I knew this day was coming.
After much internal consternation (not really) we are finally able to award the Sh!t Bunny Award to Fred West’s Entertainment Center.
Before anybody fills a diaper here, Fred did not make this entertainment center–he inherited it from his ex-wife. Nice.
Fred, here is your award:
At this point you are probably asking yourself, “What deserves this award, and how do I avoid being a recipient?” Good question. There is no identifiable criteria for this award, we just know the winners when we seem them.
Let us all take a look at Fred’s Entertainment Center (once you win the Sh!t Bunny award, your project if forever a proper noun-FYI).
Brace yourself;
This piece, by way of this Totally Awesome and Worthless Blog, is now famous, as in Louis XIV famous. Beyond belief isn’t it?
When Fred learned he had won the Sh!t Bunny Award, we talked about the certain possibility that somebody would want to buy this, to which he replied;
“As far as someone buying this, I cannot in a million years conceive of somebody that stupid. However, should someone want it, as long as they picked up the freight it would be theirs.”
Not only is Fred a gracious Sh!t Bunny recipient, he is generous too. The piece obviously will require no crating or packaging of any kind. How cool is that?
But wait! There is more!
Back from the bathroom yet?
So here we are, and Fred has decided “enough is enough” — he has promised your favorite Tool Potentate that he is going to make a BRAND NEW ENTERTAINMENT CENTER!
Here’s where you can help!
Chime in with entertainment center ideas and pics (if possible) so Fred can start his idea bank. For those of you who don’t know what an idea bank is, well, it is a bunch of ideas that incubate until you decide on your next step–which is not the step that leads out into the shop.
Now if you want to pile on and dissect this piece further in the spirit of having fun, Fred is emotionally unattached to this piece so pile on.
My thoughts?
As far as entertainment centers go, it is rather entertaining.
–John
John,
Thank you so much for my award. I am incredibly proud and want to perhaps share some of the items that made this piece worthy? of the Sh!t award and indeed the very FIRST Sh!t award, WOW! 😮 😮 This piece of crap, known henceforth as the poc has some really fabulous features. Please realize that my EX-wife’s father built this so everything “interesting” on the poc is a “feature” and certainly not a mistake or just crap.
So, okay the poc measures 74 1/2″ w x 61 1/2 h x 26″d. Quite obviously there was quite a bit of thinking that went into those dimensions. Unfortunately I have no idea what those thoughts may have been. One of my favorite feature was that if I sit in my lounge chair, I have an excellent view of my feet. This has been very helpful as I have been able to see the condition of my shoes. Very difficult to beat that. Now you may think they television is low now but it actually came without the lazy susan or the two butcher block pieces. Personally, I thought it was better when I could only see my shoes but I was overridden by the kids and EX who was not yet the EX. :o)Another wonderful feature was seeing the jagged 1/4″ plywood in the back. My former Father-in law realized when he put the plywood on the back that the cords and everything else could not be accessed so he graciously cut out the plywood in what can only be described as wonderful learning experience. As the pieces were a bit jagged with just a little bit of imagination you could see a row of mountain tops or something on that order. You just have to get past the fact that some of the mountains were upside down or sideways. Then, THEN you have those oh, so wonderful, cubbyholes that are excellent for hiding small items such as CDs or VHS tapes, small books, etc. The problem, well sorry not a problem as it is a feature, is that because the back is closed you cannot see past the first six inches or so. This is a major feature as it means that every time your arm goes in there a surprise comes out. The surprise can also be something huge like the fact that you got your arm back. 😮
Another wonderful feature is the fact that many of the shelves slant. This is so nice as you can place various items on the upper side of the shelf and see which slides faster. A great game for the kids. Now, what is not readily noticeable but get this, many of those shelves not only slant say left to right but front to back. It is actually an excellent item for each of us to use as say a puzzle. For instance, how did my Father-in-law manage that as it seems to be much more difficult then lets say square or plumb or any of that boring stuff. Okay, last two huge features. The two doors, down at the bottom are hung in a fascinating fashion. Much like some of the drawers it is also a mind puzzle on how do you accomplish this feat. Lastly at least for now. I was particularly enthralled by the massive amount of what looks like scraps and cut offs of various and sundry plywood and maybe hardwood. It again is a feature as trying to figure out what type of being used and various areas is quite the stimulating feat.
