Homemade Hifi/media cabinet

  • Thread starter Thread starter stupar
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stupar

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I would like to make a hifi/media cabinet to hold a tivo box and am Xbox one.

I like the style as shown in the attached image.
Has anyone made something similar? If so was it easy to do and to source materials.
My carpentry skills are basic hence the simplistic design.

SataraNaturalSmallHifiWide1.jpg
 
Looks a straight forward construction though I suspect the front pieces are edged to give an appearance of thickness.
Your cutting would have to be very accurate, but I would think finding suitable timber would be the biggest problem.
 
Just how basic are your carpentry skills, and what tools do you have..?
Making something like that with varnished timber isn't going to be easy, so maybe using MDF and going for a painted finish would be easier and give you the chance to fill holes and joints..?
 
For what it would cost you in decent wood, the correct tools and the time it would take you to make it (based on your lack of carpentry skills), I'd be inclined to buy one. They aren't that expensive.
 
strumstrum said:
XB1 in that space, enjoy your new fan heater.
Click to expand...

Hmm yeah maybe a tad tight on vent space!

stevewestern said:
Just how basic are your carpentry skills, and what tools do you have..?
Making something like that with varnished timber isn't going to be easy, so maybe using MDF and going for a painted finish would be easier and give you the chance to fill holes and joints..?
Click to expand...

I can cut straight and angled, i can glue and screw.
I work better with MDF and soft woods than anything else.

Im having a look at other options too and one that has come to light is a sideboard which would fit nicely in the alcove space we have available. The tivo and Xbox could then sit in there (with more ventilation space)
 
You could use veneered MDF, available in Oak, Walnut, Beech, etc,etc.

You'd need to edge the 'end grain' on the top, but could hide it at the bottom. Biscuits or dowels make the shelf fixing invisible. The rest is just a mitred face frame.

It probably would be cheaper to buy one, but think of the satisfaction of knowing that yours has 10mm more ventilation space :thumbs:
 
I was going to say Youtube is your friend for diy videos but the only ones I can find are Americans using expensive power tools to make stuff.
 
If you do make or decide to buy, make sure there are plenty of vent holes at the back of the unit (as in your image) - we had a bought in not a good few years ago, which had a couple of cable / vent holes in the rear and I found after a while of use, things were getting little hot inside it, 1 hole cutter later and a couple of extra holes top / bottom and things cooled down - still got warm, but no where near as hot...
 
strumstrum said:
XB1 in that space, enjoy your new fan heater.
Click to expand...
XB1 is remarkably quiet actually, its the fan in the power supply thats noisy and that doesn't have to be in there. Oh and thats an xbox 360 :)
 
strumstrum said:
The pic is a 360 but OP wants to house a XB1, they are of similar size.
Click to expand...
Missed the xb1 reference from the OP, which is worrying because I did reread it before I posted :confused:
strumstrum said:
Noise isn't the issue with XB1 generating heat is when in enclosed spaces.
Click to expand...
Just reread your post and realise I messed that up too. :)
 
Having had a look it is pretty straightforward and could "easily" be done with hand tools. The top and the sides seem to be just sections of wood joined together. Would suggest the shelves are the same. The front outer frame is the only bit with 450 corners and the front of the shelves are just at right angles to the rest of the shelves. I suspect there are small bits of wood to reinforce the corners and to support the shelves (that the front covers) the back could be made of almost anything provided it gives the unit some rigidity.


Accuracy in cutting is the key to this job. Together with a good saw

my list would be:
set square/combination square
Steel ruler
stanley knife to mark the wood (Finer line than a pencil)
Tenon saw (fine toothed) (I would use a Japanese pull saw, but we are trying to do this on the cheap)
Mitre block (If you can't follow lines.)
Wood glue (Titebond 2)
Clamps
some small wood screws.

Plenty of wood merchants around. Choice for me would be pine and then use a wood stain/dye to get a darker colour or a hardwood (European Oak can be got relatively cheaply)

possible the biggest expense would be a hole cutter if you did the back in a single sheet of ply etc.

Personally I would use similar wood as used in the front of the unit at the back but would put it so the shelf is fixed so it has a lip. (also gets a bit more air around the unit.)
 
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