Building an entertainment stand...

Anthony_I · 10-06-2003, 02:31 PM

Anyone got some general tips for such a project?
I'm not building anything huge, or complicated, not to mention that i dont have a giant or even good quality TV, but i would like the option to add a bigger TV when the time comes.

But i really only need a few shelves for DVD/CD's, and my equipment/TV (which consits of a HTib unit, Sat. Reciever, and a PS2... ) and maybe extra shelves for whatever.

But i only want to use a single 4' x 8' sheet of MDF to build the entire thing.

Basically i just wanted some tips from people who have built stuff like this before.

I may have to use 2 sheets though.

JoshuaT · 10-06-2003, 04:08 PM

Plan out the design that you want to use, then lay the pieces out all on one sheet. MDF is heavy to use, but it is strong and cheap :-)

Good luck with your project!

~josh

Anthony_I · 10-06-2003, 05:05 PM

Thanks....it may be heavy, but yes it is strong and cheap.
Not to mention easy to sand if your cuts didnt go exactly right, and easily paintable.

Might even use some marble paint on it when its done.

I made a couple of nice shelves out of the pieces leftover from my sub box.

TimForman · 10-06-2003, 06:16 PM

I seen some nice work using Fleckstone paint. Brands like Plasticote, Rustoleum.

Dave Milne · 10-06-2003, 08:08 PM

Quote:

....it may be heavy, but yes it is strong and cheap.

MDF does not have particularly good bending strength... so keep the spans as short as possible and keep the loads as close to the supports as possible.

Recall from college Statics class that beam deflection varies with the cube of span, so every 25% increase in span doubles the deflection. Trust me, if you make the shelves 50" long, say, to accomodate a large TV and then put a stack of heavy components in the middle of one, it will bow big time --and get worse with humidity and temperature cycles.

Supporting the shelves along the back with a sturdy rear panel helps this considerably. Alternatively, you can put a hardwood rail along the front.

**HTF Ads**

BenSC · 10-07-2003, 10:50 AM

have you done a search on flexyracks? You could build one of those to easily accomodate a TV for cheap.

Eduardo · 10-07-2003, 11:03 AM

I built this cabinet with 3/4" Oak Plywood. All the shelves are dado'd into the center side wood. I also used peg board to allow ventilation. This box is strong enough for me (190 lbs) to stand on.

take a look and let me know what you think.

Custom Cabinet

MichaelDDD · 10-07-2003, 11:10 AM

Nice job on that cabinet, Eduardo.

The stain looks really good too.

Curious as to why you didn't go with adjustable shelves though? True, the fixed shelves do make the box stronger. Is that why?

It looks great. Heck of a lot better than I could do. :b My little birdhouses still come out crooked. The birds won't even live in them.

Eduardo · 10-07-2003, 11:19 AM

Thanks Mike.

Stability was a major concern and I didn't want to use any hardware. Dados make a strong joint. Here's another shot since I painted the back wall. The red wall really brings out the stain.

Painted wall

Justin Ward · 10-07-2003, 03:06 PM

I'll have some pics of my finished rack soon. Total cost only $100 CAD....

Anthony_I · 10-07-2003, 08:47 PM

That is a nice stand, simple but effective.

I would rather have a stand that surrounds the TV with the equipment/whatever to the left and right of the TV and a cupboard below the TV.

The spans wouldnt be too far apart anyway, i wouldnt build it any longer than any HT equipment is anyway.
All the the parts ive seen have been pretty much the same width, its the height/length that varies. And any newer DVD players look like credit cards

Cliff L · 10-10-2003, 06:38 PM

Here's another one based on the flexy-rack principle that I absolutely *love* that kind of fits your criteria. He raised the sides of his rack. And the one I'm building will pretty much surround the TV as well.

(add the http) arstechnica.infopop.net/OpenTopic/page?q=Y&a=tpc&s=50009562&f=67909965&m=1760947275&p=7

However he had a woodworking place do all the prep work for him while all he had to do was assemble it.

I'm going to try to build something similar on my own except instead of using 36" rods, I'll be using 60" x 5/8" diam threaded rods so the "sides" are 5' high. I'll also be using 2 sheets of 4'x8'x3/4" birch plywood ($33/sheet at Home Depot).

The dimensions of the entertainment stand will be 82" wide x 22" deep x 60" high. The side "columns" will be 22"x22" and the width of the middle section where the TV goes will be 38". That will basically accomodate a 32" TV (I have a 27" right now). The rods I'm getting at a local bolt store (Home Depot only carries 36" varieties) and the glass I'll be getting locally as well (quoted $22 ea. for an piece w/unfinished edges). In addition to having the 3 main pieces he has shown there, I'll have two more wooden 22"x22" shelves on each column, topped off with glass. Approximate cost right now is somewhere between $200-$250 for materials. And instead of painting, I'll be staining it (color TBD). I'll also be covering the rods with painted PVC pipe sleeves.

The following link shows a pretty comprehensive step-by-step methodology on how he built a flexy-rack component stand:
(add the http) members.cox.net/~tonyptx/homeaudio/flexyrack/