Desk Build: Monolith - Big Green Powerful Machine!

[Bupalooga]

Hey there peeps!

 

Complete Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/xKauZ#0

(the photos do get better)

 

This log is for my Desk build. I started building in February shortly after the forum was created when I decided I HAD to try be featured on the Livestream. Was originally thinking of building a small cube case from scratch but it didn’t take me long to change to a desk build when I was having trouble drawing up sketches because I didn’t have enough desk space to work on! I built my current desk in high school with built in 2.1 speakers to suit a laptop but is far too cramped for me now days.

 

 

Here is what I'm up too ATM

 

 

Learning of the L3p Desk was the final inspiration to kick me into gear! It was a beautiful piece of art, absolutely impractical for my situation, but beautiful & inspiring none the less.

Through this whole forum iv been inspired and gained knowlege and ideas, from other PC & desk builds, case modding section and everywhere, many of which iv implemented. This is an awesome forum, love this community!

 

The Monolith Has been designed for MY needs. I need more desk space, a fileing cabinet, more drawers and an awesome looking PC! Its also designed to house everything I could ever want in my computer with excessive watercooling along with working space & considerable storage. While I’ve done some modding to my Ute, the only PC modding I’ve done is adding a switch for cathodes to my front panel, haven't even touched custom water cooling in my life. IV delayed posting until now, but I’m confident with my skillz & the help of the forum I will finish this build.

 

I think I’ll be naming it the Monolith for 2 main reasons. 1st its Freeking huge and cumbersome like the Necron Monolith from Dawn of War Dark Crusade but wreck balls when it gets there! DOW-DC was the first Computer game I ever got stuck into as a kid and once built I intend this to be a beast of a machine once funds allow it. Also the intended colour scheme is much like the monolith, Black with epic Green throbbing all through it. I love Green, it’s my favourite colour. =D Monolith also sounds epic!

 

It wont be completed for quite some time with the water cooling coming later down the road. It’s designed to fit two Nexxxos Monsta 480 Rads in push pull & 2 regular 240 rads off the bat along with a few other mounting options. End result will be along the lines of dual GPU's, SSD's, sound card, capture card, all of the ram & everything thoroughly watercooled, and lit up like a stylish Christmas tree. It’s just a matter of cash determining when this happens.

 

I have chosen to build the desk from wood, basically because that’s what I can work with. I’m an apprentice builder and have the tools for woodworking and I want this to be as much done by me as possible, so laser cutting was not a viable option. I’m using MDF because I knew I’d be painting it, it’s cheap, easy to obtain whenever required & easy to work with. It is however heavy, dusty & not the most durable. In hind sight I wish I chose a different timber but I’m soldering on none the less.

 

Here is where im up to ATM. The desk is constructed, just waiting on a few little tings to finish it off and bring it inside from the shed with computer bits (orgasmick computer bits) hopefully ariving this week! So keep tuned!

 

All the photos I take are uploaded to an Imgur album: http://imgur.com/a/xKauZ#0

This includes everything involved in the process that I photograph such as testing, painting, cutting, construction and products. I will post what I feel the most important and relevant on this thread but it’s all there for whoever wants it along with individual photo descriptions. Photos are takes with an IPhone 4 to begin with but from now on with a HTC One. I also intend to borrow a decent camera at some point for some decent shots, maybe even a pro photo shoot once I’m done.

 

 

Le saw bench, Inspited by Linus Ghetto Tips :)

 

The MB tray

 

First construction

 

Rebating

 

Mock up

 

Fan cutouts

 

How the MB tray Fits, cables are layed under the tray.

 

Green stuff will be UV

 

Front pannel cutout & frame constructed

 

 

Power & Led button

 

Cutting in the primer

 

All primed

 

Blaaaaaack

 

Checkerplate back plate for mounting Rads & PSU

 

Constructing drawers

 

 

Fileing Drawer

 

HTC One Begins here...

 

 

Drawers are Fitted. Theyre unpainted because im not sure what colour im going to do them, they can be taken out and painted later.

 

Began setting out drawer faces

 

So this is what im up to so far. This is a few months work so progress is slow. Ill update when iv got a decent chunk more work to showoff.

[everything count to life]

Beautiful amazing woodwork

[PBaines]

Looks great!

