Show off Your Handcrafted Projects. It's Free! Start Sharing

gaming display shelf for old electronic games

author-gravatar Graeme Oct 27, 2019

#hometheater #pine #gaming

Was ask to build a shelf for old "retro" electronic game(s) from the 90's that had to have pull out shelve and support a 55" flat screen t.v. Was told that it could not be more than 4' long 18" wide and 3 to 4 feet high, and once more the 2 middle shelves had to slide out, and you had to be able to walk around it (not attached to a wall) I look all over the internet to see what was out there and did see some nice display shelves but nothing really impressed me. So this is what I came up with, a shelving unit that has no sides or front support and only two legs in the back. The two shelves slide out 9 inches.  The following pictures were taken during a dry fit and the shelving supports have been painted and customized so you can not see them in the finished result. 

rosscarpentry.ca

Photo of  gaming display shelf for old electronic games

This is a nice view of the shelving unit with a very large flat screen t.v (55") and all of the old electronic games. Please remember that this unit is not attached to the wall but free standing, and the middle two shelves slide out 9" each. There are no sides and the only support is with the 2 legs in the back which are 4"x6" solid wood.

Photo of  gaming display shelf for old electronic games

Front view and notice that there are no sides to this shelving unit which allows for air movement to disperse heat from the game. 

Photo of  gaming display shelf for old electronic games

What looks like a wall behind the unit is a sliding door. I have been told by the customer that he has slid out both middle shelves and the unit is solid and does not lean. 

Photo of  gaming display shelf for old electronic games

This is a side view of the shelving unit, both the top and bottom shelves have not been attached but are just sitting on the supports, I wanted to see when I slide out the middle shelves if the unit stays flat. Note that the top shelve is only 12" wide, the two middle shelves that slide out are 14" wide and the bottom shelve is 18" wide. The two support legs are 3x6 and 4' tall.  The customer is very happy with the unit and has told me that with the LCD tv on the top shelf and the two middle shelves have been extended to the max the unit will not lean  forward even when he tries to push it. I can not tell anyone how I managed this as I work very hard to make something that is a one of a kind. When the customer sends me pictures of the unit I will add them to this post.  

Photo of  gaming display shelf for old electronic games

I slid out the shelf to a max of 9 inches and the unit did not lean forward. I then tried to push it from the back of the unit forward to see if it will tip over and it would not move. 

Photo of  gaming display shelf for old electronic games

I slid out both shelves to a max of 9 inches and once more tested the unit to see if it would lean forward, then from behind the unit I tried to push if forward to see if it would tip over and it would not move. Remember that there is going to be a 55" LCD tv on the top shelve.

Photo of  gaming display shelf for old electronic games

You will notice that there is two long dowels at the back of the unit and they are to ensure that the legs stay 23" apart at all times. If I did not have them then the shelves would fall off the track once you start to pull them forward.   

Photo of  gaming display shelf for old electronic games

The unit is made from solid wood. The legs are painted a flat black and the shelves are rough cut pine with stain (gunstock). It was to match the customers desk. You will notice my makers mark on the bottom shelf - to keep the rough cut pine look I painted the shelves black and then did a light sanding to remove most of the black paint but kept the rought cut look. I left the black paint in the bandsaw marks and others locations on the shelves then I put on the stain and after 24hrs I put on 2 coats of tung oil on the shelves.  

Photo of  gaming display shelf for old electronic games

This is one of a few dry fits that I like the design and moved forward with. Other dry fits had 3 legs in the back  and did not look as good as it does with just two legs.  

0 comments

No comments yet. Why not be the first?

You need to be signed in to leave a comment. Don't have an account? Join now

2