**COMPLETED** Project Ebony (Full custom cabinet/desk, gaming build)

[DocShay]

Welcome to my build log! I have a plethora of information to post - So i'll try and break it down into sections encase people are only interested in specific parts of this build!

 

Just for the record, I have ZERO prior experience with hardly any wood working or finishing. Everything i've done so far i've bought the right tools for, used youtube/google and a few friends to help me with this. I am in no way shape or form "experienced". (Which is also why this has taken so long, and a tonne of fun!)

 

Concept:

One thing that has annoyed me for years has always been a desk. I've gone through many. None of them perfect, or the right size, shape, color - So that's really what inspired me to do this I have a "nook" in my office, that I wanted a perfect fit desk. On top of that, I wanted a glass panel through the top of the desk, into the cabinet to see the pc hardware. I disliked having a tower on the desk, to see the hardware, and having it on the floor wasn't much of a step up. I like things "flush".

 

Overview of the desk:

I really like dark themes and wanted blend well with my office color (dark grey). So I wanted black, or close to - I also realized if I just painted the desk - I would loose any detail of the wood grain. Sounded pretty boring. So I went with a wood dye (Not the same as stain), I could make it really dark and still see the wood grain. The color is called Ebony.

2 cabinets, one for dedicated pc hardware, one for storage.

The cabinet with the pc hardware to display would have a hole cut through its top, as well as the table top - a piece of glass would then be put in.

I decided to use a high gloss oil based finish on the cabinets, and am going with a crystal clear epoxy resin for the table top. Durable, gives that "wet" look, and just over all looks incredible. Doing so also seals the window in, and covers over it.

I also wanted no wires shown, so several "disk wire grommets" would be drilled into the desk to hide monitor, speaker and peripheral cables. They would route down to the back of the desk along a wood fixture, then into outlets/back of pc cabinet.

 

As for the pc hardware cabinet. I created a shelf with "risers" that would affix a plexi-glass motherboard mount. The motherboard would then mount to that. There is also a large square cut out beneat the motherboard, where I could route cables to the bottom of the cabinet, where the hard drive enclosure and power supply would live.

 

Overview of PC components:

Intel i5-6600k (Not purchased yet) 

16gb or 32gb DDR4 (Likely Corsair Vengeance LPX) (Have not decided yet on amount)

Asus Maximum VIII Hero mobo (Not purchased yet)

Asus 980ti STRIX (Not purchased yet)

 

Corsair RM750i 750W power supply (Quiet, only turns on when certain heat/power is outputted)

Dark Rock Pro 3 cpu cooler (Best aesthetically pleasing to me to go with the color scheme, also very quiet)

Hardrrives, salvaging from current PC (1.5tb WD, 1tb WD, 80gb SSD, 120gb SSD)

 

Fans: 5x Noctua Industrial ppc 140mm PWM fans. Building my own desk gave me the ability to make room for whatever I wanted! I also used "CabCool" cabinet mounting brackets.

Dust filter: Used sized DEMCI Filter. Since putting 3x 140mm fans side by side (with fan mounting brackets) - I had to get a custom one done up. Currently being shipped!

Cables - Purple braided from Dazmode 

 

Current progress: Cabinets/table on the finishing point. Oil sealant has been put on cabinets, waiting to put on more coats + sanding. Table top epoxy is on route.

 

Pictures! 

 

 

Wood! I'll take 3 please.

 

Pc-mail! Mobo mount (HDD mounts came in too, not in picture)

 

Haha "Fan-Mail!"

 

Power-mail!

 

Time to learn how to use a table saw. With the help of doberman.

 

Aha! I make box.

 

Aha! I make TWO boxes, and a table top!

 

Edge-banding. The new thing I hate to do. 

 

That PC ain't gunna cool itself! 3x140mm intakes...2x140mm exhaust - Hope thats enough!

 

Ah, I guess the power supply needs to breath too! (Note: I cut an exhaust/power cable hole in the back of the cabinet for it as well)

 

Hmm, how much CPU cooler clearance do I have...and what will my cable routing look like.

 

Holes are DONE! Time to order a window....

 

Tonnes of clearance! If I fits I sits!

 

Color test

 

Get DYED!

 

 

PURPLE CABLES! Loving my "purple/black" theme I got going!

 

Heres my "test peice" again, this time with high gloss finish

 

Few notes: It is VERY, VERY hard to get a good "real life" photo of how the color looks. Also keep in mind there is no gloss finish, or epoxy on any of these in photos yet. The camera makes it almost look like spray paint - but it's not. You can see a lot more wood-grain and detail in person.

 

Anyway thats it for now, more sanding/clear coating to do, few more parts to order - and the step that frightens me most - The epoxy!

