[centerchannel68]

I'm planning on building a fairly simple entertainment center, that's quasi 'modern' ish. It'll house my quad system with all my other home theater stuff. Anyway... I've already figured out the sizes and thicknesses, and I'm planning on using either birch or oak veneered plywood for this project.

Here are my questions:

How do you 'join' plywood, so that it's aesthetically pleasing? I was thinking about mitering the edges of the plywood at 45 degrees on each corner, but can you use biscuits in plywood? Or would that reduce the strenth?

Instead of using 45 degree angles on the corners, would it be better to just have a solid top surface, and build the sides perpindicular underneath the top sheet? After all, the weight will be going downward, so I feel this might be stronger...but then I have another question. What fasteners can go 'into the edge' of the vetical plywood? I could cut some dados in the top sheet to help hold the vertical walls in place, but how should I fasten these together? I don't want to use glue, because this whole thing must be able to be disassembled, so I can get it home from the shop.

IF you have any links about working with plywood, that'd be cool too. I've googled for 45 mintues and not really found much, other than avoid imported plywood, and lots of famous designers who use 'bent plywood'.

Thanks in advance,

- Rob

[ÿ±këç]

use a ball and socket joint.

[residentEvil]

Norm biscuit joints birch plywood all the time; he seems to like biscuit jointing almost everything, so I'm sure it will do you just fine.

As for the top shelf, you can do a simple rabbit if you want to.

For fastening either joint, good wood glue and clamps; brads are there to help hold it while the glue dries for the rabbit joint. The glue joint will be plenty strong if clamped well if you use miters/biscuits; and you won't need any fasteners. Same goes for the dado's on your interior shelfs. No biscuits; just glue.

(glue everything at home; and use/borrow the clamps)

[residentEvil]

oh, if you want to do NO fasteners or glue; you could finger* joint everything. making for tight tolerances; you could probably get away with taking it apart 4 or 5 times before the joints would weaken.

*my catch all phrase. dovetail would be an example.

[sek929]

I'd dado out 1/4 inch deep x 3/4 inch wide slots in the carcass where you want the shelves to go. Wood glue and a few brad nails (you won't see em later). That way the sides are one piece of plywood, damn strong, as for the face of the unit I am sure you don't want to see the "endgrain" of the plywood...so here's what ya do.

Buy some maple (if you use birch plywood, which I also recommend) and rip it to the desired width. You may want some of your shelves to have a lip so things can't slide out, and where the TV is I'd imagine you'd want the maple facing to be flush with the surface it is sitting on.

Then more wood glue and brads to fasten the maple "face" onto the carcass of the unit, sand, seal, enjoy!

Edit: It seems you want to take it apart, so no glue. Just drill and countersink four or so screw holes per edge and use some nice and cheap black drywall screws. They are made of hardened steel, so they'll hold just fine

You could even use screws on the facing and make maple bungs to plug up the countersink holes.

[turtle777]

Ask Railroader.


Uhm, on a second thought, maybe not.

-t

[kikkoman]

I've been wanting to do the same thing, build an entertainment center. What's the best way to cut large panels? Should I use a table saw or a circular saw and cutting guide?

[sek929]

Cutting guides are sweet if you're by yourself and take your time. Cutting a 4x8 sheet of plywood on a table saw certainly requires a helping hand..

[climber]

Originally Posted by centerchannel68 

I don't want to use glue, because this whole thing must be able to be disassembled, so I can get it home from the shop.

You could always borrow a friends SUV to get it home

[Dakar²]

I'm working my wood right now.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Dakar² 

I'm working my wood right now.

What tools ?

-t

[Gossamer]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

What tools ?

-t

A few metacarpals.

[Dakar²]

The claw.

[Face Ache]

Nice. The attachment, or the standalone unit?

Hands free is the way of the future.