Google SketchUp: My entertainment center rolls on.

One word: metal. If nice thick bent piece of steel should probably do the trick. The question is how to hide it. It could slide into the that top shelf that supports the TV. Perhaps stand the wood on end, run it through the table saw with the blade lowered a bit. You could then add bread-board ends to cover the slits on either end. You have lots of options for attaching the metal to the vertical member toward the back, preferably to the back side. Or maybe not, you could screw or bolt it on, then covert it up with some decorative piece.

I find it amusing (in a good way) that you are even designing it this way. I decided last night that the finish on my entertainment center had finally dried enough to move it to it’s final location and load it up with stuff. I don’t have the luxury of having a flat panel so instead I had to carefully place “the beast” (huge old TV I was given for free from my neighbor when he upgraded his TV) on top. Man is that sucker heavy! So heavy in fact that the front left corner of the entertainment center dug slightly deeper into our plush carpet and the twist that resulted made it difficult to open/close the left door! Once I realized what was going on I lifted the left side with one arm (man with all the weight on there is it heavy!) and adjusted the block that is underneath it so that the thing is now level again and the door opens and closes fine once more. Anyhow, I’m jealous of your non 80’s monster TV you must have ready to put on top of this space age contraption! :-)

Oh yeah! I remember your entertainment center. Now THAT’s woodworking! It’s kind of funny how one thing leads to another. When my 20-year-old TV finally died, I had to get a new TV. That led me to my new one…it’s small, 37”, but so much lighter than the old one. But with a bigger screen size. Sticking that into my equally aged entertainment center looked ridiculous. So that led me think I needed to make a new EC. And I wanted one that is very minimal, to reflect the lightness of the TV itself. That led me to get rid of my no-longer relevant components: CD player, phonograph, and VHS player. Yea! I only need space for a receiver, DVD and DVR. THAT led me to the understanding that I was totally unable to visulize what I wanted with my limited pencil and paper skills.

So because my old TV went kaput, I am learning Sketchup. Life is a river.

I think your idea of some sort of metal brace is a good one. I’ll take a trip over to the hardware store and see what inspires me!

-- Entertainment for mere mortal woodworkers. http://www.WoodworkingForMereMortals.com

I’m with Will: steel is the answer. Maybe you could use 1/2” steel rod, and bore horizontal holes into the supports and the back edge of the shelf sufficient to support the weight. Shelf and support would need to be at least 1 1/2” thick, I imagine.

-- Tom

Now I’m thinking about just extending the back and mounting the TV directly to it:

And this has me wondering if the entire unit will be stable, given that there are only 3 legs. And I’m in earthquake country. Thoughts?

-- Entertainment for mere mortal woodworkers. http://www.WoodworkingForMereMortals.com

I think 3 legs is an advantage for stability, but you probably need to stiffen the 2 shelves; maybe a back piece just along the aft edges, securely fastened to the rear leg. & you’ll probably wanna tether the top of the leg to the wall, like they do with tall bookcases.

-- Tom

“Life is a river”,....Don’t drown!

-- If you don't work, you don't eat!.....Garland, TX

Steve, thanks for the compliment. I’m not in earthquake territory (just tornadoes) and yet I seem to strongly prefer big beefy mortise and tenon joints, but then again that’s just me. Since you have a light as a feather flat panel and you’re already going in that direction I think you should try to make the design appear to float on air. This desk comes to mind. Right now I’m not trilled of the juxtaposition of your big beefy wide rear leg with the two spindly front legs. Now tapered legs, like in that desk, might be just the trick. :-)

Hey Steve
I’m no help on sketchup but it your wanting wood instead of metel for a cleat you might consider Epi
it’s super strong. and can

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

How about this?

Don

-- The best things in life aren't THINGS.

Using a monitor mounting bracket without the shelf I find most appealing. Anchor the tower to the wall and you are all set. Don’s idea for shelf supports would work well with the lower shelves and you could get rid of the legs (not a fan of those at the moment).

-- bigfish "I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it." Vincent Van Gogh

Now I think I have talked myself out of the top shelf, although I so like Don’s idea for the supports. And I am definitely revisiting the front legs. I think they need to be beefier. So many options.

-- Entertainment for mere mortal woodworkers. http://www.WoodworkingForMereMortals.com