Making a Work Table For Our Podcast Setup | I Like To Make Stuff

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When designing the new studio table, I wanted it to do a couple of things. First, it had to be tall enough to sit at comfortably with counter-top height stools. Second, it had to also function as a standing desk. Because this new studio table was primarily going to be used to record the No Instructions Podcast that Josh and I make, it had to have enough space for our LEGO and model projects that we build during our conversation, as well as have room for more people when we have guests. I decided that a steel frame would be most appropriate for a table this long, so Josh went to the steel yard and pick some up.

The guys at the steel yard were super cool and cut the pieces we needed to length. I used my MIG welder to fix the frame pieces together and ground the welds to make a flat, seamless structure. We wanted to make sure that the table could move around if we needed to use the space, so I welded on some Harbor Freight castors to each corner. The steel frame was almost done. I needed to add some tabs to the inside edges and act as mounting points for the MDF panels we added later. I also drilled some holes in the underside of the top frame so that I could attache the table top later. After a quick coat of white enamel paint, the frame was done.

I've made tables before, Josh has made tables before, so this project wasn't an exercise in table making. We agreed that a butcher block top would look amazing and to cut, plane, and laminate a surface large enough for this table would take a while and cost a lot. And since we don't really have a hardwood dealer around, purchasing material suitable for such a table would be really difficult. So we went to Lowe's. Most big-box stores have pre-made butcher block counter top slabs available (even IKEA has some!). I found one that worked perfectly for the frame depth, but was a little longer than we needed. I trimmed the butcher block to length and could use the rest as a nice cutting board. I applied some polycrylic finish to both sides and it was really to mount to the frame.

The new studio table was completely functional at this point. The beautiful butcher block was mounted to a white, rolling steel frame. Of course we had to do something more to it. We wanted to make some custom MDF panels that would hide our legs when looking straight at the table. I cut some smaller side panels while Josh figured out how to CNC a nice design into the larger front panel. Using our large Avid CNC, he took a design that Forby created and did two separate cut paths to make the large grid of circuits.

I used some black spray paint to coat the recessed circuits and then rolled over the face of the panels with a grey paint. This method let the cut areas keep their black color while the face was another. We set the panels in place up against the steel tabs we made earlier, and used some very small screws to fix them in place. Josh added some storage hooks to the inside of the panels so we could store our microphones and cables when we weren't recording. The whole setup works perfectly!

This steel framed, butcher block table could be an amazing solution in many different circumstances. It could be a mobile kitchen island, a crafting table, or a work surface in your shop. This project required super basic welding and woodworking skills, you don't need to use a CNC at all. It makes a huge impact on the new space and didn't take that long to make. I hope you can find an area in your life that a setup like this would help, and go get started making one.

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Making a Work Table For Our Podcast Setup | I Like To Make Stuff

I Like To Make Stuff

[HJ_Lures]

If you don’t listen to the ‘No instructions podcast’, what are you doing? Get over there and listen/watch it! Bob and Josh have really good advice on a lot of stuff. Especially Josh since he’s been all over the world pretty much!

Wait, I was supposed to say something about the video.. Great video as always ILTMS Team!!

[Skkonn]

"I know we need to clean this up, and thats coming in a future project". The exact words I tell my wife every time.

[joeschmo]

Bobs wife- bob can you please pick up the mess you made in the garage?!
Bob- (looks in a random direction) that’ll be in a future project.

[garythree]

Really like the addition of the castors. Makes it super portable.

[AtrumNoxProductions]

1:10 that transition!
The editing has been getting more and more creative, just as these projects have!

[DavidPlass]

6:00 Drilling the holes oversize so the screw heads fit inside the tube is brilliant.

[scaz]

It’s satisfying when the drill goes through the thing in line with the music

[CiceroMonteiro]

I listen to both podcasts. Making it is so inspirational and helps driving my creativity forward both on the office and at the wood shop. No instructions is also great because I have a ton to relate with Bob and Josh, and they are so authentic and really know what they're talking about.


I'm really thankful for this content you guys put out there. Thanks.

[DKprime]

It's amazing how much growth has come to this channel in just a year's time. Almost at 3 million subs!

[jordonwade]

I honestly love when Josh is more involved in project videos. You can really tell that him and Bob are best friends.

[rexsherburn]

Just added No Instructions Podcast to my stitcher app, Always enjoyed listening to Making it and watching the channels, helps me channel my creative side for my makers projects.

[Battery-cqqu]

Normal: I'll do it later
Bob, a professional: that'll be future project.

[SpencleyDesignCo]

Nice work! You gotta rig some better dust collection up with the MDF on the CNC!

[BruceAUlrich]

11:37 Homestar Runner!!! The desk looks awesome! Love the pattern and the colors.

[TGxANAHEiiMx]

Lego: "Hi, I'm Make and I like to Bob stuff"

[DesignandMake]

Awesome video Bob, great to see a mixture of metal working and woodworking/CNC. Glad to see you now have a proper podcast table/setup instead of the ping-pong table. Thanks for making great videos!

[automaticprojects]

Terrific build and video. I’ve loved these videos for at least six years, and Josh adds such a great dynamic.

[jmklamm]

Love it! I’ve recently started listening. As a fellow LEGO collector I’d love to see some of your ways of storing and displaying- similar to your brickheadz shelf.

[ShawnZiemba]

I could use something like this that folds down on rollers vertically so I can roll away to a corner of the house when not in use. Right now I have a huge area inside the house near the kitchen that's totally unused... My office is overcrowded with everything. So basically, the same thing, one that just folds verticle and rolls away. Very nice, thanks for sharing the video and ideas!

[Starie]

Thank you for the two months of skillshare, I will make sure to enjoy it. I look forward to your videos each week and am a believer in lifelong learning.