haha well spotted.

Most of them are still full, or half full.

 

A fantastic build log thanks for sharing.

 

Found a bit of time the other night.
Decided I would try laying the Vinyl...
Oh man it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.

Took about 3 and a half hours.

Prep, removing everything form the desk and making space


Rad mounts removed


Sanded down the desk, not much but just so its silky smooth


Put the vinyl over the desk just to make 100% sure its large enough


Did a quick cut out of the corner, thinking I can then just push it up and cut it closer after


Didn't go like I had imagined


Figured out another solution, make a template


Cutting out the vinyl... (In hindsight I should have made a template for the whole desk!)


Fits much better now


Laying it out


Going over the little back part


Not too bad, but unfortunately the wood had a cut mark, which shows in the photo.
It doesn't show in real life unless you look really hard


Carrying on, and going down


Finishing off the bottom section


Cut out for the middle Rad




With Rad cover fitted




And the mess that is perfection!


Next step is to run some black silicon around the edges to make it look finished around the edges, and to fix a few of my balls ups!

That's all for now

 

All that nice stylish and tasteful wood and then...................................... Carbon wrap...

Looks good none the less.

 

Lol so many mixed feelings on the wrap

Oh well, my feeling was I can always peel it off if I don't like it.

But you are also looking at it as it is... It looks way better with the hardware inside too.
And when you step back, the whole desk is wood, just the inside bottom.

Dont forget there is a top still to go on as well

 

The carbon fiber really looks good against the wood, nice choice .

 

So started a bit with the fan assembly and silicone the edges of the desk so it looks better.

I didn't take to many pics while doing the silicone so will finish it first and then show you pics.

But here is a sneak so far:


So anyway got to joining all the fans.
This was my first time ever Soldering... So go easy on me

Cutting fan wires to length




Then joined them up




Just need to shrink wrap around the joins, and put the fan connector on the other side.
Test and should be good to go... Hopefully...

 

So I went back after some advice and removed the extra 2 yellow wires.

This is so that I can get a clean RPM readout on the fan controller.

Also fixed up the solder so it looks better and is cleaner.
Then shrink wrapped the joins.





After that I decided to de-solder the yellow wire from the fans themselves.
Just to keep a clean line.





Next up gotta fit them in place and check the fittings and make sure they work.
Then sleeve them and run the cables around the desk.

 

I was gonna ask about the RPM wires, good thing you fixed it

 

So mate got back and so it was time to get back to the desk.

First things first, to clean up and do another silicone seal around the edges.


Man that Mobo tray needs a bit of a clean, sorry

All prepared!


Measured out to sink in the mobo standoffs




Down she goes!


You can see how deep we are sinking the server standoffs


Cut through the carbon OK


All cleaned and all 6 standoffs in


Tray fitting


Nice!


You can see how close it measures up with the lid on


Silicone re-done


All done


PS. that back wall got another coat of stain last night.
To make it look more even, as it was a bit blotchy when we made the hole cut outs.

That's all for now.
Waiting for my other parts to come into stock!