Since I know you guys are techie, clever, etc., etc., and I value most of your opinions ... I thought you might be able to offer input on our challenge. We're visiting my Mother in Jupiter helping with projects, and she just got a new 42" flatscreen. It is replacing an old tube TV that sits in a 'custom' cabinet by the fireplace. To put the new TV in the similar location, it obviously won't fit inside the cabinet. It cannot sit on the same shelf because it is recessed from the sides. There is a smaller shelf above, but is not of the same thickness/strength as the shelf below, so I wouldn't trust it to hold the hanging weight. Below the raised tv cabinet is a regular 'counter' height cabinet top that is strong enough for anything. But sitting right on it would be too low for her preferences - probably should be foot higher. Telescoping from the back is probably not going to work. The cabinet is not flat against the wall - there is space for cords & things to run behind. So I don't think there is strength to levitate the TV 24" forward on an arm. My Mother is OK with cuting out the back of the cabinet to get to the wall if that is the best option, though. Here is a picture of the shelf area. All of the wood is real, thick, and solid (though the top speaker shelf is not as thick as the rest). The right hand side is straight brick from the firplace so building an "H" type brace is difficult. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wtdvo/8744604702/ Any ideas/input? Wendy
Sorry, in a hurry couldn't get the picture to appear, but there is the Flickr link. The stuff at the bottom of the picture (computer screen, little drawers), is from her little laptop work station she has set up in the living room right under the TV. It will all be moved and hopefully set up somewhere else.
Can't tell by the picture. Here are a couple of questions: 1) What is to the left of the cabinet? 2) How deep is the cabinet? One possible solution for a flat screen is a wail mount. Cut off the cabinet to remove the TV and speaker section. Find the wall studs to mount a wall bracket and mount it to the wall at the approximate height of the old TV.
1. To the left of the cabinet is about 8" of wall space and then the door to the master bedroom. The new TV will probably hover 4" out beyond the cabinet. 2. The cabinet is 28 1/2" deep. The shelf that the current TV sits on comes about 1 1/2" short of the plane of the front. You may be able to see the collapsing doors that shut over the front of the TV (whole thing put in when it was cool to hide your TV instead of show it off). The doors are coming off. Better picture of the area after it's a little more dug out, http://www.flickr.com/photos/wtdvo/8745226862/ In double-checking the measuring, we realized that the TV portion doesn't have a false back - it's only the main counter top below. So hanging to the wall on a 30" extender arm is an option, if such a thing exists and that's a safe way to do it. But that's a lot of leverage weight. I don't think harvesting the whole cabinet is an option - it's kind of a matching thing on each side of the fireplace. And even if it was an option, the fireplace would block the viewing angle of half the room. Can't mes with the fireplace - need it for those cold winter nights in south Florida. :wink: The cabinet base top extends 7" out from the frame of the upper section, but it's a little to low to sit there directly. The current TV starts about 18" above that shelf. And there is a cornor of the mantle that will probably always interfere with viewing. Thanks for asking and pondering!
That's what we were thinking of at first, but it would have to come out ~30". That's what I meant about leverage weight. Course ones designed for that kind of extension are pretty expensive (at least that we've seen), and I think she would rather other options. Found one that would drop from the ceiling. Could install it just in front of the wood against the ceiling. But she doesn't like the look of that bar sticking up to the ceiling. Now the leading option is getting a good 1"+ x 2' x 2' hardwood piece and lag-bolting it to the shelf so it extends 6-8" farther than the existing shelf (that the current TV is on) and just using the stand that comes with the flat screen to sit it on the extension. Would probably McGyver some sort of cable to the back of the cabinet to back-up protect if from falling forward (in addition to the set screw that comes with it). Anyone foresee disaster with that approach?
"I find your lack of faith disturbing" So really, lag bolts 2 feet back and again at front, 8" of over hang, and still disaster will ensue? How about with some sort of steel flat bar under the length of it and out under the projection?
The key is: How well anchored is the existing cabinet. You are essentially building a diving board for the TV. Will the cabinet become unstable and fall forward?
Good point Tom. My fault for not specifying it was a built-in cabinet. I understand everyone's concerns now. The fireplace and the two flanking cabinets/bookshelves were built in professionally when the house was bought 30-ish years ago. They are floor to ceiling, and attached well to the wall behind and the fireplace beside. There is virtually no chance of it falling forward. Collapsing or ripping apart is always and optoin. But one heavy tube TV or another has been on that shelf the whole time and there's not the first sign of a sag or loose connection. My main thought for disaster was the strength of the wood ledge coming forward. I'm fairly confident any additional board can be fastened well enough to not have the whole thing dump forward. I just expect the ledge to snap off.
One last thought. I think you are on the right track with one small addition. With the board sticking out by 8", make two braces that go from the outer edge of the board angled down to the corner made by the shelf below and the vertical bars. Verbally, I am not describing it well. I used "Paint" to make a quick little side view drawing to explain. This will relieve the downward stress on your extension. As long as you are using hard wood, 2" x 2" should be fine for the angled braces. The stress on them will be pure compression along the length.
As one who has improvised over the years, I believe Tom's suggestion is sufficient to provide solid support for the shelf extension as well as peace of mind that you have not built - as Tom put it - a potential "diving board" for the TV.
I don't know Tom, I kind of like the Diving Board TV mount idea better...more likely to make us some money when the video goes viral.
Tom! Thank you for doing that! Seems like a simple and great solution for peace of mind as Sid said. I was ready to go with it. But I didn't realize that my Mother was never happy with just the included stand idea since it doesn't tilt or swivel at all. She's talking about building a false wall with 2x6's in the TV shelf opening to attach a back-mount to. I'm having a hard time picturing it. I think we are finally going to call her fix-it guy.
With that idea in mind, I would remove the existing cabinet completely. You can build a walled in area to the left of the fireplace with multiple shelves/openings for cable box, blue-ray, etc. With planning, you can also have hidden wiring as well. Best idea of all: Call the guy! :wink: