rebuilt my actual desktop


my desk is built from tubular steel shelving that I bought at the container store over the last twenty years. I have kept my desk on wheels/casters. I’ve also kept many of my other shelving units on casters. I like to be able to reconfigure my workspace as the current project demands. First we (re)shape our space(s) and then our space(s) (re)shape us.

One of the wheels on my desk was showing signs of potential failure. I had to do something about quickly.

Several years ago when my studio was in RiNo/Five-Points area of Denver, one of my six-foot tall shelving units on casters tipped on me and nearly crushed me. The wheel and the bottom of the tube had failed.

Now I maintain an eye on the health of the casters.

These casters are purchased at Lowes. They are less expensive but rated as strong or stronger than those sold by the container store.

It’s always disruptive to take apart my desk.

Today I took apart my desk. The tubes and the insert that receives the screw-post for the wheels are both in good shape. The wheels were not. I have replacement wheels of a smaller diameter and a lower load rating in my inventory. I replaced the near-broken wheels with these others. I took pictures of one sample wheel before loading up my desk, and one under 3/4 load. I’ll keep an eye out.

Last night we saw Scott S. and Jenny B. We were able to exchange birthday gifts, and so I gave him the obituary for the Arecibo space telescope that I had selected and typeset for him. It turns out he had been unaware of the existence of this telescope. His brother has a strong relationship with radio astronomy and so we presume is aware of the defunct installation.

I still don’t know what to give my nieces and nephews. Sigh.