Cherry TV Stand

[Dave Shawley]

Hi everyone, I finally decided to make some sawdust over the past few months and I wanted to share the result. LOML purchased a TV stand from one of the big box stores a year or two ago and the legs popped on it as soon as we put the TV on it. Nothing a little glue and a hammer couldn't fix. To make a long story short, I decided to replace it with something more solid.

This is the second table that I've built and the first one completely from rough lumber. During the process, I managed to acquire a used Jet mortiser and brand new SawStop Professional cabinet saw. :D I did the design in SketchUp, acquired all of the wood locally, and built it in a few months. The SU files are attached for anyone that might be interested.

The primary wood is cherry with a birdseye maple strip and some cocobolo details. The finish is two coats of Formby's Tung, one coat of Zinsser Amber shellac, and three more coats of Zinsser Clear. I finished it off with a few coats of wax.

I have a bunch of pics of it during the build and otherwise on Picasa. I'll include a few here too for those of you who don't feel like looking through Picasa :)


Early build shots (http://picasaweb.google.com/daveshawley/TVStandSmoothingShelves?feat=directlink)
Dry fit and more build shots (http://picasaweb.google.com/daveshawley/TVStandDryFit?feat=directlink)
First coat of Tung oil (http://picasaweb.google.com/daveshawley/TVStandFirstCoatOfTungOil?feat=directlink)
After the second coat of Tung (http://picasaweb.google.com/daveshawley/TVStandSecondCoatOfTungOil?feat=directlink)
Final assembly and shellac (http://picasaweb.google.com/daveshawley/TVStandAssemblyShellac?feat=directlink)
Finished product (http://picasaweb.google.com/daveshawley/TVStandInstallation?feat=directlink)


Here are few highlights.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S9RlyjoeJxI/AAAAAAAAAYg/26ny9W9HsxM/s400/IMG_0860.JPG

and a few build shots for those of you who like these type of things:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gkJTXqlDI/AAAAAAAAANY/7pqdj1ziHmI/s400/IMG_0715.JPGhttp://lh4.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gkMYXm9gI/AAAAAAAAANw/axSWearkLKw/s400/IMG_0721.JPGhttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gkjVLbA5I/AAAAAAAAAOU/gmbxucYpB1w/s400/IMG_0752.JPGhttp://lh6.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gkwfE4opI/AAAAAAAAAPs/9y5NOk_oZp8/s400/IMG_0773.JPG

Did I mention that this is the first time I've used a mortiser? They are trickier than they look. You don't even want to see the mess I made with the drill press attachment thingamajig...

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gkoOIHHrI/AAAAAAAAAPA/i2XeS3TWbI0/s400/IMG_0762.JPGhttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gkpLf80TI/AAAAAAAAAPI/9CJ37m8pkPk/s400/IMG_0765.JPG

I thought that I had some in-process pics of the butterfly inlay, but I can't find them on Picasa... Here is one from after the inlay was finished. I put them in by hand with a mallet and chisel. Unfortunately, the cocobolo cracked a little.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gkiBL1ZHI/AAAAAAAAAOI/hgfKE_lOa-w/s400/IMG_0748.JPGhttp://lh5.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gkivhiP1I/AAAAAAAAAOM/QELRXhSsFsY/s400/IMG_0750.JPG

It is amazing how much of a difference a little Tung oil makes. This is after the second coat of Tung. There isn't oil on the tenons so you can see how much darker the cherry got. The tung really made the maple show too. It really is a shame that I put amber shellac over it... sigh... live and learn.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gk-2LEH1I/AAAAAAAAARo/OmOqShS4EsE/s400/IMG_0832.JPGhttp://lh4.ggpht.com/_UwXWiiOuxNo/S6gk-NB31PI/AAAAAAAAARg/Wd3RiH_wv7Q/s400/IMG_0830.JPG

[John Keeton]

Really nice work on this - I like the butterflys. Beautiful color, too! Well done!

[Jim Becker]

Beautiful piece, Dave.

[gary Zimmel]

Nice job on the TV stand Dave.
And even better getting a Sawstop out of it.....