Entertainment
Build our neat little
entertainment unit central
njoying your favourite music or TV program
Here s how spaced exactly 460mm from
Eis one of life s simple pleasures. It s even
1 Cut base and side panels (A, each side (use a side shelf as
better when everything is within reach and organised. B). Cut panels with face side a spacer). Pre-drill, countersink
By Dieter Mylius, Greg Fahey down. Run the power saw and screw in place from top and
with sharp fine toothed blade underside.
along straight timber batten 7 Glue and pin on central
spaced and clamped to allow back panel (I) in the recess
for distance between saw blade left by the dividers.
and edge of base plate of saw. 8 Screw cleats (J) to inside of
2 Cut out dividers (C) and side bays 179mm from front,
top rails (D) as well as side using screws short enough so
and central shelves (E, F). they don t protrude into centre.
Pre-cutting most of the Countersink for heads. Glue and
materials allows you to edge- pin on side back panels (K).
veneer all components in 9 Cut top (L) and apply wide
one process. veneer to front and side edges.
3 Cut slightly long lengths of If your room has skirting boards
edge veneer (G, H) to suit the and you want the top to sit flush
thickness of the boards. Run a against a wall, add thickness of
household iron over veneer as skirting to top width to make
you hold it in place to soften this possible. Centre top over
glue and, when soft, press unit with 20mm front overhang,
in place by rubbing with a then screw on from the
cork block. Trim overhanging underside through the rails.
edges with a file, sand smooth. 10 To drill holes for shelf pins,
Edge-veneer all visible edges make a template (M): clearly
of base, top, sides, front top mark the top and draw a line
rail and shelves. 40mm in from each long edge.
4 Join boards with a biscuit From the bottom measure 150,
joiner, making sure joints are 205, 260, 315, 370, 425 and
not misaligned. To join a bottom 480mm up both lines for the
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
corner, stand a side on the position of the top of each hole.
Item Part Size Material
base. With a pencil, mark joints Place template inside sides and
A Base 1410 x 400 x 25mm Particleboard
on both pieces. Extend the dividers and drill a 5mm hole at
B Sides (2) 690 x 400 x 25mm Particleboard
marks to outside edge of each mark to a depth of 10mm.
C Dividers (2) 665 x 396 x 16mm Particleboard
base as all biscuit cutting is In the central section only drill
D Top rails (2) 1410 x 90 x 16mm Particleboard
done from outside corners. Set the top holes.
E Side shelves (6) 175 x 460 x 16mm Particleboard
biscuit cutter to cut slots for 11 Tip the unit on its back and
F Central shelf 396 x 458 x 16mm Particleboard
no. 20 biscuits spaced 11mm mark 45mm in from each edge
G Wide edging (total) 40mm x 5.5m Beech veneer
from edge for 25mm boards for the centre of each leg.
H Narrow edging (total) 21mm x 7m Beech veneer
(7mm for 16mm boards). Align Glue and screw leg blocks
I Central back panel 649 x 490 x 4mm Plywood
mark on cutter with pencil marks (N) to these positions, apply
J Cleats (4) 19 x 19 x 665mm Maple
and cut slots. We used three construction adhesive to the
K Side back panels (2) 460 x 665 x 4mm Plywood
biscuits along bottom joints and block and fit sleeve (O) over
L Top 1500 x 420 x 25mm Particleboard
one for each end of top rails. block. Glue the leg (P) inside
M Hole template 645 x 175 x 3mm MDF
5 Apply glue to biscuits and the sleeve  it should protrude
N Leg block (4) 44 x 44 x 35mm Maple
push into slots in the sides. about 5mm from aluminium
O Sleeve 50 x 50 x 3 x 80mm Aluminium tube
Set base on sash cramps sleeve.
P Leg 44 x 44 x 50mm Maple
then bring sides to base. Push 12 Finish unit with two or three
together, then tighten cramps. coats of Danish Oil or similar for
The panels are cut from one 25mm and one 16mm sheet of Set top rails in place and hold a low sheen finish.
veneered particleboard, with 4mm veneered plywood for the with sash cramps.
backs and joined with a biscuit joiner (about $30 a day to 6 To fit dividers, cut a 90 x
hire). This joins panels like dowelling, but allows some leeway 16mm recess at front of panels
in setting out. You will also need 1800mm long sash cramps, and 86 x 16mm recess at back.
no. 20 biscuits, assorted screws, wood glue, 28 x 5mm shelf Insert dividers between top and
pins; cartridge of construction adhesive. bottom, flush with front and
http://www.bhg.com.au
Photography John Halfhide; styling Jim O Brien; diagrams Tech View Studio