StarDestroyer.Net BBS

So I've got a problem that I wanted to run by the other board members.

I've been having issues with my laptop overheating which I've nearly solved; a new battery should be arriving today.

As I was pullung the charger plug this morning -- my computer is on a stand -- I noticed spots where it looks like the varnish has melted on the desk surface. This has been due to an old WD external drive (with the exhaust vent facing down) and the power cord lying after being unplugged.

I'm not quite sure how to proceed. As varnish is essentially a resin/wood oil combination, do I need to wory about any kind of damage or contamination? I know it'll need to be repaired professionally -- when I can afford it -- but what's the best recommendation for cleaning it up?

You should be able to just sandpaper it off yourself and then reapply wood varnish you bought from a hardware store.

It's nothing to worry about. Really, truly honestly.

I'd be more worried about the fact that your external hard drive is running hot enough to melt varnish with its fan exhaust, frankly.

Zaune wrote:I'd be more worried about the fact that your external hard drive is running hot enough to melt varnish with its fan exhaust, frankly.

That, though it could be a combination of cheap varnish and cheap hard drive.

That then implies that it's probably a cheap desk, and the cheapskate in me wonders why you care about the desk. I mean, desks are meant to be worked upon, get ink bleed-through and pencil marks on them, have drinks spilled on them, attract soldering iron burns, and generally look less nice when you burn them in the fireplace for heat than the day you got them.
I mean, I have a desk with chips in the paint, a table with cracks in it, and a futon with burn marks on it. I definitely could replace all that in fairly short order, but I see no need to.

Were you planning to sell it soon? Is there someone coming over that's going to care what your home work desk looks like? Ever?

JME2 has issues with OCD, so tends to get anxious about tracking contaminants around his living area.

Dalton wrote:JME2 has issues with OCD, so tends to get anxious about tracking contaminants around his living area.

Well, at least I'm handling this one pretty well. I haven't stripped the desk down or blasted it with Lysol.

Good, because lysol would do nothing against the hydrocarbon toxins in varnish anyway. If the stuff melted, the only time it was a worry was when it was melting and giving off slight bits of fumes. This is less threat to your health I'd reckon then walking down a typical city street. Actually it might be less of a health threat then the fire retardants they use in certain baby seats.

If you've got loose bits of varnish or rough spots, sand it down, wipe it down with a wet rag to collect the dust and its good. You can revarnish if you want though personally, unless you feel like refinishing he whole desk odds are it won't look right so its a bit pointless if you could just get away with putting some kind of insulation under the hard drive that will hide it.

Also what Zaune said, that is one hot hard drive.

Guys, thanks for all your input. I really appreciate it.

I suppose the overkill method would be to get some mortar, grout, and ceramic tiles and tile the desk surface.

That won't burn anymore... ever. My dad loved his tiled workspace at our old house. No solder burns, no chemical stains, easy to clean, etc.

i've done that before. Currently using a sheet of roofing steel instead.

Especially good for heatsinking the solder iron or hot glue gun if i drop it. Also really good at ruining scalpel blades, so i then need an mdf matt on the steel for cutting, taking me back to square one really.

madd0ct0r wrote:Also really good at ruining scalpel blades, so i then need an mdf matt on the steel for cutting, taking me back to square one really.

If you're cutting something with a scalpel without a soft protective mat underneath, you deserve every ruined blade you get...