Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

[davepellegrene]

Thought I would let you all know I am building a wall unit for a customer.This will go in his finished basement. He wants it to look similar to the one he has in his family room. It will fit a TV that he already has and also a set of huge speakers that he all ready has. I will be working on it over the next few days and posting pics to my Picasa Web, Album, link at the bottom of my post, for anyone who wants to watch the progress. I will update it as I go. I will be building these with very basic tools. Table saw, router with a few bits and a nail gun.Very simple joints and build methods. I am going to be building it in four pieces to be assembled on the job. I will also be staining and spraying on the finish. If you go to my link it will be under " Dr. A's wall unit".
Hopefully I can help someone learn something.
Here is a pic of the existing unit and a drawing he gave me.





Dave

[LouC]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Geeze Dave, talk about intimidating..."...in the next few days" :eek: No wonder nobody's interested in my two month mini-man cave build.
I'll check in on it fer sure! I'd like to see how to avoid all the stuff I did wrong (like collapsing the saw horse with the cabinet on top)

Nice to see you've got some paying work to do, not always easy in these times. Are you going to cut your own rail & stile doors?

[davepellegrene]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Geeze Dave, talk about intimidating..."...in the next few days" :eek: No wonder nobody's interested in my two month mini-man cave build.
I'll check in on it fer sure! I'd like to see how to avoid all the stuff I did wrong (like collapsing the saw horse with the cabinet on top)

Nice to see you've got some paying work to do, not always easy in these times. Are you going to cut your own rail & stile doors?

Gotta move fast to make a living doing this. I have been booked for several months in advance for the last few years and am very greatful of it.
I have also done my share of knocking things over or dropping a finished piece. Don't forget the missed cuts or the crap forgot to do this first thing.

I will be doing my own rail, styles and drawers. No doors on this one. Usually if I only have a couple of doors to do I will order them through Rockler. The prices are not bad at all. Thats if I have time to wait on them also.
Out of glue. Off to the hardware store.
Ready to put the boxes together.
Dave

[davepellegrene]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Day two complete. Ready to assemble drawers tomorrow. Build pics here http://picasaweb.google.com/pelegrn/DrASWallUnit# if interested.
Dave

[WayneN]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Dave,

This project of yours couldn’t have come at a better time, I need to build cabinets for our new garage and the last time I made cabinets was quite a few years ago, this is an excellent refresher for me.

Thanks for taking the time in sharing your knowledge.

WayneN

[davepellegrene]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Dave,

This project of yours couldn’t have come at a better time, I need to build cabinets for our new garage and the last time I made cabinets was quite a few years ago, this is an excellent refresher for me.

Thanks for taking the time in sharing your knowledge.

WayneN

Hi Wayne,
I good product for building garage or kitchen cabinet boxes is Melamine. You can then use whatever wood face frames you want. Its cheaper and cleans up really nice. Also available at HD. I do the bases separately. You can use 1x4 or 2x4s. One on the back wall, one as a toe kick then short pieces to tie them together. Make the foot print of all the base cabinets, then level it, then attach to the wall. You then can build the boxes without the toe kick and just set them right on top. If you like you can put a piece of 1/4" finish wood on the toe kick or rubber base.
Dave

[Paul Carmody]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Hi Wayne,
I good product for building garage or kitchen cabinet boxes is Melamine. You can then use whatever wood face frames you want. Its cheaper and cleans up really nice. Also available at HD. I do the bases separately. You can use 1x4 or 2x4s. One on the back wall, one as a toe kick then short pieces to tie them together. Make the foot print of all the base cabinets, then level it, then attach to the wall. You then can build the boxes without the toe kick and just set them right on top. If you like you can put a piece of 1/4" finish wood on the toe kick or rubber base.
Dave

I'm very sorry for the hijack, but you guys are talking about a project I very desperately need to do soon.

The garage on my new house has no shelves or any storage. It needs it badly. I have been looking at free-standing utility shelves, which look OK, but I'm a bit concerned that they'll get costly when having to build shelves across a whole wall; and also the ones out there have a depth of 15"+, and I have about 14" of depth to work with. I could fudge the depth, but that creates a lot more work out of something that was supposed to be "simple to assemble and use."

So Dave, I can follow your description very easily on how to create the bases and toe kick areas... makes perfect sense. But then how do you build up from there? Do you have any pictures of a simple build? Oh, I do not plan on putting on cabinet doors or anything. Just plain old utility shelving.

[davepellegrene]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

I'm very sorry for the hijack, but you guys are talking about a project I very desperately need to do soon.

The garage on my new house has no shelves or any storage. It needs it badly. I have been looking at free-standing utility shelves, which look OK, but I'm a bit concerned that they'll get costly when having to build shelves across a whole wall; and also the ones out there have a depth of 15"+, and I have about 14" of depth to work with. I could fudge the depth, but that creates a lot more work out of something that was supposed to be "simple to assemble and use."

