Anyone know about construction? How much support am I losing?

[DominionSeraph]

What does your TV's base look like, and what are the measurements? I mean, a big CRT will normally have a pretty solid flat bottom that itself will transfer the load, so as long as the supports are under it you're fine. But if your TV is on a pedestal I'd want the support within inches of the center with only MDF.

Edit: I see the pic now. So... you wanted your TV to crash through your center speaker, was it?

 

[Brigandier]

Measure twice, cut once...

 

[ManBearPig]

What does your TV's base look like, and what are the measurements? I mean, a big CRT will normally have a pretty solid flat bottom that itself will transfer the load, so as long as the supports are under it you're fine. But if your TV is on a pedestal I'd want the support within inches of the center with only MDF.

Edit: I see the pic now. So... you wanted your TV to crash through your center speaker, was it?

ha, i DONT want that to happen. The TVs base is 21.5 inches long and the speakers will have to be 21.3 inches apart.

If i want the new, revised stand to look like TV riser A, i will have to make it like this:

• stands 22" apart (so there is some wiggle room)
• factor in the extra 3/4" for each board width so thats 1.5" more
• and i guess have about 2" going past each foot on each side=4" more

so about 27.5-28" total for the top, where the feet will be about 22" apart and the TV stand will probably be about 22" wide as well.

The legs must be about 22" apart since the width of the center speaker is 21.3" (gives some wiggle room, i might even go 23" apart). The tv stand is completely flat and 21.5" long, and since the speaker must be WITHIN the stands, the tv stand and the speaker stands wont completely overlap. The center is 11.1" deep and the tv stand is 12.1" deep, but i made it 14" deep so it wouldnt be completely flush with the edge and have about 1" clearance on either side.

So i guess i could revise it like i said above and add a horizontal brace or keep it as is and add a horizontal brace.

 

[DominionSeraph]

I'd do something more like this:

So the TV's weight rests on the center crosspiece and is transferred into the supports. (notch the legs and rest the crosspiece in)

(Actually, I'd just use real wood and make an enclosed box.)

 

[ManBearPig]

I'd do something more like this:

So the TV's weight rests on the center crosspiece and is transferred into the supports

(Actually, I'd just use real wood.)

Damn, not sure i could swing that without adding a few extra inches, which sucks because i dont want the tv to be too much higher and i dont wanna buy more wood. :\

I think im just gonna go ahead and get some new wood to make it like TV riser A and add in a horizontal brace and maybe a couple lips along with the L-bracket, glue, and screws and call it a day.

 

[DominionSeraph]

I think im just gonna go ahead and get some new wood to make it like TV riser A and add in a horizontal brace and maybe a couple lips along with the L-bracket, glue, and screws and call it a day.

Don't make it MDF if those legs are gonna be 22" apart. A pedestal base is not likely to spread the load well, and 76lbs is a lot of weight.

 

[ManBearPig]

Don't make it MDF if those legs are gonna be 22" apart. A pedestal base is not likely to spread the load well, and 76lbs is a lot of weight.

fml, what wood would you suggest? so sick of spending money! :'(

 

[Brigandier]

fml, what wood would you suggest? so sick of spending money! :'(

You shoulda asked ATOT to design you a stand. They would have done it for free, one-upping one another the whole way. I've refrained fropm speaking because I think several designs could give you what you want, so long as you told us the dimensions of the speaker it's on top of.

 

[ManBearPig]

You shoulda asked ATOT to design you a stand. They would have done it for free, one-upping one another the whole way. I've refrained fropm speaking because I think several designs could give you what you want, so long as you told us the dimensions of the speaker it's on top of.

Haha, well said.

Dimensions:

Depth: 11.1 inches
Height: 7.8 inches
Width: 21.3 inches
Weight: 17 pounds

Most people still havent answered my main question, A or B!?!

If A, i can easily just get some more wood. If B is okay with you guys, i could just support the fuck out of it. If A + more support, that's okay too.

 

[Brigandier]

How high do you want the TV? You seem reluctant to raise the TV, but what do you want?

 

[ManBearPig]

How high do you want the TV? You seem reluctant to raise the TV, but what do you want?

