Replies

1. 
   tucsonreddog | Dec 04, 2003 04:29am | #1

   I just finished an entertainment center from the article in the November 2001 issue of Wood Magazine. I am very satisfied with the plan and the result. I used cherry plywood and cherry instead of the maple plywood and maple the article suggests and made the raised door panels from mesquite instead of cherry. The only issue is that it is HEAVY, but that mey be inherent in entertainment centers of that size. It easily holds a 32" CRT TV.

   Good luck.

2. 
   dbrown | Dec 04, 2003 05:25am | #2

   Bob,

   I'm about to start on the same project, entertainment center made of cherry plywood with cherry face frames.  I'm a novice but perhaps we could share information.  I'm planning a trip to my local hardwood supplier on Saturday, and as far as I know they only stock one grade of 3/4 cherry plywood which is good two sides.  You have to watch out for 1/4" because that will often be good on one side only with the other side made of a secondary wood.   The 3/4" ply is very expensive at $120.00 per sheet.   I'm almost afraid to use it as any cutting mistake will be costly and my wife will kill me.  I barely convinced her that spending almost $1000.00 on materials will result in a piece of furniture you couldn't buy retail for twice the price.

   Good luck .

   Darren

1. 
   Mackwood | Dec 05, 2003 08:02am | #8

   Darren,

   Go bravely forth!  I built my wife a china cabinet out of Honduras Mahog. back in the late 80's.  Wood was $1000, glass (beveled for doors, flat for shelves and stained for decorative panel) was about $700, hardware another $150 and got a Grizzly 15" planer into the deal for another $700.  I told her I didn't want to risk burning that gorgeous wood on the Navy base wood shop planer (no lie) which I had used up to that time.

   She's still in love with the cabinet and shows it to everyone who comes into our home for the first time and the planer works better now than it did out of the crate (I've done a little tuning).

   You'll never regret it!!

   Enjoy!

   Mack

1. 
   dbrown | Dec 05, 2003 09:18am | #9

   Mack,

   Thanks for the encouragement.  I just ordered over $500.00 worth of hardware and woodworking goodies from Rockler and spent another $360.00 on cherry plywood.  When I told my wife she said she had to go throw up!  When it's finished she'll ooooh and aaaaah and deny she ever had any reservations.  If only I can wait to start my project till after I'm finished painting all the new trim I just installed in my living room.  Did I mention I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 4 year old that I take care of while my wife is at work?  (I work 4:00 to 12:30).

   If the entertainment center looks anything like the picture in my head I'll post pictures.

   Darren

   Edited 12/5/2003 1:25:56 AM ET by Darren

1. 
   Mackwood | Dec 05, 2003 10:00am | #10

   Darren,

   That's the spirit!  I think you've got the wives pegged ("deny she had any reservations").  When we first got married, my wife started talking about furniture so we went looking at the stores.  I had no wood working experience but I knew junk when I saw it and they weren't giving it away!!  I told her that if she was patient and let me buy tools that I could build better furniture than we could afford to buy.  She was very skeptical to say the least but she went for it!  After the first few small (and cheap) tools and the first small table project she was convinced and we haven't looked back (22 years this June)!!

   I envy your youth and your two small youngin's!  Count you blessings!--one--two--etc!  With any luck at all, you can involve them in your shop activities at some time!  At the very least, you can build lots of neat stuff for them!

   Enjoy!!

   Mack 

3. 
   CharlieP | Dec 04, 2003 05:57am | #3

   Just finished one out of Walnut for a client (I only do it part time).  Watch out for the number of plies - the last time I ordered I got 5 ply 3/4 inch, which was an actual 5/8 inch and pretty light.  A different supplier provides 7 ply 3/4 inch that is a more normal 23/32 inch, and feels a lot more sturdy. 

   The face side is graded ABCD... You definitely want A grade.  The back side is graded 1234... But A1 plywood often has a lot of sap wood on the 1 side.  So be prepared to fuss until you get a sheet that is good on both sides, or plan your design so that one side doesn't show a lot.  For example, the dark side of a shelf could be the "1" side, while the visible side is the "A" side.  And an upper shelf could be built with the better side down. 

   I asked my wholesaler if they had AA plywood, to use where both sides would show.  He said it was special order only, and would cost a fortune (as if $120 a sheet wasn't already a fortune). 

   On a recent bookcase, I tried MDF core wood for the verticals (but not shelves).  The veneer was better than on the plywood, but I don't know if I was just lucky.  It is worth checking into. 

   I will try to design my next entertainment center so that the electronic equpiment shelves slide forward or out for wiring.  By the time the TV was in place, the unit was too heavy to move out to get to the wiring in back.  I saw one design that had a unit like a slide in bookcase, behind the doors, for the VCR/DVD/etc

4. 
   Norse | Dec 04, 2003 02:57pm | #4

   Veneers can by either plane sliced or rotary cut. Plane sliced veneers are cut lengthwise through the log. This gives a more realistic "Cathedral" effect to the wood, which means it looks more like natural wood grain. Rotary cut veneers are cut around the circumference of the log, like a pencil sharpener. This gives a less desirable, less realistic, jagged grain appearance

5. 
   RandMCapozzi | Dec 04, 2003 05:49pm | #5

   If you plan on having very large uninterupted panels that will be visible, I would seriously consider going with the slice cut plywood as Norse described. The rotary cuts work fine for smaller sections because the grain pattern is interrupted. Unfortunately, I think the slice cuts are a bit more expensive.

   --Rob

6. 
   stevemorris | Dec 04, 2003 11:38pm | #6

   try your local kitchen cabinet place, usually they will supply prefinished wood veneer particle board and all of the doors and trim pieces you can imagine

   quality is excellent and the finishes are usually perfect

   my supplier is kitchen craft and they have melamine to solid cherry in a multitude of finishes

   i build this type of thing everyday and with a little extra care protecting the finish i can build the largest entertainment center in no time and no finishing required

   caulking is not a piece of trim

1. 
   Pitt | Dec 05, 2003 01:32am | #7

   I built one about 6 years ago using 3/4 walnut plywood for the sides and interior parts that would show. for the face frames, door frames, and raised panels I used 3/4 walnut. I couldn't be happier. A 3/4 x 4 x 8 walnut plywood cost about a hundred bucks, so how much are you going to save bt using something else. If you are not a pro, I 'm not, stick what you are comfortable with. Have an enjoyable project an don't ask for problems. Have fun!