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- Feb 12, 2020
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I have a few projects on my list that don't fall under other categories so I figured I'd share them here.
Of most import is projects involving finding ways to protect my computer from cats.
To explain my setup, I have a little broken desk directly next to my bed (the top lifted off and tilts). I have a monitor riser that protects the keyboard when not in use and I attached my speakers to it with Velcro (so the cats would stop knocking my stuff down). The subwoofer for the speakers is directly behind that riser and an empty cable management box is behind that. I hope to use the box to hold a power strip later on.
I have an oak board attached the the wall spanning 2 studs to which a wall-mount bracket for the monitor is attached. It extends out so I can have my monitor closer to me. The board is fairly thick-- probably a good 2" or at least 1-1/2". It was rough oak from the sawmill so it wasn't standard size.
Currently my old computer sits on a little wooden thing with wheels (that my dad built to hold computers) and the UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is next to it. The cats like to stand on the UPS and spray the side/top of the computer. They ruined some of the parts inside because of it. I had to duct tape an upsidedown basket to the top and tape over the side vents to protect it. (Yes, I know if I got rid of the cats I wouldn't have the problem, but I love them--- neutering the males *might* reduce the spraying but even the neutered cats-- even female-- started spraying to compete but I am reminding my brother to get his cats neutered). The spraying aside, the cats also cough up furballs and it comes with liquid & that has damaged some things. They puked down the back of my UPS and the saliva got between the plugs & the outlets on it and shorted some out.
Back to the computer thing: I have a wall-mount bracket to hold the computer. I plan to mount it on the wall above (but resting on) the oak board. The board should give it some extra support. To keep the cats from jumping on top of the computer, I plan to use pieces of an old glue-up surround that I tore down from my bathroom shower. It will be taped (with waterproof gorilla tape) to the wall so it is at an angle that will prevent the cats from jumping on it. I will also need to figure out how to create some sort of triangles to keep the cats from getting under it through the gaps. I'll probably use tape for that as well. Since I want it to be able to be moved if I remove the computer, I have a strap with velcro that came with a blanket that I could use to tether the flap down (still trying to figure out exactly how to accomplish that). I figure I can cut a hole lower down on the flap with an oscillating attachment or just use velcro on the flap and somewhere lower down. The triangle end caps can probably be cut out of the same wall surround thing.
What I haven't figured out yet is how to keep the cats off of the oak board. It is large enough of a ledge that they can walk on it..
Old photo of my desk top with the plastic thingy that covers the keyboard & holds the speakers. I added an extension to the back to support the subwoofer-- although now there is a small box behind to keep the subwoofer from slipping backward bc the desktop now tips backwards & velcro would not hold to keep it from slipping.
This is what happened before the extender was added
This is how the monitor is mounted to the wall:
I will be putting the wall mount bracket over the middle so it will have more support.
Can't remember the exact design of the bracket right now, but this is the general idea (I suck at drawing perspective & proportion): The part that goes up at the wall will secure to the wall. Pretty sure there is tongue-and-groove wood behind the wall but could be mistaken. I have drywall anchors (although the wall is wood paneling) just in case.
This was my original cruddy sketch of the idea. I entertained the idea of having some sort of foam coverings instead of the surround material.
That should cover the computer (no pun intended) but I still need to figure out how to keep them off the ledge. I wonder if I could do something similar with smaller pieces of the old surround and have them angled so the cats can't step on them.
So, any thoughts or ideas (aside from getting rid of cats?)
Of most import is projects involving finding ways to protect my computer from cats.
To explain my setup, I have a little broken desk directly next to my bed (the top lifted off and tilts). I have a monitor riser that protects the keyboard when not in use and I attached my speakers to it with Velcro (so the cats would stop knocking my stuff down). The subwoofer for the speakers is directly behind that riser and an empty cable management box is behind that. I hope to use the box to hold a power strip later on.
I have an oak board attached the the wall spanning 2 studs to which a wall-mount bracket for the monitor is attached. It extends out so I can have my monitor closer to me. The board is fairly thick-- probably a good 2" or at least 1-1/2". It was rough oak from the sawmill so it wasn't standard size.
Currently my old computer sits on a little wooden thing with wheels (that my dad built to hold computers) and the UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is next to it. The cats like to stand on the UPS and spray the side/top of the computer. They ruined some of the parts inside because of it. I had to duct tape an upsidedown basket to the top and tape over the side vents to protect it. (Yes, I know if I got rid of the cats I wouldn't have the problem, but I love them--- neutering the males *might* reduce the spraying but even the neutered cats-- even female-- started spraying to compete but I am reminding my brother to get his cats neutered). The spraying aside, the cats also cough up furballs and it comes with liquid & that has damaged some things. They puked down the back of my UPS and the saliva got between the plugs & the outlets on it and shorted some out.
Back to the computer thing: I have a wall-mount bracket to hold the computer. I plan to mount it on the wall above (but resting on) the oak board. The board should give it some extra support. To keep the cats from jumping on top of the computer, I plan to use pieces of an old glue-up surround that I tore down from my bathroom shower. It will be taped (with waterproof gorilla tape) to the wall so it is at an angle that will prevent the cats from jumping on it. I will also need to figure out how to create some sort of triangles to keep the cats from getting under it through the gaps. I'll probably use tape for that as well. Since I want it to be able to be moved if I remove the computer, I have a strap with velcro that came with a blanket that I could use to tether the flap down (still trying to figure out exactly how to accomplish that). I figure I can cut a hole lower down on the flap with an oscillating attachment or just use velcro on the flap and somewhere lower down. The triangle end caps can probably be cut out of the same wall surround thing.
What I haven't figured out yet is how to keep the cats off of the oak board. It is large enough of a ledge that they can walk on it..
Old photo of my desk top with the plastic thingy that covers the keyboard & holds the speakers. I added an extension to the back to support the subwoofer-- although now there is a small box behind to keep the subwoofer from slipping backward bc the desktop now tips backwards & velcro would not hold to keep it from slipping.
This is what happened before the extender was added
This is how the monitor is mounted to the wall:
I will be putting the wall mount bracket over the middle so it will have more support.
Can't remember the exact design of the bracket right now, but this is the general idea (I suck at drawing perspective & proportion): The part that goes up at the wall will secure to the wall. Pretty sure there is tongue-and-groove wood behind the wall but could be mistaken. I have drywall anchors (although the wall is wood paneling) just in case.
This was my original cruddy sketch of the idea. I entertained the idea of having some sort of foam coverings instead of the surround material.
That should cover the computer (no pun intended) but I still need to figure out how to keep them off the ledge. I wonder if I could do something similar with smaller pieces of the old surround and have them angled so the cats can't step on them.
So, any thoughts or ideas (aside from getting rid of cats?)
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