Low Media Console

Cut list

Board layout. Each row is one board, cut left to right, with the remainder hatched. Dark lines are saw cuts, about ⅛″ wide.

Build it

1. 
   01

   Cut the pieces

   Cut every piece from the plywood. Ask the store to rip the ¾″ sheet into 15¾″ strips if it won't fit in your car:

   • A Sides, two at 15¾″ × 16″
   • B Top and bottom, two at 15¾″ × 58½″
   • C Dividers, two at 15¾″ × 14½″
   • D Shelves, two at 15¾″ × 19″
   • E Back, one at 16″ × 60″

   TipIron-on edge banding hides the plywood layers. Put it on the front edges of the sides, top, bottom, dividers and shelves before you assemble them.
2. 
   02

   Drill the pocket holes

   With the jig set for ¾″, drill on the faces that won't show:

   • Top (B): three at each end, on the underside.
   • Bottom (B): two at each end, on the underside, in the middle so the legs don't cover them.
   • Dividers (C): two at the top and two at the bottom, on one face.
   • Shelves (D): two at each end, on the underside.
3. 
   03

   Build the case

   Stand the two sides (A) up and fit the top and bottom (B) between them, flush at the front and back. Glue and drive 1¼″ pocket screws.

4. 
   04

   Add the dividers

   Fit the two dividers (C) between the top and bottom so each bay is 19″ wide inside. Glue and pocket-screw them, holes facing the middle bay.

   TipCut a 19″ spacer from scrap and stand it in the bay as you screw each divider. All three bays come out the same.
5. 
   05

   Add the shelves

   Fit a shelf (D) in each end bay, its bottom 6⅞″ above the case bottom, so both openings are the same height. Glue and pocket-screw it to the side and the divider.

6. 
   06

   Nail on the back

   Turn the case face down. Check it's square: the two diagonals should match. Drill a 2½″ hole in the back (E) behind the middle bay for cords. Glue and nail the back to the sides, top, bottom and dividers with 1″ brads every 4″ or so.

7. 
   07

   Screw on the legs

   Lay the case on its back on a blanket. Screw a leg under each corner of the bottom (B), its plate 1⅝″ in from the side and 1⅜″ in from the front and back. Drill ⅛″ pilot holes no deeper than ½″ and drive a #10 × ⅝″ pan-head screw in every hole.

   Check your legs' own instructions first: the screws must be shorter than the ¾″ bottom is thick, or they'll poke through into the bay.

8. 
   08

   Finish and anchor it

   Sand with 120 then 180 grit and ease the edges. Paint the case or seal it with a clear coat.

   Set it in place and anchor the top to a wall stud with a furniture anti-tip strap, following the kit's instructions. Run cords through the hole in the back.

   Watch outA TV makes this console top-heavy, and kids pull on stands to stand up. Always anchor it, and strap the TV to the wall or the console as its maker says. Keep the TV no wider than the console.