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I'm sure most of you have seen the epic l3p desk. It's a computer desk made out of aluminum, that also serves as a computer case. I've been intrigued by this desk for about a year, and I've decided that I want to build a similar desk.
Detailed Build Log of Desk
![[image loading]](http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i462/Jor1995dan/L3p%20D3sk%20Readers%20Drives/ReadersDrives2.jpg)
The problems are this:
- I cannot weld, nor do I want to weld. I'd like to hire someone to weld, but I honestly have no idea how much it would cost.
- I believe 3003 aluminum 3/16th inch might be best, but I hear steel is also good, what type of metal/thickness should I use?
Does anyone on TL weld? If so, how much would it cost?
The specifications for my desk are the following:
Length--5 feet (60 inches)
Width--36 inches
Height--8 inches
That will be the box, but on top, there will be a ring around the box that is indented two inches. It will look like this.
![[image loading]](http://i47.tinypic.com/f0ntzo.jpg)
Thank you so much! This is going to be an amazing project, and I already have some awesome tweaks that I think will be better for the build
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I used to stick weld growing up on a ranch, but that was many years ago and we don't even have our welders anymore, sold everything along with our ranch, but also because we always did our own, I have no idea how much it costs, but this looks like a really simple weld job that could be done rather cheaply, or at least on the cheaper side of things.
As for the metal, steel would of course be stronger and more expensive, but I think that the extra strength would just be going to waste. I would go with the aluminum if it is cheaper, maybe even a little thinker than 3/16ths though. You will have to price it out. Sorry I can't help more but I hope you do it and post blog updates as it comes along. Good luck!
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That whole thing looks really... snazzy. Keep us updated how it moves along please. <3
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On June 28 2012 05:33 TheAmazombie wrote:
I used to stick weld growing up on a ranch, but that was many years ago and we don't even have our welders anymore, sold everything along with our ranch, but also because we always did our own, I have no idea how much it costs, but this looks like a really simple weld job that could be done rather cheaply, or at least on the cheaper side of things.
As for the metal, steel would of course be stronger and more expensive, but I think that the extra strength would just be going to waste. I would go with the aluminum if it is cheaper, maybe even a little thinker than 3/16ths though. You will have to price it out. Sorry I can't help more but I hope you do it and post blog updates as it comes along. Good luck!
Couldn't he just rivot instead? Like those cheap rivot fasteners they sell in hardware stores. They're not very strong, but I would think they sell larger gauge ones, and if you used enough of them?
I'm just theorycrafting (tee hee), the only thing I've ever used those dealys for was a crappy box I made in middle school.
-edit: These dealys here: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=rivot&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=SEARCH ALL
I would think a couple of those on each corner would be more than enough to hold together lightweight aluminum and they only require a pilot hole be drilled (which is ezpz with a simple drill press). The real question is would they hold up to the weight of several monitors and someone leaning on the desk--that I have no idea about.
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On June 28 2012 06:02 TheToast wrote:Show nested quote +On June 28 2012 05:33 TheAmazombie wrote:
I used to stick weld growing up on a ranch, but that was many years ago and we don't even have our welders anymore, sold everything along with our ranch, but also because we always did our own, I have no idea how much it costs, but this looks like a really simple weld job that could be done rather cheaply, or at least on the cheaper side of things.
As for the metal, steel would of course be stronger and more expensive, but I think that the extra strength would just be going to waste. I would go with the aluminum if it is cheaper, maybe even a little thinker than 3/16ths though. You will have to price it out. Sorry I can't help more but I hope you do it and post blog updates as it comes along. Good luck! Couldn't he just rivot instead? Like those cheap rivot fasteners they sell in hardware stores. They're not very strong, but I would think they sell larger gauge ones, and if you used enough of them? I'm just theorycrafting (tee hee), the only thing I've ever used those dealys for was a crappy box I made in middle school.
Yeah, you could use brackets and rivets, and it would be really strong overall, not quite as good as welding, but still strong. As long as you use good brackets and a decent rivet and rivet tool instead of the super cheap ones, then you could get something decent. If you are going to make something of this scale though, I know I would prefer welding, and good welding at that.
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that looks like its gonna be hard to make!
