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How to modify a desktop organizer into a charging station
Step 1
   Find a desktop organizer   The desktop organizer should have cubby holes large enough to accommodate your electronic devices, and your hands. These instructions assume you are using a wood organizer.
Step 2
   Clean it out, test fit your devices   Make sure the spaces that will hold each device is oversized so that your hands, plus the device, pluse the plug at the end of the charging cable will fit comfortably.
Step 3
   Plan out the path for each charging cable.   Every cable varies in size and flexibility so the ease with which each cable can be bent and twisted varies. Avoid running the cables so close to inside corners and edges that you make it impossible to manipulate them conveniently.
Step 4
   Plan out drill bit sizes.   Measure the plugs across the diagonal (the widest dimension), and then use the next larger drill bit size. For example, if a plug measures 1/4 inch then use a 3/8 inch drill bit. Use a 1 and 1/2 inch paddle bit, or better yet, a Forstner bit if you can get one, for grounded plugs on extension cords.
Step 5
   Pick out your paint and liner material   You don't have to paint your new charging station, and you don't have to line the drawers. But it’s prettier if you do! I bought a can of Cherry Red spray paint from the hardware store. Any brand will do. If felt isn't your cup of tea, then you can experiment with any kind of liner material: cloth, leather, etc.
Step 6
   Pick out your light   I used a discontinued 'cabinet light' from IKEA. IKEA always has a selection of inexpensive cabinet lights. I paid about $7 for the light.
Step 7
   Plan how to attach the light and run the power cord.   I got lucky in that the old IKEA light has a base that can be easily modified. I held the light in place while I drilled through the back of the organizer and into the lamp base. This takes skill or luck because if you drill too far then you will wreck the electrical connections or the switch. Because the lamp base is plastic, the base deformed easily to accept the threading of the machine screws.
Step 8
   Sand it   The point of sanding is to ensure that the paint sticks—just like your manicurist sands your nails so the polish sticks! If you don’t want to paint the organizer, then don't bother to sand it. Otherwise, as the pros say, "Take care of the corners and the flats take care of themselves." That is, sand the difficult-to-reach parts with focus and patience, and the big flat spots will sand easily. Sand with the grain. A good sanding guide is to think of all the places where the paint will wear off easily if the sanding job is inadequate and give those spots more attention.
Step 9
   Drill the holes   Drilling takes skill. It helps to drill narrow pilot holes so the fatter drill bits will follow the pilot hole. Consider drilling holes at an angle; they don't have to be perpendicular to any surface. When drilling, make sure the drill has enough reach past the side of the thing you want to drill out. For example, even if you have a 6-inch drill bit, 1 inch is lost to the drill chuck, and if the hole you want to drill starts on the floor of a 4-1/2-inch cubby hole and you need to angle the drill through a 1/4 inch board, then there's a good chance your drill will crash into the cubby before the holes is finished. Don't panic if this happens. Just re-route the cord or buy a longer drill bit (although that gets expensive fast!). And don't follow my poor example: Wear safety glasses, but don't wear any gloves or jewelry because spinning drill bits will grab cloth, jewelry, and even your hair - and serious injuries result.
Step 10
   Prep for paint   Use a damp cloth or a micro-fiber towel to remove all the wood chips and dust. Once you have it dust free, double check your work and make sure you have drilled every hole needed and that every plug and cable can be routed as you intend.
Step 11
   Paint it   Don't paint like me! I wanted to finish the video so I painted in the wind. Paint outside on a windless day. Put down a tarp to protect anything in a 10 foot radius. Wear your safety glasses, and gloves. Keep the spray moving so that it sprays past the edges of charging station for best results.
Step 12
   Let it dry   The paint I used dries to the touch in 10 minutes and cure in 24 hours. Let it cure - you'll get better results.
Step 13
   Attach furniture pads   Apply 8 furniture pads. 4 on the back and 4 on the bottom. Place the pads about an inch from the corners so that you won't see the pads peeking out from the bottom or sides.
Step 14
   Add the cabinet light.   It's impossible to provide detailed instructions for this step. But I do advise caution. If you have any doubts then good! Don't cause a short circuit and burn your house down!
Step 15
   Line the drawers and cubby holes   I planned on using a glue gun to hold down the felt but I decided that hot glue wasn't necessary. But you may want something more robust so glue is a good idea. Just don't burn yourself with a glue gun or glue your fingers together. It’s embarrassing on top of painful (don’t ask me how I know!).
Step 16
   Feed the cables   Get all the cables in place. You can add strain reliefs by tying incomplete knots (loose loops) so that the cables stay in place, even if they are pulled on too roughly.
Step 17
   Buy a long power strip or an octopus or spider   If all has gone well, you need to plug in a collection of transformers. But most power strips can't accommodate a collection of bulky transformers. A fairl new product on the market is called an octopus or sometimes a spider. These are extension cords that terminate in a bouquet of female outlets so that all the bulky transformers will fit with ease. I didn't factor this into the final cost so buying this will add at least $10.
Step 18
   Start charging your electronic devices   Consider facing all your devices upside down because the accummulation of little LED charging lights will generate a surprisingly bright light which can make it hard to sleep if it’s next to your bed!
Step 19
   Take a picture   Yeah! Take a picture. Show it to me on Facebook. Brag to your friends. Apply for a patent.
Step 20
   Buy more eletronic toys   Darth Vader uses his charging station to keep his light sabre good to go.
 

 
 
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