So Dave, I can follow your description very easily on how to create the bases and toe kick areas... makes perfect sense. But then how do you build up from there? Do you have any pictures of a simple build? Oh, I do not plan on putting on cabinet doors or anything. Just plain old utility shelving.

Not a problem at all Paul. I am not clear on what you are wanting to do. Do you want to build 14" deep cabinets from the floor up? Or are you wanting to build base cabinets with counter top then wall cabinets above. Do the shelves need to be adjustable. You can send me a PM with your email if you like and maybe I can give you some ideas.
Dave

[WayneN]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Paul,

From what I’ve learnt from being a relatively new member to this forum there is no such thing as hijacking :D its knowledge sharing and all I can say is WOW, there’s an awful lot of nice people here willing to share their knowledge!

Dave,

Thanks for the tip on the base for the base cabinets; I was going to do the traditional way with cutting the notch in the side panels for the toe kick, much less work with your tip. I’ve got a few left over PT 2”x6” from our recently built deck so I can rip them down to 3 ½” and they will be perfect bases for the garage. I recently bought 6 sheets of 13 ply ¾” Birch on sale for $39.00/sheet that I was going to use for the cabinets, now that I look at that beautiful wood I might have to change my thoughts? My biggest problem is I have a bad back and have had a few surgery’s so I have to be very careful and avoid too heavy of stuff and MDF as you know is very heavy especially in a 4x8 sheet :( I could be wrong and maybe the Melamine is not as heavy as the MDF either way I would like to have a minimum of 5/8” or ¾”? I have three grown boy’s and they all have their own lives so its not always easy having them around when I would like them to be (sorry about the rant)..
I want to build somewhat standard bases 24” D x 31 ½” H taking into account the 3 ½” base for a total height of 36” (1” counter top a combination of ply and MDF) and I still like the old school Zinc Pilaster Strips and Clips for the shelves it’s nice to have the ½” adjustment increments. Never done European hinges and the ones that we have in our kitchen have the quick release so I definitely have to have those in the garage as well. For the upper cabinets I would like to go for a total depth of 16”, height I am not sure yet I do have 9’ to work with but I also want to build an upper shelf storage system around the whole interior perimeter of the garage maybe 16” down from the ceiling? Both upper and lower cabinets will be built in modules more work but easier for me to handle. Many years ago when I made cabinets they were always open backed with a nailing/fastening strip that was made of ¾” x 5” scrap material, looking at my kitchen cabinets they have what looks to be maybe a ¼” false back and most likely a nailing/fastening strip behind that?
Can you shed some light on that part for me or maybe you have some wonderful pictures of how this is done nowadays?

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

WayneN

[davepellegrene]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Paul,

From what I’ve learnt from being a relatively new member to this forum there is no such thing as hijacking :D its knowledge sharing and all I can say is WOW, there’s an awful lot of nice people here willing to share their knowledge!

Dave,

Thanks for the tip on the base for the base cabinets; I was going to do the traditional way with cutting the notch in the side panels for the toe kick, much less work with your tip. I’ve got a few left over PT 2”x6” from our recently built deck so I can rip them down to 3 ½” and they will be perfect bases for the garage. I recently bought 6 sheets of 13 ply ¾” Birch on sale for $39.00/sheet that I was going to use for the cabinets, now that I look at that beautiful wood I might have to change my thoughts? My biggest problem is I have a bad back and have had a few surgery’s so I have to be very careful and avoid too heavy of stuff and MDF as you know is very heavy especially in a 4x8 sheet :( I could be wrong and maybe the Melamine is not as heavy as the MDF either way I would like to have a minimum of 5/8” or ¾”? I have three grown boy’s and they all have their own lives so its not always easy having them around when I would like them to be (sorry about the rant)..
I want to build somewhat standard bases 24” D x 31 ½” H taking into account the 3 ½” base for a total height of 36” (1” counter top a combination of ply and MDF) and I still like the old school Zinc Pilaster Strips and Clips for the shelves it’s nice to have the ½” adjustment increments. Never done European hinges and the ones that we have in our kitchen have the quick release so I definitely have to have those in the garage as well. For the upper cabinets I would like to go for a total depth of 16”, height I am not sure yet I do have 9’ to work with but I also want to build an upper shelf storage system around the whole interior perimeter of the garage maybe 16” down from the ceiling? Both upper and lower cabinets will be built in modules more work but easier for me to handle. Many years ago when I made cabinets they were always open backed with a nailing/fastening strip that was made of ¾” x 5” scrap material, looking at my kitchen cabinets they have what looks to be maybe a ¼” false back and most likely a nailing/fastening strip behind that?
Can you shed some light on that part for me or maybe you have some wonderful pictures of how this is done nowadays?

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

WayneN

The melamine has a partical board core so it is not as heavy as MDF, but it is heavier then plywood. On the toe kick I usually rip it to 4 1/4". If your bottom rail on the cabinet is an 1 1/2" and you hold the top of it flush to the top of floor of the cabinet it sticks down 3/4" lower so that will put it at 3 1/2" from the floor if your toe kick is 4 1/4". Hope that made sense.
All I ever use anymore is the European hinges. They give you six ways to adjust the doors. Can't beat that. I also use to use the metal strips all the time, but lately I have just been drilling the holes and using the clips. On open shelves I just like the look of it better. Also cheaper.
If you look through the pics were I built the center base cabinet you will see how I put in the screw strips then the 1/4" back on top of that. You can do the same method on the wall cabinets. The strips can be anything laying around from 1 1/2" to 8" if you want. I usually glue and nail them from the top and the ends.
Here is a pic of how I did my kitchen cab. I used 3/4" backs. Not sure why I think I got a really good deal on the Melamine and all they had was 3/4". The cabinet is attached to the wall from above the cabinet. The top is recess 3/4" so I had room to screw from above. The shelves are the prefinished ones with a slightly rounded over edge, from HD. They are back with the oak, maple,and cedar brds. They come 12",15"and I think 24". They are quite a bit cheaper then the shelves you find in there shelving department.
Dave

[Paul Carmody]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Not a problem at all Paul. I am not clear on what you are wanting to do. Do you want to build 14" deep cabinets from the floor up?

Yes.

Do the shelves need to be adjustable.

No, not really.

Any ideas?

[davepellegrene]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Yes.

No, not really.

Any ideas?

This is one of the simplest set ups. You can buy the side pieces with the predrilled holes at HD. Same as I was telling Wayne. You have to go to the area were they have the 8' lengths of 1 x2s,4s,6s,and 8s of oak, poplar and cedar. They are a cheaper grade of melamine. Instead of a square front edge they have a slightly rounded edge. They come in 8' lengths. For each unit buy two sides predrilled. Get the shelving material, same stuff without holes. Cut a top and bottom. Attach to sides with dado's or just run screws from the sides, if you don't mind seeing the heads. Get a piece of 1/4" and nail on the back. So you have built a box with a back. Get the clips that fit the holes and cut as many shelves as you want. You can make these units 4' x 8'.
If you want something a little heavier duty I do have a different system I can show you a pic of. They are 8' x 8' and made from 2x4s and plywood. Unfinished. I can take a pic tomorrow if you like
Dave

[WayneN]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Dave,

I will stop by HD in the City tomorrow after work and check out the Melamine as well the prefinished shelving material. I now understand what you’re saying about the toe kick and the 4 1/4” measurements; it’s clearly visible in photo # 10 on your site. I have about 20 strips of the Zinc Pilaster Strips and a whole box of Clips from years gone by so I might as well use them. BTW I will have doors on the uppers as well doors and drawers on the lowers, regarding the drawers you mention to put in 3 dowels, what is the purpose for this?

Thanks again,

WayneN

[Paul Carmody]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

This is one of the simplest set ups. You can buy the side pieces with the predrilled holes at HD. Same as I was telling Wayne. You have to go to the area were they have the 8' lengths of 1 x2s,4s,6s,and 8s of oak, poplar and cedar.

Dave,
That's a good idea. I've used that melamine shelving for little things, basically just re-shelving closets, but I didn't think of building a whole shelving unit with it. I will go to HD and price out such a setup, and see where I end up.

If you want something a little heavier duty I do have a different system I can show you a pic of. They are 8' x 8' and made from 2x4s and plywood. Unfinished. I can take a pic tomorrow if you like
Dave

Yes, I am also quite interested in that; please give me more info. Since this is a garage setup, aesthetics are not as important as durability and functionality.

So... how's the entertainment center build going? ;)

[davepellegrene]

Re: Building a wall unit for TV and Speakers

Dave,
That's a good idea. I've used that melamine shelving for little things, basically just re-shelving closets, but I didn't think of building a whole shelving unit with it. I will go to HD and price out such a setup, and see where I end up.


Yes, I am also quite interested in that; please give me more info. Since this is a garage setup, aesthetics are not as important as durability and functionality.

So... how's the entertainment center build going? ;)

Sorry it took me a while, was up shooting the sealer on the cabinets.

Here is the way I did my storage room shelves. These were designed to carry some weight. If you look in the one pic of the end of the shelf you can barely see the front and rear horizontal shelf supports (2x4) protrudes out into the 2x4 leg. I put all four legs side by side, marked were I wanted the 2x4 and cut notches every 1/4" until I got the width of the 2x4 cut out, then knock the strips out with a hammer and clean up the slot. This set up maybe a little heavy duty for what you are doing, but you get the idea.




On the other shelf system you could use 3/4 sheating and rip it to what ever you want. That is usually the cheapest way to go.
Dave