So, there you have the reason that I am so very proud to be the sole recipient of the Sh!t award at least to date. As hard as it will be to replace it, I think the time has finally come. The new piece must also be a stand alone as I am hoping to move in the next year or so.
So, let it fly. Do not hold back, tell me what you like as a feature the best. 😮
Fred
Finally a topic I can add value to; hurrah!
Consider racking all components, and installing behind one or more solid doors. While you’ll spend for the rack and the shelves, heat management, power management, there are distinct advantages.
1. Except for feeding the components software (and I’m predicting the Blue-ray disc will be the last non-hard drive storage media. Hence, access to these components doesn’t need to be any particular way WRT user access, freeing up your design constraints based on housing these components in a way that functions well.
2. Heat management can’t be understated; cable boxes, satellite receivers, surround receivers and Apple TV-type boxes all generate astonishing amounts of heat. Ignoring heat management during design lines you up for a less reliable system and more frequent service calls by your cable or sat provider.
3. Houses the greatest # of components in the least amount of space needed.
4. Integral wiring supports & power connections; no visible wires!
Did I mention cost yet? A completely tricked out rack for a largish system will add $3K – $5K to an installation, this number would likely include the labor cost for a pro to build the rack.
If instead for design or other reasons you elect to house the components on shelves I have a set of design instructions to help manage heat, power, wiring routing and so on.
Fred;
This is a great start–thanks Owen-good suggestions!
Never, ever, underestimate the power of the Sh!t Bunny!!!
John
Fred,
I’ve heard many guys lament over what they lost in a divorce, but I think this is the first time I’ve heard someone complain about what they got to keep! I hope your lawyer was called before the State Bar and disciplined.
Okay, on to the POC. Out of curiosity, have you taken measurments of various cubbies and such to see if a design formula was followed such as the Golden Mean? Next, someone needs to advocate for the Devil, and point out that this POC looks a lot like what is avaiable and is purchased by a large quanity of people at low end furniture stores (in Oak of course!)Besides being a sad commentary on the poor taste of many, I think this may work to your advantage. I purpose that you set this POC out on the curb on a nice Saturday morning with a “free” sign on it and sit back and watch in horror as someone actually takes it! Probably Peter if he lived closer! After I suggested this it occurred to me that you are way too ethical to do this, but I think it would work!
Now let’s talk about the new one Fred, before we can give you too much help, we all need to know about what you plan to store in it, (not a cassette player!) what style you are fond of, what species of wood you’re thinking of, and how much space you can dedicate to it. I think this is going to be fun!
-Rutager
John,
Is the Sh!t Bunny house broken?
-Rutager
“Is the Sh!t Bunny house broken?”
-Rutager
Rutager- Do the math.
Fred-
Rutager is right, put it on the curb with the risk that your property will become blighted and annexed by the city for a park.
Question: Are those 8-track tapes being stored in the corner? Also, I zoomed in on the plaques and one of them is an award from the adult film industry-“Best Stunt Double” in an Adult Feature Film? What the bleep is that about?
Yikes.
On to the serious side, please consider other material in addition to wood. Glass, metal, new stuff… all wood all of the time is almost always boring.
John
Fred,
If you are serious, I think your free offer for the entertainment center would be great for my ice fishing hut. If I can get off work early on Friday I will try to swing by. How many of the shelves are tall enough to hold Jim Beam bottles?
Cooter
John,
I think Fred has more decorating problems than just the POC. If these pictures were taken recently, it appears that there is a Christmas tree next to it. Maybe he’s counting on Santa to solve his entertainment center woes? C’mon Fred, we’re not miracle workers, and Santa takes summers off!
-Rutager
Turntables are back, and very trendy-retro. You can hope all you want, but that will not be happening with that cassette deck. Ditch it, find your old LPs, add a turntable (good ones new start at ’bout $300) and you’re flirting with cool.
John, Rutager and all of the rest of you bums,
Let’s please be careful, I mean really John, my years as an Adult Film Stunt Double are very treasured. Just thinking about it keeps me up at nights.:o The Christmas tree is there so that “Santa” knows at any time of the year to stop by and take the POC.
