Shopsmith Forums

Looking for advice/suggestions on building this entertainment unit. It’s a commission, and this is the customers design. Most of the stock is maple plywood and the all the front edges are solid maple.

The cabinet is resting on the back in the photos and view is from the foot of the cabinet.
The inside dimension is 51”.

In large opening they are putting in a large TV. They are calling for a 2 x 10 that will go side to side and have the TV’s mounting bracket attached to the 2 x 10. (In the 2nd pic I’ve put an old skid bottom to help show what they want.) How should I attach the 2 x 10 brace? I could use angle iron screwed to the cabinet sides and brace. Or I could use dowels. Or I could screw through the outside of the cabinet and into the 2 x 10 and the patch the holes. Or???

Thanks for reading.

Input deleted. Poorly thought out. Would not work. Would have become a liable for you if used.

You don't mention putting a back on the cabinet, but I would seriously try to talk them into one for stability. As for the brace (mount), what about a mortise and loose tenon. You could use a contrasting wood for the tenon as a design feature. And it would be much stronger than screwing into the end grain of the 2x10.

A back will give the unit excellent satbility. You will want to leave open space on the back for ventilation. If they will be putting electronic equipment in the lower spaces they will also need ventilation.

Gussets at all corners will give the same strength as a solid back. The gussets don't even have to be large. A triangle 3X3X sq root of 18. In other words, a right triangle with 3" legs.

I think a full back of 3/4" plywood is a much better idea. If it needs ventilation then cut slots or don't go all the way to the top so the hot air can escape.

You could attach at a lot of points that way and a simple wide rabbet should give you plenty of strength.

If you are worried a couple of vertical slats could be added to the back that would attach in the top and bottom of the case in that area.

Ed

Made a TV cabinet for my son, the mechnical engineer. He has lots of electronics in the left cabinet. It had a full plywood back with several 3" holes. He wanted a LARGE hole cut in the back to vent the heat. He told me about the strength of gussets. Too late in his case, but the hole he wanted is so large that there is only a 1 to 3 inch fringe around the back.

You can see the inch or so fringe along the left side and the white wall behind.

Believe me the tower is sturdy!

I would put on a back, as others have suggested. I would put a pair of vertical 1x4s behind the back to screw in the tv support bracket. Using verticals will give a more logical load path than a horizontal member.

Unless the mount brings the TV out 12" or more, the TV will look like it is in a cave. Viewing will be limited to the center of the cabinet as well. I would put a back on it and tell the customer you recommend a pedestal for the TV. That way they can move the TV around towards the front of the cabinet.

The first thing you need to know is the weight of the TV. If it is one of the new LED screens they are very light and weight is not an issue. I would definitely put a full back on it but 1/4 maple ply is more than enough. I agree that the screen will need to be mounted flush with the front or close to it so you will need to have them give you the dimensions from the rear of the mount to the front of the screen. It certainly does not need to be a 2x10 no matter what the weight. A piece of 3/4 maple ply is more than adequate. As far as mounting the support I would screw and glue two vertical pieces onto the sides of the opening and then attach the ply or 2/10 to that also with glue and screws. The verticals could be just 1x2 maple cut to the width of the horizontal support piece.
Paul