Mounting a TV

[oldhudson]

Looking for advice/suggestions on building this entertainment unit. It’s a commission, and this is the customers design. Most of the stock is maple plywood and the all the front edges are solid maple.

 

The cabinet is resting on the back in the photos and view is from the foot of the cabinet.

The inside dimension is 51â€.  

 

In large opening they are putting in a large TV. They are calling for a 2 x 10 that will go side to side and have the TV’s mounting bracket attached to the 2 x 10. (In the 2^nd pic I’ve put an old skid bottom to help show what they want.) How should I attach the 2 x 10 brace? I could use angle iron screwed to the cabinet sides and brace. Or I could use dowels. Or I could screw through the outside of the cabinet and into the 2 x 10 and the patch the holes. Or???

 

Thanks for reading.

[kywoodmaster]

I think I would Glue and screw for the added safety of a heavy TV. You could always use some Mushroom plugs to cover the screws. Could even use some dummy's if needed to balance out.

[wbr]

I guess it will just have an open back?

What kind of finish?

I would screw it like kywood mentioned but use regular tapered plugs to fill the holes,sanded smooth to the plywood.

I assume it goes against a wall,by the time you screw the 2x10 to the wall it really won't need much strength from the cabinet sides.

[oldhudson]

I guess it will just have an open back?

What kind of finish?

I would screw it like kywood mentioned but use regular tapered plugs to fill the holes,sanded smooth to the plywood.

I assume it goes against a wall,by the time you screw the 2x10 to the wall it really won't need much strength from the cabinet sides.

 

The back will be closed, 1/4" maple pw, except for a couple of holes for wiring.

No idea how they intend to finish, but it was clear they only wanted me to  build and sand. I don't even have to deliver it, they are picking it up!

Actually, that brace sits right in the middle front to back 7" from the wall!

[amazingkevin]

The back will be closed, 1/4" maple pw, except for a couple of holes for wiring.

No idea how they intend to finish, but it was clear they only wanted me to  build and sand. I don't even have to deliver it, they are picking it up!

Actually, that brace sits right in the middle front to back 7" from the wall!

Drill large holes 3/4's of the way thru the sides ,put plugs in the drilled holes that are long enough to stick out to catch the slots you'll put in the 2x10 so no screws are needed  .Everything's hidden is another way.

.

[dgman]

Use a pocket hole jig to drill pocket holes on the ends of the cross member. Put them on the back side of the cross member so they don't show. With a 2x10, you can drill four or five screw holes on each end.The screws will be strong enough to hold the weight of the TV, but for added strength, screw the case back to the cross member in addition to the case sides.

[Sycamore67]

I would want to make a wider cross member to help stabilize the large TV. Perhaps, you should see the mounting bracket for the TV and make certain that the bracket will fit on a 2x10.

 

A 50" TV is pretty heavy 40+ lbs and will make the cross member want to tilt or rotate. I think wider cross member and screws through the sides would be needed. Last thing you want is to have the mount come loose.

 

Good Luck

[dgman]

So, what did you decide to do?

[oldhudson]

So, what did you decide to do?

In the end I decided to cut a shallow mortise on the side panels, glue the TV brace into the mortises and the screw from the outside (3 - 2.5" pan head cabinet screws) and then make plugs from the extra stock I had on hand.

 

To cut the mortise I made a template from 1/4" mdf. I clamped the template to one of the side panels and carefully measured where the mortise should be based on the plans. Then I cut out the template using my scroll saw.

 

After cutting the template, I reattached it flush with the face and top of the cabinet and clamped it. I used a trim router with straight bit and guide bushing to route the mortise. Finally I came back with a chisel and squared the ends.

 

I simply repeated the steps with the same template to route the mortise on the other side panel.

 

Here's a pic of the TV brace in it's mortise.

 

Here are a couple pics of the outside of the cabinet where I drilled a counter bore, pilot hole and, screwed and covered with a home-made plugs.