DIY, well ventilated laptop tray

January 8, 2010 3:32 PM

I am thinking of building something like a breakfast tray (more like a laptop tray) out of steel wire mesh or something like it. The question is, where do I buy a sheet of wire mesh that is strong enough but malleable enough?

I am thinking of building something like this, but out of a wire mesh, similar to some IKEA waste baskets.

Does anyone know how easy it is to find this material, and what the ballpark cost would be? If you have suggestions for either Montreal or Sherbrooke (Quebec), that'd great.

Also, is this a good idea? Would the table be sturdy enough?

posted by TheyCallItPeace to Grab Bag (3 answers total)

Consider starting with a heavy duty cookie cooling tray mine was around $20. The mesh is very strong and it the right size for a lap. Plus it has finished edges so nothing to scratch an arm or catch a sweater.
posted by saradarlin at 2:58 AM on January 9, 2010

Best answer: Home Depot or Lowes. They sell 48" squares, or maybe 24" x 48" The only problem is that the edges would need to be bound somehow once it's cut to size. I bought a sheet of perforated metal that's designed for inserts in radiator covers, and used it to replace a door panel in an Ikea desk so that I'd have some ventilation. They have different thicknesses/gauges and hole patterns. Some are like the mesh you describe.
posted by fixedgear at 3:50 PM on January 8, 2010

Response by poster: Too bad we lost some great answers to the recent server snafu ...
posted by TheyCallItPeace at 10:32 AM on January 9, 2010