Thread: PC Monitor stand/In-Tray

I made a 'temporary' monitor stand/pidgeon hole thingy about 6 years ago.
It's only made from ply but works great. Just a plain box with dividers, slightly deeper than a sheet of A4.
I need to make another one with a full length recess underneath for stowing the keyboard.

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This is what I use for my 24 inch monitor. I am not sure why I originally made it but I have put another piece of 18mm pine on top to lift it over the top of the printer.
Sorry, no plans. If I had any it would have been on a scrap of paper.
Now it is actually turned around to show the back, and the stops to prevent CD's from being pushed through. (The front has confidential info on it.) From memory, it is 12 and 18mm pine, doweled at the top and screwed at the bottom. Depending on you tools and skills, you could mortice the sides to the top and bottom or even use dovetail joins. It could even be made from MDF.

I also include an image of my microwave stand made of four pieces of Melamine board. There is a hidden brace between the uprights and under the shelf at the back. Just screwed together. Made of off cuts.

Originally Posted by Fergy1987

So I am trying to come up with some plans/ideas for a monitor stand for my desk. Doesnt have to be anything fancy, but if anyone has any basic plans or advice regarding how to go about it and what joins I should be using that would be great.

I was also thinking of making the stand also an in-tray so my other half doesn't just throw documents on my desk and she can put them inside.

Essentially I am trying to make a fully enclosed box with the front of it missing.

Is this as simple as 3 pieces joined for the frame and slap a top and bottom on it? Would this have the strength to hold a monitor? (24 inch)

Any help and tips is greatly appreciate for this beginner! )

it's perhaps best to think in terms of a 6 sided box with the front missing.

Hi Fergy1987,
A simple box large enough to accommodate A4 paper should have no problem supporting a modern 24" monitor (they don't weigh what they used to) in most cases depending of course on the material used what had you in mind for the construction 16-19mm in ply or solid timber would have more than enough strength to carry this. It can be as simple as you wish simply boards butted together or rebated or dovetailed you're choice any method will have the ability to support what you need. If you want it as wide as the monitor it would be best to fit a front rail to the under side of the top to give some extra support but again dependent on the material you use for the top thin board would need it a thicker slab would not.




Regards Rod.

Thanks for the advice everyone - Im thinking of having a go at some box joints and some wood glue for this but I am just wondering as I don't have any power saws if this was possible with just hand saws (coping etc) - what would be the best hand saw for the job? - Also recommendations of wood for box joints - Would ply just split with these joints, am I better with some pine?

Hi again Fergy,
Yes ply would be not the best choice for box joints any solid timber would be better for this some nice even grained timber would be best especially for a beginner pine being hard and soft grain in the same board is more difficult than say straight grained timber. A nice sharp tenon saw and coping saw for hand cutting would be best but you would be best advised to practice on a scrap piece before committing to you're finished piece not knowing you're skill level I don't want to sound as I am talking down to you but to hand cut box joints will take a degree of skill to achieve a good outcome much easier to achieve with a router table or table saw.
Regards Rod.

Thanks for the tips Rod.
My skill level is absolute beginner and this is my first project beside building a workbench (no work of art) so maybe box joints by hand are not where I am at currently :P - Maybe i will have a crack at some rebated joints on some scrap and just see how i go with those.
I was definitely thinking of getting some some scrap wood first and basically building a dummy version first before I go buying the final pieces.
Hopefully I can come up with something decent eventually!
Thanks again!