I have a beautiful Bang & Olufsen turntable that I paid $500 for as well as a $500 cartridge which was then barely used. I would love to have the ability to use my turntable. I also have approx. 300 plus albums and 400 plus CDs.
Cooter, I am quite serious about giving the POC away but at the moment it is all I have to hold what I have there. However, if you are serious consider it yours. I do not know how many Jim Beam bottles could be held but if it is more than two or three do you wish for me to contact someone for you. 😮
Rutager,, I don’t want to be too mean but there was no golden anything taken into account with this POC. 😮 Actually, I think that a feature for the builder that was golden was that he got rid of every last scrap of wood he had no matter the size. 😮 As far as woods that I like for this I love maple, cherry and walnut as an accent. Of course there is always mahogany but I want to keep this whole thing within reach. Rutager, I do not really have an idea on the size yet but will cogitate on it and get back to you ASAP.:o
By the way, Peter is on vacation in Canada with little to no access to the internet. He is absolutely distraught over not being able to join in this discussion. 😮
Finally, I took my divorce attorney back in the woodshed and gave him a whupping over this POC but alas it was too late. 😮 😮
Fred
Well first: congratulations, Fred. I have never seen a piece of “furniture” that is more deserving of the Sh!t Bunny award. If you wouldn’t mind posting your former father-in-law’s address, I’m sure we’d all be happy to write to him to congratulate him on his colossal win!
Second: it was too dark in your living room to see inside those long, scary cubbies on the right hand side. But the flash on your camera revealed that there seem to be ridges or something running across the bottoms of the cubbies. WTF?
Third: Rutager – if Fred put that thing out in front of his house, no matter what sign he put on it, the HOA would have his A$$ in a Sl!ng. Fred actually lives in a lovely little development. Dropping a bomb like that on the street would immediately lower housing values, and probably cause drug addicts and squatters to move in. Fred wouldn’t notice of course, since he’s always down in his basement fondling his tools (hence his certificate from the porno industry – you know how jealous John is of this…)
Fourth: It’s entirely possible that this entertainment center is actually perfectly suited to Fred’s house/decor/lifestyle. Ask him how he feeds his dogs…
Cooter,
On second thought you may have my POC but not until your real identity has been established. It hit me after I posted above that very rarely do ice fishermen have a bottle that cost that much. Normally it is six packs where the overriding issue is how much dat stuff costsss? Jim Beam is far too expensive so it is obvious you are committing a falsehood. In addition you speak/write too well. So fess up fella who are you and why do you really want my POC??? Are you just after the wood or the design? 😮 😮
Fred
I guess my number one suggestion is to kill the television. Life is better without it. It would also make the ‘entertainment’ center much smaller. Mine is just an angled little wall mounted box. Hmm…let’s see if the photo works.
Realizing this won’t win me a prize or friends, but here’s an idea, suggestions, and rationale:
Go to any or a few of several big-box stores, office supply places, furniture stores, websites, etc. that sell prefab or modular casegoods, get the cheapest entertainment center that is acceptable looking to you (you can get perfect functionality and adequate–for me–looks at Target, but can go as high-end as you want), and let it go.
Consumer electronics and storage media are fungible and depreciate to zero instantly. If you buy wood at retail and put labor–of all the things in the world–into watching TV, you’ve compounded the waste. I seen old, obsolete Zenith and RCA TVs in pretty wood cabinets sitting on the curb, doubtless unused for years and replaced by imported flat panels whose replacement model will be 20% cheaper every year for years to come.
This is what MDF exists for.
Gents,
TenLayers brings up an interesting point; maybe a large scale entertaintment center is a bad idea. TV or not, a set of hanging shelves, or wall cabinet could hold componets, and if you wanted a TV, they are now so huge that designing a cabinet around them is starting to get crazy, it might be better to just hang a flat screen on the wall.
Fred,
It is getting to be harder and harder for me to beleive that a woodworker could build something this poorly, design yes, build no! So my new working theory is that the Ex father-in-law quickly hobbled this POC/POS together to smuggle drugs or money in. The police open the Moving Truck, look through all the boxes, and ignore the furniture. Sneaky, very sneaky! I suggest you take a close look for hidden compartments, and hope for hidden cash. I’ll be expecting a finders fee.
