Looking for wire mesh

[unixpro]

Well, we finally decided to take the plunge and get a HD television. The sales are pretty good right now and Sears has a 60-day price match guarantee, so ahead we went.

We also looked at the TV stands and, after checking out the construction and prices of those little critters, I confidently told the wife that I could make one at least as good for far less money! She took me at my word, and the trouble started

She's decided that she likes this one. Actually, it doesn't look all that hard to make, but I'm wondering where I might be able to pick up the metal mesh screen they use in the doors. I did a quick check of the usual sources (Rockler, Woodcraft, and Lee Valley) without success. Anyone have any ideas?

[eendreno]

hello- i think you might do well checking with some cabinet supply companies in your neck of the woods. i can't make out the detail from the photo's, new york metal molding has a bunch of stamped steel grids. they pop up with a google search on the first page. why not try stack cutting 1/8 ' bb make matching panels, if you are not sure about the joinery part of it drop me an email, i'll explain a couple of ways to do it doug

[Marsha]

Try looking for wire mesh at Lowe's, or do you have Home depot in the States that's where I bought mine, it's in the window dept.
Marsha

[Gill]

Stuff the woodwork - what's your new telly like? Is the picture quality really that much better on a HD TV than on a regular TV?



I'm definitely interested in getting a HD TV too but my hubby keeps protesting that our present TV is perfectly serviceable. Although he's right, he said the same thing about our video cassette recorder until the day I showed him the desert sands in "Lawrence of Arabia" played through the DVD drive on my computer. The next day we we traipsed out and bought a DVD player.

I'm also thinking about upgrading our DVD system to HD-DVD now that it seems to be establishing itself as the dominant format. Does anyone have any views on this? Apparently, the latest Harry Potter movie is great in HD-DVD format.

Sorry for taking the thread off-topic - I couldn't resist.

Gill

[GrayBeard Phil]

I don't really think this will help you out, but just to answer the specific question:

Industrial Supply house McMaster-Carr:
http://www.mcmaster.com/

Then in the search box on left type in: Wire mesh screen
when page is displayed scroll down to "Cane Perforated Sheet"
Note: this is a full sized industrial sheet, cost is high, and shipping is also High.

36" wide, 40" long, 22 gage alum. thick = $80.45 + shipping.

Have you considered rattan weave cane chair seat repair sheets, and just paint the rattan a black color?
From Rockler:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=812

Also, does it really have to be black? The use of heavy rattan covered in a thick shellac finish was very popular with some 1950's style "Blondie" furniture style stereo cabinets. You could claim your new TV set to be Retro 50's since so much of the family will be watching the one set, just like the 1950s.

(The Rocker link was just for the graphic, shop around for better price, and different rattan weave cloth style.)

Phil


Phil

[Neal Moore]

After looking at the cabinet, I think Phil has a great idea that would look even better than the wire mesh. You could also make panel inserts for the doors from 1/4 inch material, drill holes for ventilation and cover that with speaker cloth. Still like Phil's idea better though.

[Plaquerd]

Why not scroll something in the panels? The possibilities are nearly endless and it would be a unique one of a kind cabinet.
Dave

[unixpro]

The purpose of the wire mesh is that it allows the IR signals from the remotes to get through to the electronics housed behind, while still providing ventilation to keep it all cool. I've been toying with the idea of putting just an open shelf below the top to hold the electronics, then putting cabinets underneath to hold stuff. Rockler has some Shelf Standard Slide Brackets that will let me mount shelves using the Blum epoxy coated slides. By using these, I can put in multiple layers of shelving that will hold our collection of DVDs and tapes. If I put the top on a hinge, I can gain easy access to the electronics shelf as well.

It has to be black because the other furniture in the living room is black. Besides, furniture grade BB ply is a lot cheaper than furniture grade oak or walnut ply. I plan to just build it and paint it.

Gill, the TV we finally decided on, after much research and many trips to the store, is this one. I ordered it from Sears for home delivery, so I won't know for sure how it will look until after it's delivered on December 3rd. Plus, we have to get the satellite company to change us over to a new dish and get a new receiver to receive the HD signals. So much money just for a TV.

[Janette]

I would check your local stereo store. Perhaps they can direct you to places that sell the covers that go over speakers. Another option- black landscape fabric or any type of fabric would work too.

[Andy]

Janette stole my suggestion. LOL Speaker fabric cloth works pretty good. Another idea is using smoked glass on hinges. It really does class up the look. Another major suggestion for making the cabinet is to provide adequate ventilation so the heat can escape your audio/video equipment. VERY important. If you don't want to mess with any of that though, you can purchase battery replacements the allow your remotes to work at 2.5Ghz instead of infrared. You can use solid panel doors or put all the equipment in a closet or the basement and then just wall mount the TV ... or it's all hidden in the stand with the TV on top. MUCH easier to wire this way. As you probably assume, I do this for a living ...

And to answer your question, Gill ... HD by far exceeds standard broadcast. The jury is still out on HD/Blue Ray DVD though. It looks MUCH better if your TV is 1080P instead of 1080i but all the broadcast and satellite providers are 1080i and 1080i on a 1080p TV looks pretty sad unless you spend LOTS of money on something with an excellent scaler. Confused? Me too ... and I deal with it every day. I have a 1080i LG TV, High Def satellite and regular DVD. I love it, wouldn't change a thing ... unless I had money to just throw away.

Andy