The "O" Word
Conservative by Nature, Christian by Choice
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The Project

January 24th, 2008 . by Cary

On Monday (MLK day, and a holiday for most) I installed the entertainment center that I have talked about before.

Here’s the space that needed to be filled:

Fill This Space

My first step was to install the loose base, and ensure that it was level – which turned out to be a bit tricky, as there was a large hump under the tile on the right side. Without a level base, the entire project would not have been square, true, and plumb.

Loose Base in Place

Next step – place the main case. In this instance, I was only one person wrangling a box that was 90″ wide, 28″ deep, and 48″ tall. I had picked up a couple of mover’s dollys from Harbor Freight (they were on sale for $9.99, all wood, with padding on the ends and heavy-duty casters) and they turned out to be the tool of choice here. I was able to maneuver and place the box single-handedly. I also needed to cut in the electrical and cable outlets, moving them to inside the box for access. This view shows the side trim also installed, which made the whole thing look like it grew there.

Main Box, Trimmed Out

At this point, I have cut and fit the wood top to finish the top.

Completed Entertainment Center

Here’s another view, with more of the wood top showing:

View Showing Wood Top

In retrospect, I’m thinking I should have made the center taller and deeper than the end sections; it would have required more wood, but it would have made the install go easier, the outlets would have been easier to place, and the wood top probably wouldn’t have been such a bear to fit. I’ll keep that in mind for the next one.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

8 Responses to “The Project”

  1. comment number 1 by: gunz

    Looks great bro, there’s an old saying about a good carpenter that goes like this:

    “It’s not how well you build something, it’s how well you can cover up your mistakes.”

    My grandpa used to tell me that about carpentry.

    I’ve dabble in this sort of thing before Cary, and this looks very good.

    Good job bro.

    S/F!

  2. comment number 2 by: cary

    Thank you, Gunz – I value your opinion, as you know.

  3. comment number 3 by: Douglas V. Gibbs

    looks nice, better than I would’ve pulled off

  4. comment number 4 by: cary

    I appreciate the words, Doug – and, wood is very forgiving – you can turn it out if you are willing to put work into it!

  5. comment number 5 by: The Loon

    I hope that all is well, Cary, and that your business trip was successful.

    Judging from the photographs, you do excellent work…especially with the stain and the design.

    It must provide a tremendous sense of satisfaction that only comes with not only doing something one loves and at which someone is good, but that same sense of satisfaction at seeing the project through from idea to design to completed project.

    Congratulations, Sir, on a job well done!

  6. comment number 6 by: cary

    The trip was more personal than business, but it was very boring and uneventful, which is the way I like my trips.

    Thank you for the kind words.

    The sense of satisfaction is, indeed, deep and lasting when a project turn out as well as this one did.

    Good to see you around here again…

  7. comment number 7 by: Just John

    That’s a far cry from the particle board junk that they sell in the furniture stores these days. Nice looking piece Cary.

  8. comment number 8 by: cary

    Far cry, indeed – 3/4″ birch, Minwax red oak finish and polycrylic clear coat…

    Maybe I don’t shop in the right places, but I haven’t seen a lot of furniture made that solidly lately.