I designed a laptop desk to be used in the living room. Its nice to be able to browse while watching/listening to the news. It’s base is designed to slide under an over stuffed chair or couch.
I made the prototype base out of pine planed down to 1″. I used my scroll saw to cut entwined roses in the pedestal. My daugher Bekah has this one.
I experimented with inlays when making the one for my wife. I created a pattern and cut it out of clear 1/8″ boxwood with my scroll saw. I traced the cutout on the table top, and used a spiral bit in my router to make the recess freehand. I taped a LED flashlight to my router base to help see the outline better.
I cut the boxwood pieces apart like making a puzzle and then used trans-tint dyes to color each part. I then set the pieces in the recess using marine epoxy to hold them in place.
The Pedestal for this one is made from African Mahogany. I used a scrollsaw to cut the design my wife made with flowers, dragonflies, and bumble bees.
The base is made of oak with walnut stretchers.
Hello I am 15 and doing my junior cert materials technology wood project and have recieved the briefs , my e-mail address is nathan.duffy@hotmail.com and I was wondering if you could send me the sketches fot the laptop desk , it would give me a good idea on what to design and make , thank you very much Nathan Duffy
Nathan,
I don’t have any drawings. When working on the laptop table I used ergonomics to determine the dimensions. This table was meant to be used from our living room sofa. Have the person who is to use the table sit on surface from which it is meant to be used. Measure from the bottom of their arms when held in the typing position – to the floor. That dimension is the table top height. Next consider the amount of space required for the table base to fit under the sitting platform (e.g. sofa). Then consider the footprint of the laptop or netbook that will be placed on the table surface and allow space to use a mouse to the side. Finally, make sure the width of the sides that support the table top and the mounting method will support the cantilever force of the laptop/netbook weight.