John,
Is the rumor true, that you fed Sh!t Bunny corn and peanuts before sending him to Fred’s house?
-Rutager
Dmarkowi;
If winning friends was the purpose of this blog…well you get the idea.
Your rationale for avoiding consumer waste in a fast changing world is an argument that should cause pause for thought. And the argument that using our dwindling wood supply for poorly designed projects or ephemeral needs (i.e., chop sticks, et. al.) is equally cause for concern. This debate is one that needs its own forum!
That said, humans collect things, and I don’t see these types of projects designed exclusively for electronics. Perhaps any such piece, should be conceived with an incredible amount of adaptability. Either case, I can’t think of a bigger waste of wood than a piece as poorly crafted as Fred’s POC.
On a personal note, I bought a Kindle about a year ago. And although I love my library of books, the thought that I am paying rent for the space they require bugs me. Particularly since I need more room for flying my growing fleet of indoor helicopters…
Good thoughts and thanks for sharing-
John
John: I’m less anti-waste and more anti-TV.
I do see the reasons to build exactly what you want (even if I’m more of a dreamer at this point than a builder). I have my own wasteful tendencies and tend to be forgiving of other people’s.
I’m still doubtful of the utility of custom vs. prefab in this case, but your post did remind me to try to be a gentleman.
Dave
Fred,
Don’t give that thing away so fast, It may have been built by the Italian artist Piero Manzoni, and could be priceless!
-Rutager
Dave;
I am guessing, but I think most of the people who follow this totally awesome and worthless blog don’t watch much TV, if at all. If they did, they wouldn’t be hanging out here. So in one sense there is a kindred spirit lurking here…share ideas, make fun of ourselves, laugh a little (for example, all of my jokes are absolutely hilarious–they always make me laugh) and leave all the mean spirited, bile spewing spleen busting negative thinkers out in the cold–life is too short. That said, meaningful, thoughtful dialog can be done in a fun way.
And, we may have stumbled upon a great way to breach sensitive subjects with the Sh!t Bunny Award. More on that later.
I have been thinking about your MDF post for a couple of hours–bumped my vector–and has given me a couple of ideas that I did not plan on having for a Saturday morning…
Rutager: Go practice your close-up photography–your work is too good not to share. Maybe we should retroactively award your close-ups a corn-fed Sh!t Bunny Award to get you moving…
-John
Guys,
I read a great quote one time, but can’t remember from who to give proper credit; I’m paraphrasing, but it was along the lines of “being able to disagree without being disagreeable!” So dmarkowi, you wouldnt lose me as friend for suggesting pre-fab, but one of the best things in my opinion, of doing wood work is being able to make things that fit my needs and space and not making do with what is available. As far as TV goes I am always jealous of those who have given theirs up. What passes as news is pathetic celebrity gossip, but I love the sitcoms, so I won’t give mine up yet!
-Rutager
John,
My close-up’s? Now I’m getting disagreeable! I jest. I’m planning on building a tiny photo studio with a seemless background sometime. I figure if I put in a box, I can easily clip on reflectors and light sources to get a good result. I’m open to suggestions, but it might be better to do that on the forum to be available in the future for others that might want to build one.
-Rutager
Okay gents and Rutager, 😮
I have several flat screen tv’s here left over from the days of my ex-fiance and her four kids. However, when my daughter is here I like having a tv available for her/us as we will watch series together such as Arrested Development which she bought for me. I use it to watch my Philadelphia Eagles which is the one thing I never miss. Other than that and an occasional playoff game with the Phillies and the Flyers and the occasional movie my tv is just never on. As an example since the beginning of this year my set has been on less than ten times.
