How to Build a Plasma Stand

The advent of flat panel televisions challenged entertainment center designers to come up with new styles of furniture designed specifically for the plasma and other flat-panel televisions. Wall mounts create more floor space, but where to put the DVD player became an issue. Building a plasma TV stand with a back that substitutes for a wall allows you to mount the TV to the stand. This means that moving furniture does not have to include removing the TV from the wall to relocate it. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Set the piece of 60-by-18-by-3/4-inch plywood on the worktable. From one corner, make a 1 1/2-inch mark on the 60-inch side of the plywood. Do the same from the same corner on the 18-inch side. Put the triangle square on the marks and draw 1 1/2-inch lines from both marks. This creates a square in the corner of the plywood. Drill two pilot holes inside the square 3/4-inch apart with the 1/16-inch drill bit. Repeat this process on the same 60-inch edge but on the opposite 18-inch side.

2

Apply glue to one end of each of the 2-by-2-by-10-inch pieces. Secure them in the corners with the finish nails. This is the shelf for the plasma stand. Next, stand the 48-by-72-by-3/4-inch plywood on one of its 48-inch edges. This is the back to the plasma stand. Apply glue to the 72-inch edge of the 72-by-18-by-3/4-inch piece of plywood.

3

Hold it against the larger piece and secure the 18-inch wide piece to the 48-inch wide piece with the drywall screws. Next, lay the assembly on the table so the 18-inch piece is sticking up. Put the end of the measuring tape against the 18-inch piece and make a mark on the 48-inch piece at 10 and 10 3/4-inches. Move the measuring tape over 24-inches and make marks at 10 and 10 3/4-inches.

4

Put the straightedge on the marks and draw lines across the 72-inch width of the piece. Drill pilot holes between the lines with the 1/16-inch drill bit. Make one hole at least 8-inches from each of the 48-inch edges and three between those two. Stand the plasma stand upright so the 48-inch edge is sticking up.

5

Apply glue to the edge of the 60-by-18-by-3/4-inch shelf that is opposite the edge with the 2-by-2-by-10-inch lumber attached on the shelf. Hold it so it is 6-inches from the ends of the 72-inch piece and secure it with the drywall screws.

6

Lay the assembly back so the 18-inch shelf is sticking up again. Secure the 2-by-2-by-10-inch shelf legs through the bottom of the shelf with the drywall screws. Stand the assembly upright. Install the plasma TV to the section of the stand that rises above the top shelf.