| Project by JeffK | posted 266 days ago | 925 views | 0 times favorited | 12 comments |  |
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This project is responsible for my introduction into woodworking. My wife saw a TV stand/entertainment center in a Pottery Barn magazine that she liked, problem was, it cost around $1000. It was a pretty simple design, and my wife liked the dark color. I have a few friends that are woodworking enthusiasts, so I asked if they would be willing to help me build it….in their shops. :-) They were all receptive, but we couldn’t work out the logistics…I wanted to build it for my wife for our first anniversary. Since I couldn’t build it in time, I convinced my wife that she should buy me a table saw, and I would build her entertainment center.
So, I went to sears and spent $200 on a table saw. I ran into a few problems with that saw along the way. I ended up using three different saws to build the TV stand. I really like Sears tools, but their ~$200 table saws aren’t the best for building furniture. I will say they were great about me returning three different saws over the course of 6 months. I’ve since sold my last sears model and purchased the Ridgid TS3650.
I finished the TV stand in November of 2006….just in time to buy a new TV on “Black Friday.” I have since started on the two towers that will sit next to it….Another project on it’s way…
It’s a pretty basic design made of Poplar posts and face frame, with white birch plywood for the shelves. The guys at Austin Fine Lumber and Hardwood are fantastic, I picked out some 2” rough cut poplar and my salesman ran it through the planer himself to get me as close to 2” as possible, because I wanted the face frame and post’s widths to match. I used Dowels on the face frame joints, and I cut a blades’ width notch out of the face frame to support the plywood shelves. In hindsight…I would have re-thought my plans a bit. It was a pretty tough final assembly and glue-up. I wish I would have invested in a pocket-hole jig. My father-in-law loaned me a dowel jig, so that’s what I went with. I’m not looking forward to the final assembly of the two towers! :-)
I stained it with two coats of Olympic mocha brown wood stain, and three coats of semi-gloss Poly.
All-in-all…I’m pretty happy with it. I had never used a table saw before this project, so I learned a ton! I really only used the table saw and miter saw for the project, since I bought pre-milled face frame.
-- JeffK, Austn, TX "I’m happy to say 'I would have done it differently,' because that means I did it in the first place!"
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12 comments so far
Bob A in NJ
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335 posts in 485 days
posted 266 days ago
Jeff, Welcome and congratulations on your first project. Very nice design and execution. Looks like you have the bug now, tool collecting is as fun as woodworking so be prepared to start budgeting time and money for both. Can’t wait to see your next project.
-- Bob A in NJ
DrSawdust
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215 posts in 584 days
posted 266 days ago
Those joints look great. The finish turned out really nice. All in all you are definitely a true Lumberjock. I sure your list of “Things to Build” is growing daily now that your wife has seen what you can do.
-- Making sawdust is what I do best
Critterman
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481 posts in 296 days
posted 266 days ago
Welcome Jeff, for your first project it looks great. I think you’ll really like the Ridgid Saw, my dad has one and loves it. Sears stuff….hand tools some of the best…power tools….well not so good most of the time, sad but true. You’ll find lots of good advice and great people here at LJs, and they are always eager to help you answer questions. Glad to have you here and never forget…”Honey, if you want me to make you that I’ll need a new ….. and a new…. and a new….” LOL works everytime ;>)
-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA
GaryK
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8486 posts in 474 days
posted 266 days ago
Great first project! Turned out really nice.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Jiri Parkman
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559 posts in 298 days
posted 266 days ago
That is nice stand.
-- Jiri
Grumpy
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5675 posts in 337 days
posted 266 days ago
Welcome to LJ’s Jeff. I think the money you saved on the project deserves a new toll don’t you?.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
cajunpen
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5348 posts in 552 days
posted 266 days ago
Jeff, you have learned the first important lesson in woodworking. If your wife wants a particular piece of furniture – make sure you get a new tool out of it :-)). Your project turned out great – good luck with the rest of the project.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
rikkor
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7687 posts in 360 days
posted 265 days ago
Good job Jeff. Remember, Ridgid makes good tools, Sears is owned by K-Mart.
-- Maplewood, MN
mrtrim
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1548 posts in 366 days
posted 265 days ago
buy me a table saw and ill build you a tv table lol yup he belongs here ! however im a little disappointed you only got a 200 dollar saw out of a 1000 dollar table . i think you coulda got a router and a pocket full of bits on that deal !! lol now you might want to consider im divorced ( it was probably the lift kit i bought her for our anniversary ! )
mrtrim
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1548 posts in 366 days
posted 265 days ago
by the way , a lift kit is NOT breast implants !!
gizmodyne
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1479 posts in 576 days
posted 265 days ago
Great first project. I still have mine but I hide it like the “elephant man”.
Way to score a saw for her present. You might win some type of prize here.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Blake
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2016 posts in 360 days
posted 265 days ago
Great first project. Looks better than Pottery barn but you gotta love the price!
-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com