DIY A/V Component Cabinet

Your A/V component cabinet can be any size or shape you desire.

An A/V component cabinet serves two main purposes. It is somewhere to place your television so it is at a comfortable viewing height, and it is somewhere to store all your audio-visual equipment such as DVD and Blu-ray players. Many different styles of A/V component cabinet are available in stores and prices differ wildly, but you also can build your own DIY A/V component cabinet to the exact size and shape you need for much cheaper than many store-bought pieces.

Things You'll Need

• 7 sheets of 3/4-inch plywood
• Circular saw
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Drill
• Hacksaw
• Wood glue
• Screwdriver drill bit
• 1 1/2-inch wood screws
• 4 L-brackets
• 1-inch screws

Instructions

1. Cut two sheets of plywood 36 by 18 inches, using a circular saw. Cut two sheets of plywood 34 1/2 by 18 inches. Cut two sheets of 19 1/2 by 18 inches. Cut one sheet of plywood 36 by 21 inches.

2. Measure 2 inches up one of the 21-inch long sides of the 36-by-21-inch piece, then 13 inches along the 36-inch side, keeping the 2-inch gap from the base of the sheet. Mark this point with a pencil. Draw a rectangle 6 inches high and 10 inches wide from the marked point. Drill a hole in each corner of the rectangle. Cut the rectangle out using a hacksaw.

3. Apply wood glue to the 3/4-inch edges of the two 18-inch sides of the 19 1/2-by-18-inch pieces. Stand the glued pieces vertically on one of the 36-by-18-inch pieces, along the edges of the 18-inch sides so the vertical pieces are flush with the edges of the 36-inch piece. You should have a “U” shape at this point.

4. Place the other 36-by-18-inch piece on top of the “U” shape to form a rectangular frame. Reinforce the joints between the pieces using a hammer drill with a screwdriver drill bit to countersink two 1 1/2-inch wood screws into each corner of the frame.

5. Apply wood glue to the 3/4-inch edges of the 18-inch sides of the two 34 1/2-by-18-inch pieces. Measure 6 inches up from the bottom of the inside of the frame using a tape measure. Stick one of the 34 1/2-by-18-inch pieces into the frame at this point, where it will act as a shelf. Screw an L-bracket to the frame under the shelf at each end, using 1-inch screws.

6. Measure 6 inches up from the shelf you just attached. Stick the second 34 1/2-by-18-inch piece into the frame at this point. Screw an L-bracket at each end of the piece in the same manner as with the previous brackets. Screw the 21-by-36-inch piece to the back of the frame using 1-inch screws, ensuring the rectangular cutout is at the bottom of the frame.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint or varnish the cabinet the same color or shade as the rest of the wood in the room. This will help it to blend in with your other furniture and the décor of the room.

• You may also wish to consider adding cabinet doors to the front of the cabinet to keep your A/V equipment out of the way when not in use.

• When cutting wood, keep your hands as far from the saw blade as possible while the blade is in motion. This will help to prevent accidental cuts on your hands and fingers due to the blade slipping or jumping while in use.

References

• The Family Handyman: Simple Storage Cabinet
• Popular Mechanics: Build a Simple Cabinet
• The Family Handyman: Router Basics