Brad Rodriguez from Fix This Build That creates a custom walnut desk with a hidden wireless charging feature and a metal base. He starts by milling the walnut lumber, using a jointer and planer to smooth out the wood. He then assembles the top, using glue and clamps to hold it together. Meanwhile, he works on the metal base, cutting and welding the steel tubes together. After completing the base, he adds tabs to attach the top and finishes the base with paint.
Brad then embeds a wireless charger into the desk top, routing out a recessed area and adding a copper inlay as a visual indicator for the charging spot. He uses epoxy to secure the inlay and sands it down to a flush finish.
Finally, Brad applies a fast-drying polyurethane finish to the walnut top and assembles the desk by attaching the base to the top. The finished desk features a unique and functional design, showcasing Brad's skills as a woodworker and metalworker.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Brad Rodriguez is the creator of Fix This Build That and is making a desk with hidden wireless charging.
2. Brad used walnut boards for the desk top, which he had stored in his shop for a couple of years.
3. He used a jointer to flatten the boards and a planer to remove the mill marks.
4. Brad glued the boards together in two halves to make it easier to flatten the pieces on his planer.
5. He used epoxy to fill defects in the wood, including knots and cracks.
6. Brad used a block plane to knock down high spots on the boards before milling.
7. He used a metal base for the desk, made from one-inch tube steel, which he had cut to size by a local metal yard.
8. Brad welded the base together using a Lincoln Electric 210 MP welder.
9. He added tabs to the base to screw down the top.
10. Brad ground down the weld joints smooth and applied a self-etching primer and flat black enamel to the base.
11. He cut a trench for the USB cable to come out of the back of the desk using a palm router and a quarter inch bit.
12. Brad used a router to remove the waste and create a recess for the wireless charger.
13. He used a copper bowtie as an inlay to indicate where the phone should be placed for charging.
14. Brad mixed up some epoxy to hold the inlay in place and spread it on the bottom of the recess.
15. He used fast-drying polyurethane from Minwax to finish the walnut desk top.
16. Brad applied one thick coat of polyurethane with a foam brush, followed by a thin second coat.
17. He installed the charger by hot gluing it in place.
18. Brad finished the assembly by flipping the base onto the top and mounting it with 3/4 inch screws.