Alcove shelving project, ordering pre cut MDF?
Discussion
First world problems have struck in our household. You see, we were given, free of charge, a rather nice 60 inch Panasonic LED TV. It’s a couple of years old but it’s frankly pretty nice.
The problem – it’s too big. I mean, it’s really quite obnoxiously big. But then, can a TV ever really be too big? Well according to my wife, yes it can, and that one is.
Negotiations start and eventually we agree on a compromise – the TV can stay if I build a load of alcove storage into the space vacated by the current telly.
So I've whacked a design together and got approval from the wife (with the agreement that the green colour in Sketchup is not representative of what we will end up with):
The plan is to build the shelves in box section from MDF and recess some LED lights into them, all relatively straightforward.
Except, I can't seem to find somewhere that will precut the MDF to the required sizes. B&Q will do it for a trade customer, but I'm not that.
So any recommendations for somewhere that will cut the MDF to order? Because frankly I'd rather avoid making all those cuts myself....
The problem – it’s too big. I mean, it’s really quite obnoxiously big. But then, can a TV ever really be too big? Well according to my wife, yes it can, and that one is.
Negotiations start and eventually we agree on a compromise – the TV can stay if I build a load of alcove storage into the space vacated by the current telly.
So I've whacked a design together and got approval from the wife (with the agreement that the green colour in Sketchup is not representative of what we will end up with):
The plan is to build the shelves in box section from MDF and recess some LED lights into them, all relatively straightforward.
Except, I can't seem to find somewhere that will precut the MDF to the required sizes. B&Q will do it for a trade customer, but I'm not that.
So any recommendations for somewhere that will cut the MDF to order? Because frankly I'd rather avoid making all those cuts myself....
SavanP said:
One thing to be careful of is checking to see whether the alcove's are square. Once the MDF is cut down it is hard to re-instate an angle cut, so check this first.
I imagine, if the house is of any age, they won't be square, even varying up the height of the room. In this case, you may be better off cutting them on site.
Actually this is a good point. My intention was to "refine" any edges that weren't fitting but I haven't checked yet how true the walls are. It's a 1920s property and the alcoves are already different sizes (about 2cm different width) so checking from top to bottom as well is sensible. If they look OK I'll go pre cut, otherwise I'll get the circular saw out and do it myself.I imagine, if the house is of any age, they won't be square, even varying up the height of the room. In this case, you may be better off cutting them on site.
Cactussed said:
It it were me, I'd sack off the box shelving idea and simply use sheet MDF cut to size, then add a real wood front panel which you can glue or tack nail on then paint. It gives the same look with far less work. The recess will conceal the wall fixings (2 nails each side will work for example).
You will also be able to use the concealed recess behind the front panel to run some LED strip lighting for each shelf which will give dimmable, concealed lighting which runs cooler (in a wooden structure) and uses less power.
Just my 2c.
Sorry, if I read that right you're proposing nails to support the shelves on the wall? If so, I'm not sure that's going to work for me given the construction of the walls and the weight the shelves will need to support.You will also be able to use the concealed recess behind the front panel to run some LED strip lighting for each shelf which will give dimmable, concealed lighting which runs cooler (in a wooden structure) and uses less power.
Just my 2c.
Those look great bugaluggs, nicely done.
Spoke to my stepfather last night who was a furniture builder by trade, asking him to check my costings for materials. I hadn't involved him before because he has a tendency to "take over" (that's putting it mildly) and I want to do this myself.
He's retired and so has nothing to do except comment on my DIY jobs being incomplete and then get involved in any project I have going. It's great to have help most of the time but he's forgotten what it's like to have a full time job and two young kids around and what that does to your spare time (you don't have any). I find myself wanting to do stuff for myself regardless of whether I'll make errors (in his eyes) or take a long time to complete it.
Anyway predictably he starts designing full cabinets to install and telling me why I shouldn't do it the way I've chosen. Primarily the reason being "you don't want all those holes in your walls".
So now it seems the battle is talking him down before I start work, otherwise he'll show up with fully built cabinets that look nothing like I want and costing 4x as much in materials!
