Woodworks by John: HDTV Stands

It seems as if this project has taken a long time but I was never in a huge rush to complete it, rather; I wanted to enjoy the process and learn as much as I possibly could from it.  And learn I did!  These particular pieces of Sapele proved to be quite difficult to work.  Cutting the dovetails was challenging due to the interlocked and sinewy grain.  All the surfaces were hand planed, the only abrasives used was some 600-1000 grit paper to rub out the shellac finish.  There is evidence of some tear out in a few places but knowing that we tend to be our own worst critics and being satisfied that I gave it my all I’m going to live with that.  The Big Leaf Maple on the sliding doors was easier to work with than I thought and they came out beautifully.

Access for Control Box

The piece fits exactly where intended but Diane mentioned that the chair needs to be re-positioned a bit but no big deal.  My main goal was to have a central place for our limited media.  You may recall I didn’t want the control box and DVD player on open shelves or behind glass doors — they need to be hidden!  In this picture you can see how little the door needs to be slid open to access the control box.

As far as the over-all design I think the upsweep on the edge of the top gives it an Asian feel.  The Sapele, although difficult to work, has some beautiful grain patterns that flow across the drawer fronts.  Hard to photograph the top but the grain mimics the drawers with a bit of swirl on the front edge to add even more interest.  At 26 1/2″ high, the televisions viewing height is just right.  Ideally I’d love to make a cabinet that incorporates a  TV lift but having done one for a client I know the price of a quality lift is just not in our budget!

So, what’s next?  Until the next paying commission I’ll probably work on some new box designs for the Etsy store.  This seems to be a fairly slow time there so it’ll give me a chance to build up inventory.  Diane’s studio is due for a lighting make over too.  Ever since I did the recessed LED lighting in our kitchen it’s been a strong contender for the studio.  Time to get rid of the fluorescent fixture, upgrade, and save on energy costs there as well.

Hope you ( my WordPress followers) have enjoyed watching this cabinet come to life and I appreciate your comments and interest along the way.  Actual work time was roughly 90 hours but in my opinion, my time couldn’t have been spent in any better way.