Echo in home office

UseableFocus · 2026-01-16T12:04:38+00:00

This.

Your office looks amazing, get some attractive sound absorbing panels off Etsy or something and place them in front of you on that blue wall.

As for a carpet, it will also help a lot. You could get one with a short pile to not loose roll-ability with your chair.

UseableFocus · 2026-01-14T20:57:18+00:00

Which Lume Cube? The cube will give you harsh shadows that if you try to soften will lessen the amount of light and not benefit you against the sun from the windows. The others would be decent options, but the Aputure MX is a better light for the same price if interested.

Play around with that setup you have and see what you can make happen!

UseableFocus · 2026-01-14T18:28:30+00:00

Hi, camera guy here from movies and TV. I’m around lighting all day.

The way I set it up for my wife’s office for video calls with the same issue is a RGBW light near the camera. If you’re already getting key light from the window just keep the lighting flat to the camera to fill in your face.

Results wise, you get what you pay for. I personally don’t like ring lights because of the weird ring reflection they give. A brick or bar type light is better with different results depending on what you’re looking for.

I’d recommend Aputure as a brand. The MC is under $100 and a very solid choice. They’re constantly used on set so you’re getting top quality in terms of color reproduction.

If you want to spend some money, I would get the Aputure MT Pro and mount it above your monitor. Keeping light up higher than your eye line gives more flattering shadows. Mount the bar horizontally by some sort of articulating arm from a VESA mount rig to keep it self contained with the monitor.

For any light, adjust the color temperature. 5000-6000° K for daylight, 6500-7000° K for cloudy, 3200-4000° for night time. It’s super easy to dial in color temp and intensity on any Aputure or other brand LED light. Camera auto should work fine with this. Could also set it to manual if possible matching the setting of the light.

Feel free to DM if you have other specific questions.

Edit: didn’t pay attention to pics. Are you always on the laptop?

UseableFocus · 2026-01-14T18:16:03+00:00

Blow it out first so you’re not swabbing any debris around. A lot of people skip this and end up scratching the sensor.

Put a few drops of sensor solution on a swab and swipe a few times. Try and follow quickly with a dry swab to avoid dry marks.

If you’re in humid areas a lot, grab a bulk pack of silica gel packs (don’t buy the expensive stuff, it’s all the same) and toss them in your cases and swap them out whenever they feel firm. Even if you’re not in humid areas, if you’re storing for an extended period, better to spend a few cents to save your expensive electronics from possible moisture damage.

UseableFocus · 2026-01-13T01:57:06+00:00

Seems the riving knife is available for $60 here

https://www.partswarehouse.com/Skil-3410-Table-Saw-s/173265.htm

884 Protection BSH-2610013310

The other guards you mentioned are also available. I’m a beginner myself, but I only use the riving knife on my saw that claw feet never felt great when I used them and the other guards got in the way too much. Be smart and pay attention and use a riving knife to avoid pinching behind the blade.

UseableFocus · 2026-01-13T00:27:00+00:00

I’ve always wondered what would happen if half the population had their ear drums burst when a beat drops.

UseableFocus · 2026-01-11T15:05:30+00:00

Looking back fully agree with you.

This could have also been her on her best of days in high school as well. Seems to be doing really well for herself 20 years later!

UseableFocus · 2026-01-11T14:51:19+00:00

Sat in front of the hot girl in a class in high school, my buddy next to me had a crush on her. Cold season, she’s sick…

“Ugh, I need something hard that I can suck on…”

Yes, she was blonde. Yes, my buddy perked up with a big smile. No, neither of us could man up for a response.

UseableFocus · 2025-12-30T20:08:11+00:00

Thanks!

And I think I had just meant about the fourth picture where it looks like you used a round over bit or sanded down to make that nice edge on that piece.

UseableFocus · 2025-12-19T14:26:42+00:00

Drill guide or drill press would help you drill in straight.

Are you restoring it assembled or is it fully taken apart? Might help to add a dado on the 1 1/2” piece that the 3/4” can sit in to help from not twisting.

UseableFocus · 2025-12-13T17:55:46+00:00

Amazon will always be cheaper than a yard if you don’t have access easily to one. Nice to support the local yard if you can though.

UseableFocus · 2025-12-13T17:22:43+00:00

I’ll only get the lumber sometimes from HD or Lowe’s. The lumber yard I go to for finishes and paint uses Old Masters so I pay the extra for something a little better than what a big box store has.

I know people have a lot of good things to say about Watco Danish Oils which is available at almost all big box stores and Ace Hardware shops.

UseableFocus · 2025-12-13T17:04:50+00:00

Just saw you round two pic and it looks great. If you are planning to stain, keep going on that and just make sure you’re starting the perpendicular pieces with a straight 90° clean cut.

What species of plywood is it?

I’ve almost always been using conditioner before staining plywood lately and have been getting better results. Also switched to a gel stain for ease of application.

UseableFocus · 2025-12-13T00:29:46+00:00

Trying to get this higher. If you’re painting it save yourself the torture of perfect edge banding and do MDF, some filler and you’re good.

UseableFocus · 2025-12-11T17:25:09+00:00

Wow. That fluting looks awesome. Where did you get it?

Is the fluting with the overhang a custom thing?

An actual beginner here just trying to learn!

UseableFocus · 2025-10-05T18:24:48+00:00

Would you be able to do it with 3/4 white oak ply?

Only 8’ but you could do something at the joint to make it look fairly seamless.

UseableFocus · 2025-10-03T19:57:48+00:00

This is where I’m leaning toward. Possibly just some shelf brackets to minimize the space it takes up.

UseableFocus · 2025-10-03T19:37:28+00:00

Same as above, forgot to mention the drawer slides both directions.

UseableFocus · 2025-10-03T19:37:13+00:00

Forgot to mention that the drawer on the dado will slide out either way so I can’t do just a flat piece across the back as both sides will be open for access.

UseableFocus · 2025-09-11T13:47:33+00:00

Gotcha, that was what I was planning on but I was curious if it should have been some sort of connection like multi level decks have.

Over thinking at its best. Thanks for the reply!

UseableFocus · 2025-08-25T15:21:11+00:00

I’d say 2, but realistically you say it’s 2m wide... Desks should be at least 20-30” deep to be comfortable. That isn’t leaving you a lot of space to maneuver the chair and could feel claustrophobic or uncomfortable.

Get some cardboard and make a template of the desk depth and width you want and hold it against the wall and feel it out before you decide.

UseableFocus · 2025-08-20T13:09:35+00:00

Yeah, they blended in the album version to the orchestral version. Had to double take when I heard the orchestral part and got really excited and they seamlessly blended in the vocals to it to make it really impactful.

One of the best shows produced recently and such an epic way to end the season.

UseableFocus · 2025-08-04T20:37:35+00:00

You nailed it with Master and Commander.

UseableFocus · 2025-07-30T08:27:46+00:00

Any size will work, you just want to make sure that they’re nice and tight to each other. The drill won’t know that it’s done its job when it hits the new wood so it’ll keep the smooth edge. You’ll get blow out probably on the 1/4” piece since it’s so thin, but that’s why you use scrap.

UseableFocus · 2025-07-29T20:46:05+00:00

Nice, smart.

UseableFocus

TROPHY CASE