I honestly want it raised as little as possible. Well, i DO want it higher. But all this reinforcement and stuff requires extra room, and i dont want it THAT much higher. So basically the height of the speaker + a 1/2" wiggle room so it'll fit easy, plus the 3/4" MDF. So like 9-10".

 

[Brigandier]

I honestly want it raised as little as possible. Well, i DO want it higher. But all this reinforcement and stuff requires extra room, and i dont want it THAT much higher. So basically the height of the speaker + a 1/2" wiggle room so it'll fit easy, plus the 3/4" MDF. So like 9-10".

If you're making your own mount, less room between components can be better, especially if your speaker is rear fire. You'd need like an 1/8 wiggle room, it will slide in and fit like a glove, with no forcing.

I'll think on a design tonight, to unite all your components, do you need extra room for receivers, vidja games, dvd players, etc?

 

[ManBearPig]

If you're making your own mount, less room between components can be better, especially if your speaker is rear fire. You'd need like an 1/8 wiggle room, it will slide in and fit like a glove, with no forcing.

I'll think on a design tonight, to unite all your components, do you need extra room for receivers, vidja games, dvd players, etc?

No sir, this stand is going on top of a table (essentially another stand) that all of that stuff is under.

 

[jlee]

Whatever you do, it'll be way better than mine...my 42" LCD has been sitting on an Amazon box for the better part of a year.

If I wasn't moving in 6 weeks, you would have inspired me to come up with an appropriate solution...

 

[ManBearPig]

Whatever you do, it'll be way better than mine...my 42" LCD has been sitting on an Amazon box for the better part of a year.

If I wasn't moving in 6 weeks, you would have inspired me to come up with an appropriate solution...

Hey, nothing wrong with that, the only thing is that my center speaker wouldnt fit in the box.

 

[BoomerD]

So you've got a television that's what, $1000, and you're trying to nickel and dime a stand?

I have no problem with saving a bit of money, just do it smart...

 

[Fayd]

use L-channel aluminum or steel down the length of the MDF.

or just don't use MDF. take your cheap ass to home depot and buy some wood. any of the hardwoods, even poplar, will be 10x stronger.

 

[Minerva]

MDF is horrible. It will sag and get a permanent bow. If it gets slightly wet it will swell up. Horrible stuff.

Get some real plywood like finished birch or oak. It runs about $45 for a 4x8 3/4" thick sheet. Do you have decent power tools to work with wood properly?

Double up on the top member, use decent corner brackets and glue and you're good to go. For the best look miter your joints.

Above all just don't use MDF. I hate that stuff. There's too much of it out there these days.

 

[Miramonti]

You've got to protect it from lateral movement. Another option is triangles cut from 2x4's in the corners.

 

[Minerva]

You've got to protect it from lateral movement. Another option is triangles cut from 2x4's in the corners.

It's not that tall so it should not rock noticeably with a TV on it.

Oh and where's the wall mount option? Monoprice FTW!

 

[Miramonti]

It's not that tall so it should not rock noticeably with a TV on it.

Oh and where's the wall mount option? Monoprice FTW!

I'm thinking any animals playing, bumping into it, kids, grandpa with a few too many, vacuum cleaner, turning the tv, etc. Screws into pressboard can lose their strength over time too as the stand absorbs various bumps and jolts over time.

 

[Minerva]

Well yeah if he makes it out of MDF it's going to need a lot more shoring up. This is why IKEA uses those locking posts with perpendicular hardened screws. Wood screws into MDF is a disaster.

 

[sdifox]

how big is the centre? if you can close off the back end with another piece than it should be strong enough, just need a hole or arch for the cable.

I would use wood and not mdf.

 

[Modelworks]

Make it out of 3/4" plywood . Cost about the same as MDF and a lot stronger. The A design is going to be stronger because the load is better distributed. Use plywood with metal L brackets and wood screws and it will hold 200lbs fine.

 

[bruceb]

Design A is the better choice. MDF or particle board should not be used. Top quality plywood is best and the vertical pieces should be dadoed into the top board or braced so they can not move left or right. Personally, I would look for a small piece of furniture to put the TV on top of, with room below it for items you are going to need, like Cable TV box, VCR, DVD player as there is no way to put them above these new flat panel tv sets.