After we finished our office makeover, we knew we still needed to do something about ALL the cords underneath the desk.
We have our modem, router, and ALL the tech-y things for our home in this room, so I’m sure you can relate to how many cords there are.
This is also where we have a desktop computer, so we also needed somewhere to house the big ol’ black box. I hated the idea of it just sitting on the floor.
So when Kreg Tool got in touch to see if we wanted to try out the Kreg Jig K4 and the Kreg Rip-Cut, my husbby (Dan) was SUPER excited! We decided that building a custom piece to hide the computer box and cords would be the perfect project.
All of these plans are available in even more detail over on the BuildSomething.com site!
How to Build a Custom Computer and Cord Box
Step 1: Measure
Measure and write down the dimensions of your computer and any additional components you are looking to hide in the box.
Of primary concern when deciding on dimensions you will use is that computers have many fans on them. Typically there are intakes on the front and left side and exhausts on the rear. Air circulation is essential to ensuring your computer does not overheat.
We had two primary components for this project which were the computer (17″ height) and a small data storage device (7″ height). We decided to use 3/4″ sanded spruce plywood as I knew the Kreg Jig would work well. Home Depot has many types of sanded plywood which are great for projects like this.
Step 2: Plan
Decide on the final dimensions of your box. We decided on a depth of 24″, a width of 10″ and a total height of 27 1/4″ (full height available under the new desk). When cutting the pieces, be sure to adjust for the width of the plywood.
Step 3: Cut your pieces
As we do not have a table saw, we decided to use the Kreg Rip-Cut which allows you to do precise cuts using a skill saw. The skill saw is clamped into this tool which allows you to follow the edge of the board very accurately. You can cut between 1″ and 24″ width boards using this tool. Follow the instructions included with the tool to attach and do a test cut to make sure you installed it correctly. I would say it is not as accurate as a quality table saw but we had no problems cutting within an margin of error less than 1/32″. This slight difference was easily sanded out.
The pieces which were cut for this project:
24″ x 25 3/4″ (right side)
24″ x 10″ (x2) (top and bottom)
24″ x 8.5″ (middle shelf)
3″ x 25 3/4″ (x2) (left side pieces)
Step 4: Attach the middle shelf to the right panel
The middle shelf is where we decided to test the benefit of the Kreg Jig K4. Because we wanted to store the computer on the shelf, it needed to be strong enough to support the weight. We decided to use the Kreg screws in four spots, front and back, left and right.
The first thing to do is to follow the instructions for configuring the Kreg Jig for the width of your plywood. This is essential to ensuring that the holes are drilled to the right depth. They make it very easy and once you have done this once, you will remember it forever. Once you have the jig configured and the special drill bit configured you can drill the holes in the plywood.
One thing to consider when using this tool and where to put the holes is how you are going to screw it all together. It is important to make sure you have sufficient room to put the screws in using a drill or screwdriver. We also used wood glue between the boards to really be sure that everything would hold together.
Step 5: Attach the top and bottom panels
We decided to use a nail gun and wood glue as the design meant there was no weight on either the top or bottom.
Note our little helper with his screwdriver, as we attached the top and bottom panels to the cabinet. Can’t start DIYing early enough around here!
Step 6: Attach the two left panels
We attached the top and bottom again using a nail gun and wood glue, and Kreg screws for the middle shelf through the Kreg Jig piloted holes. We had to use a screwdriver for this as we didn’t have sufficient space for the drill.
Note: We recommend using the Kreg brand screws. There are 2 different kinds of screws depending on what material you are screwing in too. The length of the screw depends on the width of the board you are using so check the table provided in the Kreg Jig manual to see what length of screw you need. For this project, the recommend a 1 1/4″ screw for 3/4″ plywood.
Step 7: Insert Kreg Jig Plugs and Sand
Kreg Jig has plugs which fit nicely into the holes created by the tool after you have put the screws in. They can be sanded and painted and create a clean finished surface with the strength of this sort of attachment. Super nice!
We put a bit of wood glue in the hole, stick the plug in, let it dry and then sanded the box. We also used a bit of wood filler to fill the holes of the nail gun and smooth out the front edges of the box before sanding.
Step 8: Paint
We wanted the cabinet to be white, to blend in with the white shiplap walls as much as possible. Two coats of a medium gloss white paint, and it was looking great!
Step 9: Install
We stuck some felt pads on the bottom of the cabinet, and then it was just a matter of sliding it into place and popping in all the components.
It worked like a charm. No more jumble of cords, no more black box sitting on the ground, and just generally a cleaner, neater office.
This was a super easy project to make with the Kreg Jig. I think it’s officially Dan’s new fave tool!
Modern Handmade Home
Now it’s time to check out what the other ladies from The Modern Handmade Home series made with their Kreg Tools. Go have a look. There are some super inspiring projects!
Love Create Celebrate / Harlow & Thistle / The Learner Observer / Lemon Thistle
Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Kreg. We love partnering with brands that we use regularly anyway around our house and are happy to recommend them to you guys!