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A sturdy, budget conscious monitor stand for 32inch PC monitor, hidden speakers and cable visibility.
THE PROJECT
80% of my Job is at home, so having an organised desk that you can comfortable in front of is important. Due to my work, I also find myself eating lunch at my desk quite a lot, my previous monitor made that an issue as the legs got in the way of pushing the keyboard forward when not in use (pictured below). Cheap (quality & cost) stands can go for as little as $30, while the better looking ones range in the $200+ range, I was looking for something that was both cost efficient and complimented my workspace / habits well, so I decided to make my own.
TOOLS USED
- Ryobi 2000W 254mm Dual Bevel Sliding Mitre Saw
- Ryobi 18V ONE+ Drill Driver
- Ryobi One+ 18V Trim Router
THE MATERIALS
- 235 x 19mm 1.8m DAR Pine Premium
- Rocket Fine Sanding Sponge
- Bondall 250ml Monocel Walnut Stain and Varnish
- Fiddly Bits 250g Flat Black Spray Paint
- Monitor Arm of Choice (In my case, a leftover Brateck LDT12-C01)
- (4 angled brackets were purchased but unused)
STEP 1
I had an idea in mind but just needed to know the size I would need. I eventually decided on an 800mm length stand, so I quickly cut a piece of that off and sanded the end and the whole thing for good measure. As the legs were only going to be 19mm thick, I cut 3 rough heights just so I could see what the stand looked like, so 2x 95mm, 2x 115mm, 2x 165mm.
STEP 2
I used the Round over bit to create the round over edges on the front and sides (in that order) of the stand, leaving the back flat so it can fit better against the back wall. I was originally going to have the rounder over go from bottom to top, but opted for top to bottom as I liked it more, I also ensured I had a nice little groove along the front. After this, I sanded the thing again.
- TIP: Use an offcut of the same wood in line with the wood you are doing the round over on and continue onto the offcut before ending the router run, that way you don't end on the corner of the project piece, damaging it as a result.
STEP 3
I switched over to the 19mm straight bit and created two straight 220mm lines at 5mm deep. These lines were at the 150mm and 650mm of the stand. They stop just before the front so the legs look "hidden" under the stand and allow the nice rounded finish of the front to be uninterrupted. The cut straight at the back allows for your legs to simply slide in.
- TIP - Measure the distance between the center of the bit you are using and the router edge, mark this and use an offcut and clamp it down in a straight line along where you want to route to ensure you have a perfectly straight line.
After both were completed, I gave both a light sand to make it smooth.
STEP 4
I put the roundover bit in and gave all the legs I had a front sided double round over edge so that they would fit snug in the groove. After this, I cut the ends of each leg so that each were exactly 220mm long (the length of the groove), each leg was then sanded for a smooth finish.
STEP 5
With each leg fitting flush and snug in the grooves, I gave them each a coat of black spray paint, I then got to work staining the top piece with the Dark Walnut, it took me 4 coats total (lightly sanding between each coat) and letting it dry for 6 hours at a time before I got the desired colour.
STEP 6
With that done, I got to work installing the monitor arm. I used a 9mm drill bit to drill a hole in the center of the board where the tightening mechanism goes through before placing it all together via the instructions of the monitor arm. I then ensured I had the proper height I needed and that the arm itself was capable of holding the weight of the monitor without drooping.
STEP 7
With everything together, it was now just seeing which legs I wanted to use. My original plan with the 165mm legs were for the speakers to go under the wings, but this proved to be waaaaaaay too high 😂 (see below), eventually I ended with the 95mm legs and placed the speakers behind the monitor on the stand itself.
END NOTE
The 95 legs ended up being perfect and the leg spacing is bang on just the right size to fit my keyboard under, it also had the added benefit of covering up a lot more cables than I realised, so the project was a resounding success. Measuring and taking my time were the true champions of this project, and while frustrating at times (especially as this was my first time using a router, ever) the end result has invigorated my want to continue with my office facelift and improved my general mood... also I can now place my keyboard all the way back and eat my dinner at my desk. HUGE SUCCESS! 🤣
Really incredible project @Remarka6le! Ha I hope you don't eat dinner at your desk all the time but job well done creating space. The 4 coats of dark walnut was really worth it as the stand looks stunning. Thank you for sharing your learnings with us, looking forward to your next project.
Katie
Cheers @KatieC , it was an interesting project to take on while we wait for our kitchen cabinets delivery, certainly happy that I didn't use any screws either and the thing is solid! 