However, I very much want to build a beautiful stand alone center that holds my tv, stereo equipment as well as my records, CDs and DVDs. Even if I were never to watch the tv, I still like the look within a good center. I must have something so that the Sh!t Bunny award may QUICKLY move to Rutager, I mean someone else. 😮 I love the give and take within this thread and have zero problems with people generating various ideas or philosophies that are contrary to mine. I am so far from the end all be all that the Hubble Telescope could not find me. 😮 😮 😮
Rutager, unless my EX-father-in-law found a way to insert drugs within 3/4″ plywood I am not feeling it. Perhaps it was in some of the face frame pieces that somehow did not end up on the POC. As John so rightly pointed out it is an exciting and wonderful feature/look having a face frame on one side but not the other. I think it is part of the whole new design school of POC for all. Also known as Raymour and Flanigan and other marvelous sstores of that ilk. 😮
Anyway, I ain’t seeing no deesigns so fur frum you peoples. Was up wit dat? 😮 😮
Fred
Guys,
I beleive in street dance vernacular, Fred is challenging us to a “dance off!” I’m ready to “throw down,” or propose a design idea for the NAPOC (Not a pile of crap.) entertainment center. I would make a 3 piece design with the middle section being larger in all dimensions, I would make the bottom of each piece a cabinet with raised panel doors. the cabinets on the side pieces would be counter height with a counter area, the middle section cabinet would be lower to place the TV at veiwing height from a chair. both side sections above the counter would have glass shelves with lighting from above. The area above the TV would be glass doors with lights to display awards such as the prestigious Sh!t Bunny! The top of each section will be slightly curved from right to left with crown molding that follows the curve.
Fred,
Dance off! now you tell us what you like or don’t like, and we can adjust the design from there.
-Rutager
John: I’ve bumped your vector, bought your knobs, and seen Robocop’s schwanz. Stimulation and enlightenment on a semi-regular basis.
Fred: Dispensation for watching the Eagles and Phillies.
Dance-off, eh, Rutager. Okay – I’ve sharpened my tap shoes. Here goes.
Fred’s latest furniture additions are oak – Mission style table, chairs and chest, I think. So I was thinking of something that looked something along those lines. I’ve never been a fan of the big entertainment centers that look like entertainment centers. So I was thinking of something that looked like a wardrobe or armoire. When you weren’t watching TV you’d look at an attractive cabinet (Mission style? Greene and Greene?). I’d make the large doors able to disappear (pocket doors) to watch the TV. I’d put the stereo system in the lower half. Then I’d make separate coordinating cabinets (the size and shape of buffets, for example) to house the vinyl and CDs. I don’t see why it all has to be one piece of furniture.
– Peter (tap tap …. applause?)
Gents,
Peter is correct in that I do have a few Mission style pieces. Regardless of what I do with this piece I do not want to use oak. As far as the stereo system being in the lower half I have two potential issues with that. First I have a bad neck and back so I would not want it down too far and secondly and equally important is I need room for a turntable. As in enough room to fully open the top so as to be able to place the vinyl on it and be able to see what track is there if I wish to just play certain songs. Rutager, I very much like the idea of a few glass shelves for display with perhaps some strip lighting on either side. Part of the problem here is going to be my physical limitations. I am going to want to be able to sort through my vinyl, CDs and DVDs without causing me to lean too far down. There is a definitive advantage to having three separate pieces in case of my move or even moving them into a different area within the house. This does not mean I am against the single piece by any means. I am just trying to figure out what would work the best. Dmarkowi, I very much appreciate your dispensation however, no dispensation for the Flyers? What’s up with that? 😮
So, let me see what you all think with these limitations. By the way, John and Roger, where are your ideas? 😮
Fred
Fred,
Just like John and his book storage, you need to get all of your CDs on a hard drive, and maybe the DVDs too. that would solve several of your problems. Your records could also be done digitaly, but I know some people like the sound and procedure of vinyl. If that’s the case, you might want to design a shelf at proper height and that pulls out for easy access.
We also need some style hints, do you want to do mission stlye or something more contemporary? Do you want to pay homage to the orginal and make everything crooked? Might not be a bad idea if you grow fond of the Sh!t Bunny, and don’t want him to leave!
-Rutager
@Fred: hockey isn’t my thing. That and the Flyers are owned a company that is high among the many reasons I refuse to own a TV.
Rutager,
I am actually more interested in a mission or traditional entertainment center rather than contemporary. NO, NO, NO to crooked or anything like the POC currently residing in my house. 😮 😮
dmarkowi, I am sure that you do not mean C@mcast. 😮 By the way, I have Verizon, does that help. 😮
Fred
@Fred: It’s remarkable that the company you mention is so bad it makes Verizon look good. Pax vobiscum–I have a weakness for Twilight Zone marathons and late-night infomercials.
dmarkowi,
I absolutely agree that it is amazing that Verizon can look good but alas it is true.