 

Good to see more desk bulds coming about

 

Your Filing draw looks exactly like the one I made for my desk ;)

[Bupalooga]

Looks great!

 

Good to see more desk bulds coming about

 

Your Filing draw looks exactly like the one I made for my desk ;)

YES! I was going to use L bracket as runners but after seeing yours the rod looked much better. I hope we can all learn from each other!

[D3SKBUILD]

Nice work so far I look forward to seeing more :) and like you said mate I'm sure all of us that have gone down the desk path can all learn from each others builds

[jamyd0dger]

Looking good mate! keep it up!

[bradscoolio]

Needs to see moar!

[Nicktrance]

Definitely looks interesting :D subbed.

[Swietlix]

Looks fantastic :o

[mjKneafsey]

Looks pretty nice. I like custom desk builds

[Joshua]

Brilliant, what good is a beautiful computer if you haven't a beautiful desk to pair it with? Keep up the good work.

[PBaines]

YES! I was going to use L bracket as runners but after seeing yours the rod looked much better. I hope we can all learn from each other!

 

Yeah, the rod works as a great runner!

 

And yes. Learning from each other is good  ^_^

[Draigon]

Dang, that looks really sweet. Any ideas on painting it?

[Ducman]

Nice  :lol:

[TicTac]

I'm liking these desk builds they look awesome nice job man pumped to see more :P

[joelthezombie15]

I wish i did that. its so cool

[unidentical]

MOAR!!!

 

I love custom desks, I don't even know why, I just wanna get in them drawers. 

[extremescouter]

This build looks amazing. Im looking forward to what it will look like when its done!

[Bupalooga]

OK! So i havnt updated this for like 2 months. Its been incredibly slow progress in my spare time but this will be a reasonably large update. Iv nearly finished the desk construction & painting. I hope to order hardware sometime soon.

 

So i found a slab of laminated pine for the top. Couldnt be bothered joining and finishing planks to make my own. I was at TAFE that day so I cut it to size while i was there. 2010x670

 

Was finally able to pick up my glass too.

 

Bought a Slotting router bit to make the rebate for my front glass to sit into. It was 4mm while the glass 6mm so i had to make 2 passes.

 

Very happy with front window

 

This is how i work once the sun goes down

 

Chamfered around the edges of the drawer faces with the router, used a dremel & sander to chamfer around the front glass because the slot interfered with using the router.

I did hand sand this smoother, just diddnt get a better pic

 

 

Made the work space that slides out on the left but gluing 2 pieces of MDF together to make the right thisckness, chamfered the edges as well.

 

Started working on the slide out workspace. Im finishing it the same as the top with the crackle finish & glass coat so this will work as a practice piece.

Primed it the taped off what i diddnt want green

 

Made it green

 

Under UV light! SWEET!

 

Taped off the chamfers & applied the crackle coat

 

Painted it black with the spray gun.

Imediately afer sprayed

 

10min later, finished reacting. Not the exact pattern i wanted, will have to spray it thicker. Will use the otherside as another practice & will hopefully turn out better.

 

 

Trying it again on the second side. Chamfered the edges, touched up primer, re-taped, greened & crackled the same as the first side. Will spray the black thicker this time.

 

Imediately after spraying

 

After 10min

 

After 20min, Finished! Need only remove tape & black the remaining edge

 

 

GLORY SHOTS!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I Now practiced using the Glass coat. Tried on the bad side first and experimented on how it would act on the chamfers by making it differently.

 

Once you begin mixing the 2 part glass coat you have around 20min to finish pouring & working it. It must be used on a level work space because it self levels and finished a few mm thick and as hard as glass! Touch dry in 12hours & fully cured in 7days.

 

The bad side Glasses Heaps shiney

 

Then the Good side Glassed. Turned out MAAAAAAAAAD!

 

 

So ill add another update soon. Most of the construction & painting is finished now, Will just make another post to fill up to where im up too because this one seems to be very long!

[CoolBeans]

Mighty car mods fan? Also what fans are those .

[Monty007]

looks great!  Love desk builds.

[terrytek]

OMG Love this build so far. Can't wait for more updates. Subbed!  :D

[Bupalooga]

Mighty car mods fan? Also what fans are those .

HAHA Yep!

They're Gelid Wings 120 UV Green

[NinjaStyle013]

Looks epic dude

[crocski]

Coming together nicely