My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus

On Aug 13, 7:59*am, busbus wrote:
My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. *They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. *Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. *They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus


Actually, I think it may even be cheaper to use a couple 2x12s for the
top and find a piece of thin ply I have laying around to make a shelf.

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:13:08 -0700 (PDT), busbus wrote:

On Aug 13, 7:59*am, busbus wrote:
My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. *They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. *Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. *They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus


Actually, I think it may even be cheaper to use a couple 2x12s for the
top and find a piece of thin ply I have laying around to make a shelf.

go to radio shack and get a swivel wall mount, easy and saves floor
space.

basilisk

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:35:32 -0500, basilisk
wrote:

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:13:08 -0700 (PDT), busbus wrote:
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!

Actually, I think it may even be cheaper to use a couple 2x12s for the
top and find a piece of thin ply I have laying around to make a shelf.

go to radio shack and get a swivel wall mount, easy and saves floor
space.

Do you have any idea what a large mount like that costs, sir? (HINT:
it's about $200 more than bricks and low-grade tubatwelves.)

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:42:33 -0700, Larry Jaques wrote:

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:35:32 -0500, basilisk
wrote:

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:13:08 -0700 (PDT), busbus wrote:
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!

Actually, I think it may even be cheaper to use a couple 2x12s for the
top and find a piece of thin ply I have laying around to make a shelf.

go to radio shack and get a swivel wall mount, easy and saves floor
space.

Do you have any idea what a large mount like that costs, sir? (HINT:
it's about $200 more than bricks and low-grade tubatwelves.)

I've got one in the bedroom, don't recall what I paid for it, wasn't
that much though. I do remember how hard it was for an old fat man to
carry a 30 inch crt tv 9 feet up a ladder.

basilisk

"basilisk" wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:42:33 -0700, Larry Jaques wrote:

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:35:32 -0500, basilisk
wrote:

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:13:08 -0700 (PDT), busbus wrote:
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!

Actually, I think it may even be cheaper to use a couple 2x12s for the
top and find a piece of thin ply I have laying around to make a shelf.

go to radio shack and get a swivel wall mount, easy and saves floor
space.

Do you have any idea what a large mount like that costs, sir? (HINT:
it's about $200 more than bricks and low-grade tubatwelves.)

I've got one in the bedroom, don't recall what I paid for it, wasn't
that much though. I do remember how hard it was for an old fat man to
carry a 30 inch crt tv 9 feet up a ladder.

basilisk


The OP is talking about a Tube TV of 150+ Pounds.

On Aug 13, 8:35*am, basilisk wrote:
On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:13:08 -0700 (PDT), busbus wrote:
On Aug 13, 7:59*am, busbus wrote:
My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. *They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. *Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. *They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus

Actually, I think it may even be cheaper to use a couple 2x12s for the
top and find a piece of thin ply I have laying around to make a shelf.

go to radio shack and get a swivel wall mount, easy and saves floor
space.

basilisk

I almost got tossed out of residence for putting a thumbtack in the
wall. Of course a few Tapcons and a quiet hammer drill...... (you were
kidding, right?)

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:30:20 -0700 (PDT), Robatoy wrote:

On Aug 13, 8:35*am, basilisk wrote:
On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:13:08 -0700 (PDT), busbus wrote:
On Aug 13, 7:59*am, busbus wrote:
My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. *They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. *Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. *They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus

Actually, I think it may even be cheaper to use a couple 2x12s for the
top and find a piece of thin ply I have laying around to make a shelf.

go to radio shack and get a swivel wall mount, easy and saves floor
space.

basilisk

I almost got tossed out of residence for putting a thumbtack in the
wall. Of course a few Tapcons and a quiet hammer drill...... (you were
kidding, right?)

Easier to get forgiveness, than it is to get permission.

basilisk

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:35:32 -0500, basilisk
wrote:

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:13:08 -0700 (PDT), busbus wrote:

On Aug 13, 7:59Â*am, busbus wrote:
My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. Â*They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. Â*Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. Â*They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

So I was thinking about slapping one together myself using 2x4s and
either 3/4" MDF or plywood. Â*Needless to say, I want this thing to be
as cheap as possible! Â*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. Â*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? Â*Of course, I originally thought of a
couple 2x12s and some 12" concrete blocks but the moms puked. Â*Ain't
nothing going to be cheaper than that!

busbus


Actually, I think it may even be cheaper to use a couple 2x12s for the
top and find a piece of thin ply I have laying around to make a shelf.

go to radio shack and get a swivel wall mount, easy and saves floor
space.

basilisk
For a 30 inch CRT?????