Can't believe I've written all that. I'm nearly 40, you'd think I could be left to be a grown up!
Spoke to my stepfather last night who was a furniture builder by trade, asking him to check my costings for materials. I hadn't involved him before because he has a tendency to "take over" (that's putting it mildly) and I want to do this myself.
He's retired and so has nothing to do except comment on my DIY jobs being incomplete and then get involved in any project I have going. It's great to have help most of the time but he's forgotten what it's like to have a full time job and two young kids around and what that does to your spare time (you don't have any). I find myself wanting to do stuff for myself regardless of whether I'll make errors (in his eyes) or take a long time to complete it.
Anyway predictably he starts designing full cabinets to install and telling me why I shouldn't do it the way I've chosen. Primarily the reason being "you don't want all those holes in your walls".
So now it seems the battle is talking him down before I start work, otherwise he'll show up with fully built cabinets that look nothing like I want and costing 4x as much in materials!
Can't believe I've written all that. I'm nearly 40, you'd think I could be left to be a grown up!
Edited by _dobbo_ on Wednesday 24th August 12:59
olimain said:
Christ how big is your TV? http://www.mirrorsandglass.co.uk/shop/made-to-meas...
Good link, ta for that. I searched for two way TV mirror and all the sites were quoting well over £1500 for a framed mirror the size required. At that site price it's a bit more manageable!
So operation shelve-it finally commences.
Before starting it all looked like this, although less messy most of the time and with less ugly wires hanging down. The unit on the left is where the old TV was and on the wall is the giant behemoth TV that started this whole mess off.
A big part of the need for these shelves is to store the never ending relentless pile of crap plastic toys my kids accumulate and frankly replace the IKEA stuff that doesn't really fit in the spaces very efficiently.
The thickness of the shelves has been dictated by the nice cheap battens I found in the DIY store, less than half the price of all the other retailers at £1.98 per 2.4m length.
So I bought a bunch:
Next up, test fit to show the wife the thickness of the shelves and the spacing between them.
It's here I had to stop because the wife was at work and frankly I am smart enough not to commit to anything without her signing off!
Sign off obtained, on to the next part which is actually fixing stuff in place.
Before starting it all looked like this, although less messy most of the time and with less ugly wires hanging down. The unit on the left is where the old TV was and on the wall is the giant behemoth TV that started this whole mess off.
A big part of the need for these shelves is to store the never ending relentless pile of crap plastic toys my kids accumulate and frankly replace the IKEA stuff that doesn't really fit in the spaces very efficiently.
The thickness of the shelves has been dictated by the nice cheap battens I found in the DIY store, less than half the price of all the other retailers at £1.98 per 2.4m length.
So I bought a bunch:
Next up, test fit to show the wife the thickness of the shelves and the spacing between them.
It's here I had to stop because the wife was at work and frankly I am smart enough not to commit to anything without her signing off!
Sign off obtained, on to the next part which is actually fixing stuff in place.
Looking for a bit of input on hiding wires, so have done some crappy mockups to illustrate
Option 1 is that I bring out the depth of the two shelves at the right height further than the chimney breast and go behind the TV, then box the wires into the shelves:
Not sure this will look weird or not. But will avoid the need to do option 2:
Drill a massive hole in the chimney breast diagonally and come out into the body of the shlelf to run the wires through there:
Avoids the shelf possibly looking odd as it sticks out further than the others and goes behind the TV, but requires a big hole to be cut through the chimney breast.
I know, it's obviously option 2 right?
Option 1 is that I bring out the depth of the two shelves at the right height further than the chimney breast and go behind the TV, then box the wires into the shelves:
Not sure this will look weird or not. But will avoid the need to do option 2:
Drill a massive hole in the chimney breast diagonally and come out into the body of the shlelf to run the wires through there:
Avoids the shelf possibly looking odd as it sticks out further than the others and goes behind the TV, but requires a big hole to be cut through the chimney breast.
I know, it's obviously option 2 right?
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