busbus wrote:
On Aug 13, 9:42 am, "Mike Marlow"
wrote:
busbus wrote:

So I was thinking about slapping one together myself using 2x4s and
either 3/4" MDF or plywood. Needless to say, I want this thing to be
as cheap as possible! I was thinking about gluing two 18" 2x4s
together to make an ELL for each of four legs and then lay a piece
of 3/4" plywood or MDF on top. Maybe use a 1" board to connect all
four legs together at the top and then another set of 1" boards
halfway down to put a shelf in plus it should help it stay together.

Does this sound like a plan? Of course, I originally thought of a
couple 2x12s and some 12" concrete blocks but the moms puked. Ain't
nothing going to be cheaper than that!

You would be surprised at the weight that a seemingly light duty
stand, will carry. There's no need to use two-by lumber for this
type of project - one-by will work just fine. Take a look at how
lighter weight materials are typically used for applications like
this. You can use 1/8" luan plywood for the top if you build
structural framing under it, for example. It's largely a matter of
taste, but I don't like the look of two-by lumber for furniture.
Looks too clunky for my tastes. 150 pounds is not a lot of weight to
support, and it's not a concentrated weight - it's spread across a
32" span. That is actually in your favor. It's worth looking at the
commercial stuff that is on the market and seeing if you can get
some ideas from that. Just remember that you don't need to go the
route of building materials that are typically used to support
houses, for a simple TV stand.

--

-Mike-



Ahhhhhhhhhh...you got me thinking. If I use 1x4s to make the legs the
same way I was going to build them with the 2x4s but connect them with
the same 1x4s installed horizontally at the top of the legs and some
more 1x's halfway down to hold a shelf and to make the thing a little
stronger. Then place, what? 1/2" crap stuff on top?

By the way, I thought about painting the thing black... )

I like the idea of using glued sawdust panels but I know at least
these two guys are not going to be, uh, sane, and I can see them
bounce into the unit and have it end up on the floor.

Who am I kidding?! We are talking about a college dorm room and I can
give a rat's ass about aesthetics. I want something that is hell for
strong and cheap. 2x4s and a 2x12 is cheap. I can probably build
this for less than $20 or $25 if I use 2-bys.

Don't paint it. Tell the moms to pick out a table cover, preferably
something like a giant doilie, with lots of lace and pastel covers.

If it was me, I'd consider two (or three) milk crates and a large pillow
case.