Upcycling
This project was a practical exercise in upcycling and problem-solving, born from a personal need for a second monitor. For over 10 years, my old 2014 Alienware 17 laptop had been sitting on a shelf, unused. However, I’d always considered its screen one of the best I had ever used. Since I had recently switched to a desktop, I decided to give this screen a new life and put it to work to improve my workflow. This would allow me to have my primary task on one screen and other things, like my music playlist, on another.
From Laptop Screen to Desktop Monitor
My first step was to carefully pry the screen out of the laptop—a task that required a gentle hand and a lot of patience. Once the screen was free, I noted its serial number and ordered a specialized board online that would convert it from a simple laptop display into a functioning monitor.
While waiting for the board to arrive, I started thinking about the physical frame. The screen needed a mounting point and support, as it was quite fragile. I saw other people use everything from duct tape to metal brackets, but I landed on a more elegant solution: a picture frame. The thickness of the picture frame's glass and backboard seemed about right, and the metal tabs on the back could be bent to accommodate any small differences in thickness.
The Challenge of Primitive Tools
When all the parts arrived, I put everything together. Connecting the screen to the new board was surprisingly straightforward. However, the picture frame wasn’t a perfect fit. I had to buy a frame that was slightly too large and cut it down to size. With no access to a proper workshop, I was limited to using a saw and a file. This proved to be a real challenge, and the margin for error was much higher.
As I was working, I realized my cut wasn't perfectly straight, and I ended up filing away too much material. I had to reassemble the frame with a staple gun to hold it together, leaving a small gap. The project works, but it’s a constant reminder of the challenges of working with primitive tools.
A Lesson in Upcycling
This project was a great lesson in the compromises of upcycling. The monitor works great—it's responsive and has good color. However, the viewing angle is subjective due to the original laptop's screen film, a problem I don't know how to fix. The project taught me that the quality of upcycled parts is random, and you have to work with what you get.
I'd like to revisit this project in the future to improve the frame, which is too thick for my liking and doesn't match my other monitors. But even with its flaws, this project is a perfect example of how to solve a problem with resourcefulness and creative thinking.
