I think details are important. I prefer neatly wrapped cables. I like straight lines. I abhor piles, but if a stack is required, it MUST go from largest on the bottom to smallest at the top. I'm picky about how the dishwasher should be loaded (to the point where my family makes me do all the dishes...) Need I go on?
Now that you have some insight into my neurosis, I'll fill you in on why I shared. The empty concrete cube that I've been turning into my ham shack had some conduit and a decent size junction box for my home fire alarm system running through it (that's right - I said fire alarm system, not smoke detectors. I am fortunate enough to have a commercial fire alarm system in my house.) The junction box was too deep for the ceiling treatment I did, so after the main ceiling was up, I needed to build up a little something to cover it, and to mount the smoke sensor onto, so that my sense of order in the universe would not be shattered. Here's how I did it:
I started by cutting a piece of 3/4 inch pine to about 6x6 inches.
I next used my router to zip a nicer profile around the outside edge. I also marked the center to cut out, so it would fit around the junction box.
I cut out the center. I allowed this to be a rough cut, because it will be hidden.
Test fit around the box.
I cut a second board, slightly smaller than the first, and routed the same profile on it.
Some clamps and glue, and a hole for the wires to pass through (commercial fire alarm equipment is low voltage, so the wires are pretty small. If you were doing this for a standard 120volt Smoke Detector you'd need a bigger hole, and possibly a junction box extension)
A little bit of stain to match the rustic ceiling, 4 screws, and presto - a pedestal for the most important piece of equipment in the ham shack!
That's That! The most important piece of equipment in my ham shack is already in place and operating. Hopefully though, I'll never need it!
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