Desk Vader

 

One of my biggest needs in life is music. Every workspace I've used has had a stereo in it. It helps keeps me moving and provides a sense of passing time. It's a must. However, keeping a stereo in a woodshop is a bit tricky, especially if you like to connect it to your laptop. Wood dust and electric components shouldn't really share space. 

So, my thinking was to build a work station right outside the shop and run the speaker lines through the wall. And, while I was at it, why not incorporate the mini-fridge and wine chiller? So, with some scrap and a plan I built this simple bar-height desk. 

During the process it occurred to me that it should have a decent top to it. Not decent like solid Mahogany (which would be more than decent) but in the sense that it's smooth, easy to clean, perhaps has some interest to it… but still cost zip.

So after sorting through the scrap I came up with a plan: 2 bits of really warped cedar sandwiched between 2 bits of white birch plywood. So I did that. And for the warped cedar that dropped away form the surface plane, I concocted my own wood putty and applied liberally. Once sanded down to the same surface, it's really odd—but I really love it. 

While I was in the planning phase on the desk-top I had seen a tutorial about using release agents with stain. So, without much hesitation I printed out Vader's noggin and made a negative decal. I then gave it a couple of good passes with shellac, removed the decal and stained away. It's fuzzy in some places, but overall I dig it. And now I'll know what to do if I want to repeat the technique in the future.