 

Doc

[c_marriott]

I really look forward to seeing how this turns out!

[DocShay]

Minor update: The epoxy company screwed up my order, and didnt email me to tell me it was out of stock. Found a new retailer of the epoxy I want. Also received a power cable to turn the pc on - however, as I found out the Asus VIII has a power button built into the mobo. Oh well, only 99cent off ebay wasted.

[DocShay]

More and more coats of varnish and sanding...this is very unenjoyable! Can't wait for this step to be done!

[DocShay]

Alright another update!

 

Finished my last laqur finish on everything - Just need to wait a few days for it to fully cure before I can polish it to glass-like smoothness and glossyness!

 

Still waiting for my epoxy in the mail for the table top. Build *should* be completed in my guess, 2 weeks.

 

Also - How does one filter 3x140mm fans, in their cabcooler mounts? Well, DEMCIFilter built me a custom sized one! This thing is MASSIVE! (553mm x 182mm or 7.2" x 21.7")

 

 

Just needs polishing!

 

 

This thing is massive!

 

 

Seriously, fridge-size reference - It's enormous! 

[DocShay]

Update time! Some big progress!

 

Cabinets are FINISHED. 7 coats of sealant on the exterior peices, wet sanded 800-2000grit followed by using an electric buffer and polishing compound, then wax! Glossy and smooth as glass!

Pictures are really hard to take good ones - I think its due to the glossyness, mixed in with the dark wood grain etc.

Got my window (2nd one, I ordered 3/4" the first time by mistake - oops!)

Picked up all my hardware - did a "test run" to make sure everything fit!

 

All thats left is the table top epoxy, install fans to the cabinets, setup/cable routing!

 

Okay, picture time!

 

 

Ever get the feeling you ordered the wrong thickness of glass? (3/4" instead of 1/4" - The glass is supposed to sit about 1mm lower then the table, not 1/2" higher!)

 

 

The cabinets! Again, hard to take photos that actually look as good as they do in person! I am certainly not a photographer. Man are they smooth though!

 

 

The hardware cabinet by itself

 

 

Above look, generally how it will look through the top when all is complete! (Also keep in mind I only did a good job finishing the exposed exterior peices - The top here will be covered by the table, therefore I slacked off here!

 

Specs are as followed (Not sure if I changed anything from original post)

Asus Maximum Hero VIII

i5 6600k (skylake)

32gb corsair LPX DDR4

Corsair 750w RMI

Purple single braided cables!

5x140mm Noctua Industrial PPM PWM fans

 

Oh, and this came in the mail!

 

 

Also salvaging 1.5tb, 1tb HDDS from last build, as well as a 120gb SSD - Putting my other 60gb SSD into my "old pc, new HTPC" build - and replacing it with a 500gb Samsung EVO 850.

 

Anyway thats it for now! The end is near!

[alexwhiteus]

where are your cables from

[DocShay]

where are your cables from

 

From www.dazmode.com

[DocShay]

Update time! The epoxy has been poured! The most terrifying part of this entire project - Done!

Just waiting a week for it to cure and harden before use!

 

pictures!

 

 

This stuff is THICK like honey, very cool to work with!

 

 

My little helper-wife!

 

 

Glass-smooth!

 

 

Torching any bubbles that rise up!

[DocShay]

Light kit(s) installed now - RGB coloring however I find I like the white best. Heck, I can even go festive for christmas with a red and green 

I think everything turned out quite well, considering my zero experience prior! The system is whisper quiet with the noctua industrials thanks to PWM and the Maximus VIII having PWM for ALL their fan connections (Awesome feature).

It's really tough to get good pictures because how glossy everything is - It's tough to see the detail in the wood, pictures make is look mostly black but it is there and I like how it turned out! The USB-hub thats inserted into the side of the cabinet worked well - since wiring cables to the motherboard is a real pain!

Anyway, hope everyones enjoyed seeing my little project come to life!

[nishit.agarwal44]

Light kit(s) installed now - RGB coloring however I find I like the white best. Heck, I can even go festive for christmas with a red and green

I think everything turned out quite well, considering my zero experience prior! The system is whisper quiet with the noctua industrials thanks to PWM and the Maximus VIII having PWM for ALL their fan connections (Awesome feature).

It's really tough to get good pictures because how glossy everything is - It's tough to see the detail in the wood, pictures make is look mostly black but it is there and I like how it turned out! The USB-hub thats inserted into the side of the cabinet worked well - since wiring cables to the motherboard is a real pain!

Anyway, hope everyones enjoyed seeing my little project come to life!

Wow

[Exotath]

Great craftsmanship!