Starting to Build My Electronics Room

In my last video, I completely reorganized my workshop to create space for a new project—a clean room. I shifted all my woodworking tools to one side to make room for a tech-oriented workspace. The idea was to have a dedicated area for 3D printers, vinyl cutters, and other electronics that didn’t quite fit in my office or the wood shop. This new clean room was roughly the size of a one-car garage, about 20 feet long and 11 feet wide. Inspired by the aesthetic of Tron, I wanted this space to look futuristic, with lots of LEDs and sleek designs.

To get started, I had to build some walls. I used a framing nailer, despite its roofing coil, because it’s perfectly suited for framing too. I began by constructing a short wall section. This section needed to be removable because my large 3D printer couldn’t fit through a regular door. Instead of installing double doors, which seemed unnecessary, I opted for a detachable section of the wall. This way, I could easily open up a large space if needed. I framed the wall using two by threes instead of two by fours to save money and space, and I didn’t worry about standard stud spacing since I planned to cover the walls with plywood.

Once the basic framing was done, I needed to secure the walls to the floor and ceiling. Though tempted by the idea of using a ram set—a tool that drives anchors into concrete using shotgun-like charges—I chose to use screws instead for easy removal if needed. With the initial wall in place, it was time to think about the unique Tron-inspired window. This window would be a focal point, incorporating shapes and lighting reminiscent of the Tron movies. My plan involved cutting the window shape into the wall, tracing it onto plexiglass, and etching it to create glowing edges with LEDs.

Next, I had to address the ceiling, which involved working around existing utilities like AC ducts and plumbing. I decided to install a drop ceiling, similar to what I had in my home office, to hide these utilities while keeping them accessible. This meant building plywood boxes around the utilities to create flat edges for the ceiling grid. I bought a drop ceiling kit with black tiles and track, aiming for a seamless, disappearing ceiling look. However, I ran into some issues with the installation, which required redoing parts of the grid to get it right.

As the project progressed, I realized the scope was bigger than I initially planned. I often start projects with a rough 70% plan and fill in the details as I go, but this room’s intricate design elements required more attention. Instead of rushing to finish everything in one video, I decided to split the project into two parts. This way, I could ensure the final details—like the window lighting and room programming—received the focus they deserved. For this first part, my goal was to get the room ready: walls covered, painted black, and all utilities in place.

Finally, it was time to install the door. I chose a pre-hung door but faced challenges due to the custom wall thickness. I had to modify the door frame to fit, which involved some tricky adjustments.

Despite these hurdles, I got the door installed, which marked the final step before painting the entire room black. The black paint transformed the room into a blank slate, setting the stage for the next phase of adding all the Tron-inspired details. Be sure to come back for the next video when I finally finish this room and add all the lights and details to the room!