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On June 28 2012 06:05 TheAmazombie wrote:Show nested quote +On June 28 2012 06:02 TheToast wrote:On June 28 2012 05:33 TheAmazombie wrote:
I used to stick weld growing up on a ranch, but that was many years ago and we don't even have our welders anymore, sold everything along with our ranch, but also because we always did our own, I have no idea how much it costs, but this looks like a really simple weld job that could be done rather cheaply, or at least on the cheaper side of things.
As for the metal, steel would of course be stronger and more expensive, but I think that the extra strength would just be going to waste. I would go with the aluminum if it is cheaper, maybe even a little thinker than 3/16ths though. You will have to price it out. Sorry I can't help more but I hope you do it and post blog updates as it comes along. Good luck! Couldn't he just rivot instead? Like those cheap rivot fasteners they sell in hardware stores. They're not very strong, but I would think they sell larger gauge ones, and if you used enough of them? I'm just theorycrafting (tee hee), the only thing I've ever used those dealys for was a crappy box I made in middle school. Yeah, you could use brackets and rivets, and it would be really strong overall, not quite as good as welding, but still strong. As long as you use good brackets and a decent rivet and rivet tool instead of the super cheap ones, then you could get something decent. If you are going to make something of this scale though, I know I would prefer welding, and good welding at that.
I think I would be most concerned about it having "wobble" or some give to it. Plus it would not look as nice as if it were welded neatly on the inside, out of sight. But any way you slice it welding is going to be expensive, whether you rent the equipment or get a local machine shop to do it for you (the latter is going to be waaay expensive, but you would end up with a very professional looking desk). The Rivet option is going to look junky (well maybe not so bad if you paint over it, but still going to have some unattractive bumps all around the desk) and may not be as solid, but would be extremely cheap.
That's sort of the decision the OP has to make I guess.
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On June 28 2012 06:49 TheToast wrote:Show nested quote +On June 28 2012 06:05 TheAmazombie wrote:On June 28 2012 06:02 TheToast wrote:On June 28 2012 05:33 TheAmazombie wrote:
I used to stick weld growing up on a ranch, but that was many years ago and we don't even have our welders anymore, sold everything along with our ranch, but also because we always did our own, I have no idea how much it costs, but this looks like a really simple weld job that could be done rather cheaply, or at least on the cheaper side of things.
As for the metal, steel would of course be stronger and more expensive, but I think that the extra strength would just be going to waste. I would go with the aluminum if it is cheaper, maybe even a little thinker than 3/16ths though. You will have to price it out. Sorry I can't help more but I hope you do it and post blog updates as it comes along. Good luck! Couldn't he just rivot instead? Like those cheap rivot fasteners they sell in hardware stores. They're not very strong, but I would think they sell larger gauge ones, and if you used enough of them? I'm just theorycrafting (tee hee), the only thing I've ever used those dealys for was a crappy box I made in middle school. Yeah, you could use brackets and rivets, and it would be really strong overall, not quite as good as welding, but still strong. As long as you use good brackets and a decent rivet and rivet tool instead of the super cheap ones, then you could get something decent. If you are going to make something of this scale though, I know I would prefer welding, and good welding at that. I think I would be most concerned about it having "wobble" or some give to it. Plus it would not look as nice as if it were welded neatly on the inside, out of sight. But any way you slice it welding is going to be expensive, whether you rent the equipment or get a local machine shop to do it for you (the latter is going to be waaay expensive, but you would end up with a very professional looking desk). The Rivet option is going to look junky (well maybe not so bad if you paint over it, but still going to have some unattractive bumps all around the desk) and may not be as solid, but would be extremely cheap. That's sort of the decision the OP has to make I guess.
I guess that is true about getting a machine shop to do it. I grew up in a farm area and there were tons of welding shops, some would come to you, so to me it would have been easy. Now that you mention it though, in the area where I live now it would be more expensive (I am assuming) because everything is more industrial machine-shop style instead of small ranch businesses that I couldn't imagine doing a job like that for more than a couple hundred bucks.
Yeah, it will all depend on what the OP wants. If it were me though, I would price out the welding or just get the design and have them do all of welding and cutting at once. I am the kind of person that if I don't feel comfortable doing it myself, I want it done right by a professional.
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Machine shop. Local colleges usually have a shop, and they have pretty noob friendly gear. Whatever you do, do not get any hand tools or think about doing this entire thing by hand. It's insanely difficult and not worth the trouble and the money. You could get someone to make you one, but that would cost the most.
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EPT
