Hand-made wooden computer monitor

BBG reader Scuba_SM crafted a wooden enclosure for his 22" computer monitor, making it look like something our great-grandchildren might end up worshiping after the Prius Wars.

The base and top cap are made from solid maple, and the vertical columns from pine dowel. Everything was stained with a light cherry stain, and coated with a layer of satin finish polyurethane. The brass arms are originally from gas lamps. I removed the valves and rotating joints before attaching them to the monitor. The buttons are lengths of brass rod that I hammered into flat topped rivets. They're held in place by the switch circuit board. The light uses a panel mount LED holder, with a clear plastic tube running from the actual LED to the chrome panel mount. The LCD panel itself sits in a cradle made from aluminum angle, and it is held in place and cushioned by weather stripping.

The project was initially intended to be a Steampunk mod, but the details never fully clicked in my mind. One evening, I discovered a book with examples of art deco architecture, art, and furniture, and I just started sketching ideas for an art deco influenced monitor. The gas lamp arms were given to me as a gift, along with the monitor, and it was important that they make it into the final design. The next day, I took my sketches and a page of measurements into the workshop, and started work. A few weekends later, I was able to plug it in for the first time.

Gallery [Scuba's photobucket]

[#1 posted by gonzilla , January 5, 2009 1:16 AM]

At first glance I thought the Amish are now making wooden enclosures for monitors.

[#2 posted by Joel Johnson , January 5, 2009 4:17 AM]

I dig it.

[#3 posted by Anonymous , January 5, 2009 4:59 AM]

Hmm... looks more like Prarie-punk. Or maybe Arts & Crafts & Semiconductors. I-Stickley anyone?

[#4 posted by superspryte , January 5, 2009 5:57 AM]

I'm glad you went and finished it. Sorry I wasn't able to make the steampunk one before moving to Japan. I was really upset that I didn't finish it... -_-;

[#5 posted by Enochrewt , January 5, 2009 7:38 AM]

Gorgeous, especially for the kitchen.

[#6 posted by Scuba SM , January 5, 2009 2:18 PM]

Thanks for all the compliments. It's actually sitting on my desk in my bedroom in that shot, despite the Joy of Cooking sitting there.