Fred
Rutager: your idea about putting the CD’s on a hard drive is good, except that you half the number of bits. The sound quality is quite seriously affected (even I can notice it). I think Fred’s better off keeping the CD’s, and getting some storage above his waist so that he can see them without bending over.
Either that, or train his dogs to get the right CD…
– Peter
Huh? If you save the CD tracks in 16-bit stereo .wav format, you get an exact replica of the information on the CD (because that’s the same format as the CDs themselves are in).
-Steve
Maybe I’m thinking of MP3 format? Certainly the sound coming out of an iPod hooked up to my stereo system is nothing like my CD player hooked up to my stereo system.
– Peter
Peter and Steve,
Everyone is right! It all depends on how you save the CDs, of course if you don’t compress the data, it takes up more space, but memory has gotten so cheap, that at least at home you could save the music uncompressed, but for something like an iPod, you might need to compress it to fit enough songs on your player. The sound won’t be as good, but the ear buds are really the bigger problem in getting good sound.
Of course the biggest problem is that Fred still has to look at the POC. I fear he may poke his eyes out if we don’t intervene!
-Rutager
I just checked. .wav files are really a package for a whole bunch of different formats (bits and bit rates) – including MP3. Check out the Wikipedia entry here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV
Sorry to get off topic. I was just wondering why my iPod sounded so much worse than my CDs…
So I’m still picturing a set of 2-3 pieces: a cabinet/armoire to hold the TV, a cabinet for the stereo/record player, and a cabinet for the LPs and CDs. Mission style. With all the components/storage above waist height. With appropriate lighting.
– Peter
As the owner of a very large music collection (several thousand CD’s) I spent some time researching exactly what I should do when ripping them to my hard drive five or six years ago. At that time, I could not afford lossless ripping because the hard drives would have cost a couple of grand.
Music on a CD is digital, meaning it is nothing but 1’s and 0’s. Back in the day when storage space was expensive, algorithms were developed to drop parts of the music that the average human ear is unlikely to hear. This is called lossy compression.
Today, you can get a terabyte of storage on a single hard drive for under $100 and if you go this route, buy two. Once your music is ripped (it can take months for a large music collection) you do not want it in one location. A terabyte drive will hold over 1000 CD’s in a lossless compression format–there are several formats and easy to research- WAV, FLAC, Apple has one too.
I found that ripping using the .mp3 format @320 kbs/sec gave me the best trade off for in home listening, and portability–it is also the closest thing to a universal format. If you rip in a lossless format, you will need to downsize it for an iPod or any of the other gadgets available.
I agree, Fred should rip his music, all of it, and ditch the storage needs–this is what attics/basements are for.
Next, he needs to research ways to stream his music collection from the PC to his stereo. Lots of choices, I use several SoundBridges (not made any longer) and stream to my main system, the kitchen and the bedroom. I can find any song in this collection (about 30,000 songs) in less than two or three seconds-pretty cool.
That said, we find ourselves listening more and more to internet radio-over 15,000 channels across the globe, it’s free and fun.
Google is your friend. Lossless music codecs, music streaming, ripping CD’s–will all get you headed in a direction that builds confidence.
And I agree with Peter–less is more. Just make sure you save a little spot for your Sh!t Bunny Award–coming to a Fred we all know soon…
–John
Avoid putting a turntable on a sliding shelf. The loose nature of the shelf works against the performance of the table/tonearm/cartridge, which is trying to read micrometer differences in vinyl wall dimensions while you walk around to refill your cocktail, making the floor and the cabinet bounce. Instead of a sliding shelf just design enough vertical space above the table to allow easy dropping of the LP onto the platter. A sliding top to expose the table, while the table rests on solid cabinetry, is a great work around.
Unless it really suits you, don’t build space in the cabinetry for hard drives. Put a network drop into the system for streaming, but the drives should go in the networking closet (mine’s in the basement; I know in some parts of the country basements are unpopular). Hide all the like-kind electronics for your network (DSL modem, switch, wireless access point aka WAP, and hard drives) in one spot. Many new surround receivers support streaming internally; all you need is a network connection, and then to tell the receiver where on the network to find the drive.