On 8/13/2010 7:59 AM, busbus wrote:
My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus


I think I would use 2 X 4 for the corners. I would put the 4" side of
the back pieces parallel to the front of the TV; and the front two,
perpendicular to the front of the TV. I would then rabbeted a 1 X 4
into the top of the 2X4 to to form the top of the stand, and then cut
dadoes for another band of 1 X 4 several inches from the floor. That
would give you a stand with the strength and bracing sufficient for to
hold the TV. Make the dadoes as tight as possible.

If you don't think the 1X4 would give you the strength you need they
could be half lapped into the legs

If you used a better quality of 2X4 and 1X4 you would only need to cut a
shelf to fit the bottom 1X4's, and a piece for the top and it should be
strong and look pretty good.

On Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:59:59 -0700 (PDT), busbus
wrote:

My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

g


But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

You will definitely need either to put a support directly under the
center of the top, or double up the top's thickness, or install 1x2"
center and front reinforcement strips under the top shelf. I forgot
what those are called.


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.

No legs. Make a box (with a back) of termite barf or plywood. Glue 'n
screw it together so it will withstand the rigors of dorm life. (Think
BRICK ****HOUSE.) Paint it white and send it over.


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!

Wimmenfolk. sigh

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-

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.

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.

On Aug 13, 9:59*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
busbus wrote:
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.


And ply/MDF on top the crates, right?
I second this option, but with a drape cloth (a pastel lace doily
sounds excellent, LOL), rather than pillow (en)casing the crates.
They can paint the "countertop", themselves.... a cloth covering
would get dirty, quickly. Drape the crates, not the ply. Use the
crate space for storage. If height is needed, such that 4 crates are
used, 2 stacked on 2, tie the crates together with wire ties.

Sonny

On 8/13/2010 11:56 AM, Sonny wrote:
On Aug 13, 9:59 am, wrote:
busbus wrote:
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.


And ply/MDF on top the crates, right?
I second this option, but with a drape cloth (a pastel lace doily
sounds excellent, LOL), rather than pillow (en)casing the crates.
They can paint the "countertop", themselves.... a cloth covering
would get dirty, quickly. Drape the crates, not the ply. Use the
crate space for storage. If height is needed, such that 4 crates are
used, 2 stacked on 2, tie the crates together with wire ties.

The original 2x12 and concrete block solution is traditional. If the
kids can find the right person to ask they can probably find such that
has been abandoned by a graduating senior.

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-



Okay, mostly built using scrap 1x4s and one 1x6. I have four 1x4s and
three 1x6s going along the top (which is 24 inches). There are six
gaps at about 1.75 inches. Part of me wants to leave as is and part
says to slap on a piece of luan i have laying around. I also put a
shelf in the middle, as much for strength as for storage.

I may have overbuilt it but the last thing I want is that huge thing
on somebody's foot!!!!!!!!

If you want it cheap and strong, Try this.

Use 1x4's for the legs, but rip them diagonally - measure over about 1" from
each side on the opposite ends and draw your line. Cut along the line and
form an "L" out of the pieces. Glue and screw an apron between the four
legs with a 1x4 , stretcher on the inside of the four "L's" (mitering the
corners on the apron pieces will give you more glue surface) Glue and screw,
or nail (pocket screws would be very good here) one more short length of 1/4
between the center of the front and back 1x4. Nail, or screw, and glue the
MDF to the top.

Deb



busbus wrote:

My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus

On Aug 13, 5:59*am, busbus wrote:
My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. *They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. *Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. *They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus

This may give you some useful info:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...wwVUah2zVf1NqQ

"busbus" wrote
Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds.

Sounds like the TV I got rid of recently. Mine was 185 pounds and had a
CRT, not a flat panel like the new ones. Flat panels that size weigh about
30 pounds.

A box with well place center support will take that weight.

On 8/13/2010 2:16 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

"busbus" wrote
Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds.

Sounds like the TV I got rid of recently. Mine was 185 pounds and had a
CRT, not a flat panel like the new ones. Flat panels that size weigh
about 30 pounds.

A box with well place center support will take that weight.

One of my favorite temporary expedients is a corrugated cardboard
packing box with a piece of plywood laid across the top. It's amazing
how much that can hold as long as it doesn't get wet. Perhaps a couple
of 18x18x18s--under 10 bucks at Staples for new ones.

