Help w/ Blue Prints For A Basic Box [Pretty Much Just A Box]

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Jon M

Jon M

Polypterus
MFK Member
Dec 18, 2010
1,252
155
96
Port Saint John, FL
Okay, well here's what I'm trying to do. The TV stand I have now is a flimsy piece and I just want to build a simple box/TV stand. I know it's not fish related but figured some of you guys that put together fancy stands could help me with something simple like this.

Here's my criteria. I literally want a super simple square stand, with one shelve on the inside (possible a bottom for a section shelf just incase) and that's it. I'm considering using 2x4 to build a really simple square and then nailing plywood to the sides and painting but won't the 2x4 show? Also, I'm extremely limited on space in my apt and tools so I'm going to just be using hammer and nails to construct this. I'm confused as to how people connect 2x4 w/o layering them? I don't know how to explain this so I'll draw a picture and hopefully it makes sense.

Okay here's what I'm asking. When I built my aquarium stand I had my 2x4 running behind each other like the picture of right and put the screws through both pieces. Now see the one on the left? I see people connect 2x4 like this all the time w/o running them behind each other but how? Are they just using ridiculously long screws?... If that's the case this would work for me using nails right?

screw example.png

Here is an idea of what I was thinking of doing. Building the sides like that w/ 2x4 and then just connecting them with a 2x4 at the top and bottom. Then maybe a 2x4 in the center for the shelve? Won't all the 2x4 show in the front when I wrap in plywood though?...

TV Stand Ideas.png

As you can tell I'm a bit lost on how to go about doing this. My 125g stand seemed easier to plan than this for some reason?...
pencil.png


screw example.png

TV Stand Ideas.png
 
what kind of TV (LCD, LED, Plasma, CRT) and how big.. Most Hardware places that sell plywood will cut it size for you, if you have the mesurements. i like take an index card and draw out the cuts, so that i can get the max out of each sheet.
 
Yeah, I know about the cuts and having them cut it. That's the plan considering I simply have no way of cutting it. That's not my problem at this point though. I am having difficulties drawing up blue prints and without that I have no way of knowing what measurements or materials I even need. :P

My tv is a 52" Sony Bravia LCD. It's roughly probably about 140lbs. I don't remember the exact weight since I've had it for like 3 years now and don't remember the weight spec. I want the box to be the exact length and depth (minus of course maybe .5" for play) of the TVs stand which when measured would be 23.5" length and 15" deep. Height probably about the same as the pos cheapo dollar store tv stand it's on right now which is 22" tall.

Are 2x4 over doing it?... Is there a simpler way than what I have in my head as far as my rough drawings? I've researched it a lot on the net and youtube but most of those stands are either a. fancy fancy stuff which I have no need/want for or b. just a cheap piece of plywood w/ like 2x2 or 4x4 legs which I think looks pretty crappy.
 
Isnt a square stand going to be a bit awkward having a thin and rectangle TV on top?


Ive drawn up some plans to build a TV stand for our 55" TV as well.

dimensions for my design are 60x33x24
60 inches long
33 inches tall
24 inches wide

It will have 6-8 shelves, havent decided if im going to do 8 nonadjustable shelves or 6 adjustable shelves yet.
 
Not at all. I like it like this. I don't want a piece of "show" furniture or anything. I just want a simple box for the stand of the TV to sit on and take up as little room as possible. Just want it to look like a regular box on the outside and just have one shelf inside for my Xbox 360. Was going to paint it and all too. Couple reasons for this. One of them being when we move I'm going to just be mounting it onto the wall. Not wasting my time mounting it here since we'll be gone by the end of the year. Just want a simple little box design that I can have just the TV on and Xbox 360 shelf.

Anyone have any ideas as far as helping me out with the blue prints or how those 2x4 connect w/o overlapping them? I know people do it. I had a standard 95g 2x4 stand that someone else built that was like this. Don't know how the wood was holding together but it was...
 
You NEED a Craig pocket hole jig!!!!! The $40 version will be fine for what you want to do, the $100+ one would be over kill. For limited tools in an apartment setting pocket holes are the best construction technique for a stand!!!!

http://www.amazon.com/Kreg-R3-Pocke...7W/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1312827719&sr=8-10

I do not believe in using nails on any kind of furniture. Screw it together or don't bother making it.

To cover the 2 x 4's you need to make a face frame. Here again a Craig pocket hole jig is your best / easiest option.

You could make the whole cabinet out of 3/4" plywood and not use any 2 x 4's and it will be plenty sturdy for a TV. The plywood box is called the carcass. The face frame is just a quality wood for covering up the viewable exposed edges of the plywood on the front of the carcus to make it look nice. You could not make a face frame and cover the edges of the plywood with iron on edging laminate.


[Edit]
(reread your post and saw "Paint it"):
If your ultimate goal is to have the stand painted (I don't believe in painting furniture myself but that is my problem not yours) to get the best finish you will want to fill in all the voids with Bondo auto body filler. You can even fill the end grain of the plywood with Bondo and then sand everything flat before painting. Use a sanding block (sand paper wrapped around a block of flat wood is fine) instead of just sanding with your hand for a much more even surface. Bondo sands very easy. Bondo will give you a very nice flat finish without the wood grain showing through the paint.


[Edit2]
Just screw the plywood together without 2x4's setting the screw heads slightly deep (counter sink them) and then cover the whole unit with a skim coat of Bondo... this will fill in the screw heads also. Sand it flat with a block sander. Paint it!
 
Is that kit you linked to for putting pegs into the 2x4? Is that how you're saying the 2x4 are holding together that I was talking about where there are no screws showing? Pegs?
 
Pocket holes are holes drilled into the side of a piece of stock at a steep angle and uses a pocket hole screw to hold the two pieces together. The optional pegs are to cover the hole. This is a very popular construction technique with professional production cabinet makers.

After thinking a bit I would recommend making the carcass out of plywood and screw right through the outside piece of plywood into the end grain of the adjoining piece of plywood (gluing the joints as you are screwing them together is assumed. Keep a wet rag to wipe off any squeeze out) . Then cover the holes with bondo. Sand. Paint.

With painted furniture you have much more leeway in your construction techniques. Just gluing and screwing the box together will make a plenty strong cabinet. You don't really need the pocket hole jig and the project should be within the scope of something that could be completed in an apartment if you have Lowes cut the plywood down to the required sizes. The Bondo will do a very nice job of filling in any gaps, splintering and screw heads as well as filling in the grain of the wood allowing you a bit of room for error in your assembly while still giving nice results. If you wanted a wood finished cabinet the design, cutting and assembly would have to be much more intricate for acceptable results... you can't Bondo wood and then stain and clear coat it and have it look nice. So don't worry about the screws showing, just cover them with Bondo and paint.

I will confess to building the shelf our wash and dryer sit on with 2 x 4's and cheap plywood then filling in all the voids with bondo and painting it white with and oil based paint. With all of the vibration the washing machine gives the shelf the bondo has never given way. I use 2 x 4's a lot in such utilitarian pieces but I have the luxury of a jointer and planer to straighten, square up and make all the 2 x 4's a uniform thickness making acceptable results practical.
 
I see.... I'm in the process of drawing up blue prints for a double stand for two 40g that is going to come before this. It randomly fell in my lap because someone on craigslist was supposed to be constructing this for my gf's tanks and then he quoted her a ridiculous amount as if I don't know how much 2x4s and screws at HD are. So the double 40g stand will be my first project. Then this. Maybe you can check out my design on that?

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-Input-On-This-Double-Stand-Design&highlight=
 
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