TV Stand

[Luckbox]

I am building a TV stand that will sit on a chest of drawers. It is going to have a space for a DVD player and the cable box to go in. The TV only ways about 20 pounds, it is a 32-inch LCD flat panel. My original design was to use rabbits to attach the sides to the top and bottom but since I am going to use a piece of ¾” oak plywood that would leave a two strips on both sides on the top and bottom of the exposed plywood edge. I had though of cutting them just a bit short and adding a piece of wood banding to cover the edge, but I was wondering if the lock miter bit would produce a strong enough joint to hold it together. I am going to dado the shelf so that will add some strength, and I am going to use hardboard for the back, which will also add some strength to the stand. I like the lock miter because it will produce a joint with no exposed edges. I am just worried about the strength of the joint.

[jackellis]

I've built several simple boxes using miter joints strengthened with biscuits. The only real problem is getting the mitered edges to be dead-on 45 degrees and dead-on smooth so there are no gaps in the corner. I covered the exposed edges in front with walnut trim I'd bought earlier. One was for a container to keep the cats from tipping over the kitchen garbage can and the other was a map box for my wife. I'll try to remember to take some photos when I get home.

Not outstanding craftsmanship but strong enough to stand on.

A problem you'll have with any kind of miter joint is that it's hard to ease the edges. I've considered using baltic birch in some cases so the plies become a design feature. A friend of ours who teaches woodworking has built several tables this way and they are quite attractive.

[Popeye]

I used a lock miter joint on all my kitchen cabinet drawers. Very strong joint with all the glue surface it provides. As long as your pieces are square and you make test cuts on scrap to get the bit setting correct it will make a great joint for what you're making. I might add, make the side pieces the cut that lays flat on the miter table and the top and bottom pieces the vertical cuts. That way the spline and groove that are formed will hold the sides in. Pat

[Luckbox]

Thanks for your help.