Constructive Dave sez:
I was assuming everything in terms of media and players had to stay. Assuming you’re willing to get rid of it:
TV bracketed to wall, with a frame around if you like to hide the Korean plastic. Bigger/better TV later, you havent’ limited yourself to the casegoods, just the capacity of the bracket.
Underneath, a counter-high console table or wall-mounted console with a soundbar on top and a hands-high single shelf or cabinet deck with whatever 2-4 media devices you consider essential underneath: iPod/dock, cablebox-DVR, media PC, gaming console/internet modem-wifi router. If you have particularly pretty vinyl album covers, frame and hang. Unless the 8tracks/cassettes/VHS/Betamax/DVDs/Laserdiscs are rare or collectible somehow (too-young Traci Lords, for instance, or out-of-print), convert, donate and/or throw them.
I’d go with doors on the component deck, so you can put sliding hardware for the components/devices for ease of access to the ports and rejigger when the next big thing comes out.
Carefully placed routing will conceal the wires from the front (a DJ-1 might even let you route your coax and electric wires through the legs, although that begs fire hazard on the electric) and currently there is flat HDMI wire from the cablebox/hub that you can paint over to conceal to the TV set if you can’t stand the sight of exposed wire or some wire routing channel.
Pluses: You could use higher grade wood and hardware for the same price and you’ll have saved space and complexity. If you’re in Philly, Moderne on 3rd Street might have a Nakashima wall-mounted console that would inspire you.
I would also get a third party off site storage on the media–that way, when your wiring burns down the house, you’ll still have Traci.
And, as a final idea: cut off *everything* above the *current* base, mount the base to the wall at counter high and rehang/replace the doors. Everything else I said would be compatible with that.
Fred;
The third party back-up is great idea. Not only will you be on cloud 9, so will your tunes.
-John
Fred;
I have often commented that woodworking is not a deep subject–it is an intoxicating fun activity. Design however, is a completely different discipline and in my opinion, much more difficult to master than the perfect dovetail.
The overwhelming majority of woodworkers are not designers–they are makers. Your POC is just one example of something that really should not have been made, both from a design perspective and a craftsmanship view–we can have fun with it, but it is sad. Truly, if wood was $300/bf that piece would not exist. Second grade Boy Scout bird houses made out of Popsicle sticks are made with more care. Really. (I can say mean things like this because it is my blog!)
This thread is great for your idea bank–the suggestions regarding heat dissipation, turntable needs, music formats, etc. is all good but the cart is ahead of the horse so to speak. The Bridge City community is full of bright people eager to share, and it is nice to have access to these folks. So…
I offer the following approach for your consideration (served me well for almost a decade as a professional furniture/designer maker) as you ponder WHAT to make (the HOW is a detail that nobody cares about if you get the rest wrong!);
Discussion point 1: You mentioned that you intend to move-to what and where? A chair in a room, a room in a house and a house in a community–these are all considerations that must enter into your physical need for a storage/display. House/condo/apt…? I would not take on this commission without KNOWING where the piece is going to be parked. That said, there are ways around this, but it might not be optimal. From my perspective, time is on your side.
Discussion point 2: What are your constraints? These range from door sizes (i.e., boat in the basement) to ceiling heights, wall widths, room depths, time, cash, skills, etc. Get this wrong now and you will end up with the proverbial lump of coal in a cream pitcher. One constraint you DO NOT HAVE is tools!
Discussion point 3: Clearly, you have not identified all of your needs, you have to look forward to tomorrow, not look back at yesterday. This thread has been great so far in opening this dialog.
Discussion point 4: Any discussion, in my opinion, at this stage that involves material choices, and styles, is WAY TO PREMATURE and can derail your research efforts. You very well may end up with a “Mission” style piece/pieces but why not deliberately REJECT other alternatives rather than start out without them?
These are the considerations that need to incubate for a couple of months (at least that is how long I let commissions perk before I started doodling out ideas).
Now, let’s say you KNOW you need shelves.
What EXACTLY is a shelf?