On Aug 13, 4:59*am, busbus wrote:
My son is starting his first year of college ... just HAD to
have a TV .

it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds.

Probably, it has four feet. Those, you have to support well,
so put the legs and whatever bracing goes under the tabletop
under those four feet.

The tabletop, actually, is only to collect clutter like the remote
or a TV guide... shelves well below the TV are more useful
than a tabletop.

Well, I happened to stop at IKEA at lunch time and they had a find in
the scratch and dent room. It was a smaller TV stand, about 24 x 24.
The TV is at least 8-inches wider than the table top but I figure I
may be able to simply screw a 24 x 32 x 1/2" piece of plywood I have
laying around on top and leave it at that.

There is no weight specifications, so I don't know if it will hold
100-200 pounds. There was a bigger one upstairs that looked like this
one and the weight limit was 60 pounds. But I am at the point that I
just want to get this over with.

"busbus" wrote
Well, I happened to stop at IKEA at lunch time and they had a find in
the scratch and dent room. It was a smaller TV stand, about 24 x 24.
The TV is at least 8-inches wider than the table top but I figure I
may be able to simply screw a 24 x 32 x 1/2" piece of plywood I have
laying around on top and leave it at that.

One word of caution. If this is like my old TV, the weight was concentrated
at the front of the tube. If I set it close to the front, it was tippy on a
stand. It was OK to have a foot of the back hanging off though as there is
no weight there. Moving it back 2" made a huge difference.

On 8/13/10 5:29 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

"busbus" wrote
Well, I happened to stop at IKEA at lunch time and they had a find in
the scratch and dent room. It was a smaller TV stand, about 24 x 24.
The TV is at least 8-inches wider than the table top but I figure I
may be able to simply screw a 24 x 32 x 1/2" piece of plywood I have
laying around on top and leave it at that.

One word of caution. If this is like my old TV, the weight was
concentrated at the front of the tube. If I set it close to the front,
it was tippy on a stand. It was OK to have a foot of the back hanging
off though as there is no weight there. Moving it back 2" made a huge
difference.


Yep, just tossed a 29" Sony CRT TV, heavy SOB, replaced with a 32 inch
Sony LCD, the shelf is actually starting starting to get straight again
by some miracle.
:-)

--
Froz...


The system will be down for 10 days for preventive maintenance.

busbus wrote in news:860f61b8-b0ad-45f9-b3ed-
:

Well, I happened to stop at IKEA at lunch time and they had a find in
the scratch and dent room. It was a smaller TV stand, about 24 x 24.
The TV is at least 8-inches wider than the table top but I figure I
may be able to simply screw a 24 x 32 x 1/2" piece of plywood I have
laying around on top and leave it at that.

There is no weight specifications, so I don't know if it will hold
100-200 pounds. There was a bigger one upstairs that looked like this
one and the weight limit was 60 pounds. But I am at the point that I
just want to get this over with.

Sit on it. Does it deflect badly?

My school issued us 2 drawer dressers that we'd often stack and put our
TVs on. One of them would fit your need perfectly.

All you need is a simple 1x4 frame to support a piece of 3/4" plywood.
Use 2x4s ripped in half for legs, and call it done. (A few braces on the
legs would be a good thing, though.) At 2'x4', that's the basis for a N-
trak module. It'll handle the TV easily. (Beware 1/2" plywood. I had
some that sagged so easily I had to have supports every 8 inches.)

Puckdropper
--
Never teach your apprentice everything you know.

"busbus" wrote in message
...
My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus


The plank and block shelf is a classic. How could they not like that?

"busbus" wrote in message
...
My son is starting his first year of college next week and he and his
roommate have discovered the joys of Craig's List. They just HAD to
have a TV but neither set of parents were willing to buy them the $400
flat screen they were lobbying for, so they went scrounging.

Now, I love the fact that they decided to go this way and they found
exactly what they wanted: an old, 32-inch, flat-screen tube TV. Don't
ask me how the heck they are going to fit it into their dorm room at
school and I don't care if one of them has to sleep on the floor.

But I am going to try to slap together a quick stand for it and here
is the rub: it is 32" wide (because the speakers are on either side)
and 23" deep and has to weigh well over 150 pounds. They don't have
much room, obviously, and the stands we see in the stores either do
not support the sheer wight of this monster or they are way too wide.

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!

busbus


How about a triangular stand? Make the 'corner' point square. These big old
TVs like some support at the back (tube) end, but you don't need to waste
space with a square or rectangular stand.