A crazy idea, how to turn an HCD layout into a shelf layout

[chuck geiger]

I am most likely not the first to think this up. What if you took the 4' down
the center and 12-18" on the ends and built an island out of heavy plywood.
A box like with shelf top. It would fit in center of the door, giving you 12"
on both long sides and a little tighter on the ends. Lighting can mount on
the underside of the plywood wings/shelf. Valance covers the lighting and
Masonite or backdrop right on the wood gives you a bad a$$ backdrop. You
loose 12-18" inches on both ends and right down the center. What are
the pros and cons of this?

[davefoxx]

I'm not certain that I am completely following your idea, Chuck, but two concerns might be weight and portability.  That is, can you get it out of the room after it's built?  Don't want to build a ship in a bottle.

[jnevis]

Not quite sure what you're looking at but we did kick around ripping one or more of the HCDs I just replaced down the center, then using the now 12 and 18 in peices for a shelf for a decent switching layout.  A couple 1x2s in 4-6" peices to hold up the back and they'll fit on regular shelf brackets.  It would have built-in conduit to hide wiring but you'd still be able to get at it.  It would also have a place for recessed lighting for a lower level.

To bad I can't get at the only wall in the house I would be able to put it on, to much crap in the way. :-[

[chuck geiger]

The boxed top would be portable and come off.

[jnevis]

Not quite sure what you're looking at but we did kick around ripping one or more of the HCDs I just replaced down the center, then using the now 12 and 18 in peices for a shelf for a decent switching layout.  A couple 1x2s in 4-6" peices to hold up the back and they'll fit on regular shelf brackets.  It would have built-in conduit to hide wiring but you'd still be able to get at it.  It would also have a place for recessed lighting for a lower level.

To bad I can't get at the only wall in the house I would be able to put it on, to much crap in the way. :-[

I put this arraingment up in the office over the weeknd.  It actaully looks like it might work fairly well.  It gives me a 15" wide shelf in an L that's 95" along one wall and 78" along the other.  I also added a small angle peice between the door sections.  It's all on the shelving rails that I can attach a backdrop to.  I added the halves of another door above it do add lighting and teh gap from the wall from the rail will pass the wiring down behind the backdrop.

I'll add pictures this afternoon.  I guess I should start track planning...

[chuck geiger]

Wow I am not an idiot...and the wasted space can be used for
storage of sorts with one of the end panels lifting out for
access. The idea for this came to me while wanting to employ
several things missing from an HCD layout:

1.) lighting
2.) valance
3.) better backdrop
4.) omit single masonite divider
5.) storage area

[jnevis]

Our conference table at work is set up like that.  I wonder how well it would work for a layout.  The raised center section is about 24"x60"x6-8" and the lower section is about 18" from the center to the edge.