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My Homemade (ultimate iMac) Desk

Indohottie said:
thats a sick photo.. tell me you werent that close..
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I wasn't... but it went right over my parent's farm just south of Orchard and my grandfather's house in Orchard. Pretty scary when you go back and look at how close it actually was.

There are a few videos of it in its early stages on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CJomd0AiVY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv95O5YUYmU (skip to 4:08)

These also give you an idea for how dark it was at the time of the photo... and how there must have been an additional light source (lightning bolt) at the exact time when she took the photo.
 
fivepoint said:
there must have been an additional light source (lightning bolt) at the exact time when she took the photo.
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Lightning would have given the picture a much harsher look, with clearly defined shadows, etc. It's more likely she was shooting with a wide-aperture lens or a low shutter speed or a combination of these. The very blurry flag in the centre of the image and the glow around the streetlights suggests a low shutter speed - perhaps 1/4 to 1/2 of a second which, with a good lens, would allow you to capture something like this even if it's really quite dark.

HB
 
hank-b said:
Lightning would have given the picture a much harsher look, with clearly defined shadows, etc. It's more likely she was shooting with a wide-aperture lens or a low shutter speed or a combination of these. The very blurry flag in the centre of the image and the glow around the streetlights suggests a low shutter speed - perhaps 1/4 to 1/2 of a second which, with a good lens, would allow you to capture something like this even if it's really quite dark.

HB
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Well, the funny thing is... I know for a fact she was just using a run-of-the-mill point and shoot camera. I've also seen the other 5 or 6 photos she took, and they are all very dark like the ones my parents took. Similar to the videos. This one photo is the only one of hers that looked remotely that well lit.

Also, look at the reflection in the street signs. I think the first one could possibly be from camera flash... but don't you think the others are too far away to be flash from a small camera? The semi trailer in the back left hand side is perfectly lit... even though it was very dark out. Lightning could surely do that?
 
fivepoint said:
Well, the funny thing is... I know for a fact she was just using a run-of-the-mill point and shoot camera. I've also seen the other 5 or 6 photos she took, and they are all very dark like the ones my parents took. Similar to the videos. This one photo is the only one of hers that looked remotely like that well lit.

Also, look at the reflection in the street signs. I think the first one could possibly be from camera flash... but don't you think the others are too far away to be flash? The semi trailer in the back left hand side is perfectly lit... even though it was very dark out. Lightning could surely do that?
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Interesting - a point and shoot camera flash probably could do that to the far away street signs if they're covered with that retroreflective stuff. You can get a surprisingly bright reflection of that even with a weak bicycle light. It's a really impressive photo, I just think the lighting (e.g. on the cloud) looks too 'soft' and non-directional to be from lightning. Maybe she just took one shot with a longer shutter time?
 
hank-b said:
Interesting - a point and shoot camera flash probably could do that to the far away street signs if they're covered with that retroreflective stuff. You can get a surprisingly bright reflection of that even with a weak bicycle light. It's a really impressive photo, I just think the lighting (e.g. on the cloud) looks too 'soft' and non-directional to be from lightning. Maybe she just took one shot with a longer shutter time?
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Very well could be. I will probably ask her some time!
 
And people leave California because of earthquakes....:eek:

I tried to be ecological and use water-based clear finishes before. Just terrible despite all the PC pandering to water-based products.

25 years ago a paint shop guy told me that there would be no oil based paint products in a few years and that the State of CA would bad them the next year. Well, that never happened I suspect because the products were so bad that people would have screamed. Now they have reformulated oil paints with less volatile bases and with a higher concentration of solids. Auto paints are the same thing. All this is real expensive.
 
Shannighan said:
when you bought the wood were you able to buy it in a sheet or did you have to buy planks and glue it togeather your self?
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I started with a 4x8 sheet of Cherry Plywood. If you go to the first page, there should be some good photos there of that.
 
Jaiden said:
whats happened? you haven't posted anything in over a month!
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Ok, ok! Well, I finally started on the desk again about a week and a half ago. I've been out there a few times working on it. Some good news...