I like the LCD approach to design (lowest common denominator). For this discussion, a shelf is nothing more than a horizontal surface of appropriate width and height to serve your needs. This opens up the world to a bizillion ideas!
It can be so many more things than a slab of wood that you need to play with the ideas for the sole purpose of being able to reject ideas. In my design classes I ask students to show me the ideas they rejected to arrive at the image of their piece they were sharing with me. Most have NONE and then I ask, How do you know this idea should not have been rejected for something better? (I am brutally frank in my classes—it is a character flaw that gets me much trouble too.)
What is the strongest shelf you can make with the least amount of material? Why wood? Are there better choices?
Do you have any moral/ethical/ imperatives? Do you have the skills to execute your vision?
At this point, if I were you, I would never leave home without my camera (cell phones are great) and I would spend many hours in the library combing through all the design magazines for your idea bank. Whenever you see something cool, snap a pic. Print it and store it in a folder. Look at it time to time. Try to be opened minded at all times.
This should get your train back on track.
Lastly, I like the idea of making the best of a situation, and since you have a sense of humor, I would seriously consider hanging a hook on the side of the POC and hang 6-7 airline barf bags on the hook–for your guests (you are now immune).
And no, I am not kidding. And yes, your company will appreciate your insights. After all, the role of the artist is to be aware and confront emotions–for the purpose of evoking emotions. My guess is all will smile–and that is something we can all use more of.
Best-
John
John and y’all,
As far as the first discussion point goes here she be. I intend on moving to Vermont at some point rather sooner than later but based upon the value of my house returning. This is the major reason that I want a stand alone piece/s because I do not know how big the house is that I will buy nor where I would put it.
The second discussion point on constraints has partly been discussed when it comes to my physical limitations. Because I do not know where this piece will be I am thinking that right now just to be safe the depth of the piece must be such that it can pass through a common door width. However, as far as tools go I may not be able to build it after all as I have decided I NEED the HP-4 and the BCTW brace. Without them I fear I am worthless. 😮 😮 Rutager and Peter keep your pie holes shut. 😮
As far as discussion points 3 & 4, I do not yet have anything to add to them.
I am quite intrigued by the idea of having so many of my CDs, and records located on two or three hard drives and having most of the electronics hidden away. However, I also love the sound of the needle on the vinyl and actually doing it myself. My guess is that I would love to have all of my music converted and have the turntable option with the actual records.
The one thing that I am completely set on is that this be a wooden structure. That is not to say that as Rutager suggested I have a few glass shelves but overall I want this to be primarily hard woods with the possible exceptions of plywood shelves with hard wood edging.
Okay, now the possibility is that I no longer need my ten to twenty barf bags as seven to ten is just far too few. 😮 Peter and I brainstormed for approx sixteen weeks and came up with a fantastic design that I believe obviates my need for any further thoughts or designs. John has these pictures and I can only assume that he has not yet posted them because he is overwhelmed by the stunning beauty. 😮 😮 😮 I am sure that you will all agree. In fact, it is now known as the POC, formerly known as the POC. 😮 😮
Fred
Fred,
I can’t speak for Peter, but I’m pretty sure he would agree that if you were to send us each a delicious pie, our holes if not shut, would at minimum be plugged!
-Rutager
Rutager,
I think the chances of me sending you a pie would be slim to none.. Oops, nope sorry but I will send you a gallon of ice cream but it will have to go UPS Ground. That should arrive okay don’t you think?:o 😮
John, do you think you will be able to post the new and improved POC? 😮
Fred
Heh, heh. Wait ’till you see the pictures… Heh, heh.
– Peter
P.S. After pondering John’s exhortations for, say, a minute or less, it occurred to me that it might be fun to make a “unit” that was instead a set of shelves mounted on a strong frame that just came out of the wall. No obvious supports or anything. You could have fun with the materials, sizes, and arrangements of the shelves. Maybe build a cable-handling system into the wall (so you’d have to do some wallboard spackling – big deal). I’m spacing on the type of construction I’m thinking of: honeycomb interior with a relatively rigid skin. I hate getting old…
At any rate, you could have a mixture of shelves and cabinets, etc. on the wall. It could look pretty cool. And be functional, too.