Oak Entertainment Center

[Rich]

Well my wife brought a new TV home.. started as a 50" widescreen.. but now she says it makes the house look like a bachelor pad. :D
She is now returning that and getting a 42" (I said oh well). Anyway the 50" is sitting on a stand right now and our daughter is at the perfect height to touch the screen and mess with all the components. The wife has contracted me to build an entertainment center for her. Lucky for me I just got a new router table too.
I'm basing the design off a plan I bought awhile back for a 72" dresser (eventually the wife's dresser). First I have to finish a 4 drawer dresser for the daughter. So I'll be having some pictures up soon of the dresser and then some more pictures of the construction of the entertainment center.

[Rich]

I purchased all the sheet goods today (red oak and baltic birch plywood). Trying to finish up the design. Has anyone ever used the flipper door systems that are widely used on entertainment centers - so the door can slide back out of the way? I've never used them myself - so I don't know if I can put in the recommended space allowance plus a door thickness or not.
The main doors will be hinged in the middle so they resemble bi-folds. This allows me to keep the depth of the cabinet shallower and still be able to completely hide the doors. I've got 2-3/4" right now for the space for the hinged door and the flipper slide track.
I guess I'll have to break down and purchase them first - then setup a test and just see how much I'll need. I'll take any input if someone has some.

[Rich]

I've got the sides all mortise and tenoned as well as dadoed for the side panels. Started to dado for the back panel and top panel. For the shelf and interior pieces I will biscuit joint everything. I'm hoping to have most of the 3/4" plywood pieces cut by tonight and ready to put the whole carcass together in the morning. *fingers crossed*

[Rich]

I've got the main carcass together - glue is drying. What a day - I'm exhausted. I'll give it an hour or so then I'll put on a coat of stain. I'll take a before and after picture and post it.

[Rich]

Well my wife talked me out of staining the entertainment center until the doors are done too.. so here's what it looks like so far.

[Rich]

I thought I might show where I was this morning also.. haha. The picture is kind of crappy but you get the idea.

[steeve]

hi Rich, dont know if you finished your project, hope yes,march...about the doors too late?, i used drawer extension tracks, by reversing them +hinges works great and cheaper... :idea:

[Rich]

Damn - it's been awhile since I've even thought about this project - with everything else going on. Actually steeve I haven't finished this yet - I just keep moving it out of my way in the garage whenever the wife comes up with something new for me to do. Good idea on the slides...
I found some good hardware for the size of doors I'll be building for pretty cheap ($25 / door).

[steeve]

$25 that's pretty good, when i was looking for the hardware they were over $125 for a set, so i got the sliders for $15/door with little modifications...

[Rich]

Wordworkers hardware is where I found them. All the hardware for the doors and 3 large drawers was about $175.

[Dragon]

Arrgh I've got to do this too. The TV in the living room won't fit in any conventional entertainment center.