Ash and Aluminum Monitor Stand
December 2023
I built this monitor stand as a holiday gift for a family member, who provided input throughout the design process. He requested that the ash wood be finished in the same way as the Koa Stool, and I suggested aluminum as a contrasting material for the supports. Once that was determined, and a direction in which to proceed was chosen from the initial sketches, I set to work modeling the design.
After several iterations, the above design was what we selected. The features included a bottom shelf with a backer, and a 10x16 top shelf to accommodate the base of the monitor. The only feature on this model that didn't make it onto the final design was the reverse chamfer on the top shelf. With the design settled, initial fabrication began.
My initial fabrication consisted of getting the wood planed and jointed, and preparing the blanks for the shelves. Once I had finished the shelves, I placed an order for the aluminum supports as well as the hardware I would use to secure everything in place. In the meantime I cut the blanks to their final lengths and rounded off the corners on the top shelf.
Upon the arrival of my metal and hardware, I proceeded to cut and grind the aluminum support rods to shape, and textured them in a media blaster after marking and drilling the bolt holes and countersinking for the bolt heads. I simultaneously cut notches into the shelves on the table saw at the predetermined angles. After dry fitting the pieces, I then proceeded to fit the threaded inserts so that the bolts could be secured to the shelves.
With the final fit up of the components complete, I began the finishing and decorative process. I first routed and cut the decorative y-bar ash pieces and joined them with dowels into the shelves, allowing them to rest using gravity and friction against the aluminum. After sanding all wooden surfaces, I then proceeded to apply the black dye to the wood, following that up with a satin clear coat to prevent dye residue staining and add luster to the piece. With that, the shelf was complete and ready to deliver.