  • I'm now 100% done with the chemical stripper! YAY! (you have no idea)
  • I'm currently about 50% done with the sanding process, and should be 100% done in the next couple of days. I've got some nice sanders to use, so that is a big plus. This really doesn't take very long since the stripper did about 90% of the work. The only thing that bugs me is the reminant stripper in all the nooks and crannies. I need to find some way to get that 'gunk' out of the small spots. Needle? I hope not.
  • I will probably start re-staining the desk by mid-week or early next week. This should only take one day it it goes as planned.
  • If all goes well, with the staining and spraying the desk could be SERIOUSLY complete and in my house by the end of July.
  • Wish me luck...

P.S. I will try and post photos of the sanding process by the weekend. Stay tuned.
 
bc008 said:
i swore i saw pictures of the desk done with a beer on it..

anyways good luck!
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You're thinking of post #173. I was "done" but not done. You'll have to read it. :)



I completely finished up sanding last night, and will be re-staining the desk starting mid-week. The plan is to reapply the clear-coat on MONDAY! Very exciting!
 
As of this morning I am 100% done with the stain. The desk will be clear-coated by late this afternoon if all goes well.

My next concern is attaching the hardware, putting some leather in the bottom of the 'hidden drawer' and getting the necessary accessories for the Den. I also need a chair... I was thinking about a chair that looks something like the black chair (with arm rests) in this photo, but with a dark brown espresso stain instead.

img29l.jpg


This one is from the Pottery Barn, but I'd rather spend a lot less for it if I could. If you have any ideas or links to share where I might find one, please do.




Then again, an Aero Chair, would also be nice, and a lot more comfortable. Are there any others out there with comparable comfort for less $? Any recommendations would be much appreciated. If you had your choice... what chair (any chair) would you buy?

21iucixqE4L._SL500_AA200_.jpg
 
Wow, what a process you have going here. It will be worth it at the end though, homemade furniture always is. Good luck in finishing it up.
 
fivepoint said:
This one is from the Pottery Barn, but I'd rather spend a lot less for it if I could. If you have any ideas or links to share where I might find one, please do.
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Those do not look even remotely comfortable. They look nice -- more like display chairs.
 
brn2ski00 said:
Those do not look even remotely comfortable. They look nice -- more like display chairs.
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I second that, I would look for something a little bit more comfortable, I would probably just go to a local furniture store and see what they have. And although it is just my preference, I would not get a chair with wheels, but get what you feel is best. The progress sounds great though, can't wait to see the fully finished and set-up pictures!! Good Luck with the final stages!
 
Good point, guys. I guess I SHOULD put comfort as a top priority, obviously. I got carried away with finding something that matched the look of the desk perfectly, but really I should be more focused on long-term comfort.

I hear nothing but good things about the Aeron chairs, but they are so terribly expensive. Do any of you know of any comparable alternatives that can be had for less? I'd love any suggestions!
 
fivepoint said:
Good point, guys. I guess I SHOULD put comfort as a top priority, obviously. I got carried away with finding something that matched the look of the desk perfectly, but really I should be more focused on long-term comfort.

I hear nothing but good things about the Aeron chairs, but they are so terribly expensive. Do any of you know of any comparable alternatives that can be had for less? I'd love any suggestions!
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Well, you could buy something similar to the PB chairs above and add a padded cushion, this would rectify some of the comfort issues you WILL encounter.

The Aero Chairs are nice (I am sitting in one now -- at work!), but they are over priced and look like Office Space 2008 :D
 
Maybe a nice leather chair? You could probably find a nice one that would match the desk nicely but still be comfortable. I definitely agree that you don't want to sacrifice too much comfort.
 
I have a cheap Staples clone of the Aeron. Doesn't look nearly as good, isn't quite as comfortable, but I think it would be more comfortable than the chairs you posted. I'd link to it, but Staples' website is slow as molasses.

BTW, congrats on finishing the staining! I can't wait to see pictures!
 
I just got a chair at Ikea for my new place in Baltimore.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30059715

It's a really comfortable chair for the price, though if you want more of a dark brown espresso stain instead of jet black, I wouldn't recommend it.

Something like this might be up your alley, but it's a bank breaker.

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/395975/Strada-Series-Leather-Chair-x-x/

Personally, any black chair with some metal or aluminum piping will fit well with your setup, since your Mac is black and aluminum.

Can't wait to see the finished setup!
 
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