Chopping Down an Entertainment Center
I’m taking a break from my usual geek content for a woodworking project. Granted, it’s a woodworking project to contain geek stuff, though.
We purchased a nice solid oak entertainment center many years ago. But it’s worthless now in an age of widescreen TVs. I tried to sell it, and then later give it away, with no takers. It had been taking up way too much room in the garage for more than a year.
Before: the original entertainment center.
So rather than turn it into a pile of lumber, I decided to chop it down and make it useful again. I had to remove the trim, cut off the sides, lower the top, and put it back together. Then I added a drawer on the right to hold DVDs, drilled shelf bracket holes in the closed cabinet to move the big shelf down, and added new hardware to freshen the look. I also had to disassemble the large door, learn to cut glass, then put that back together into a smaller door.
Making the drawer front was probably the hardest part. A friend let me borrow his raised panel bit for my shaper. That huge bit turning at 10,000 rpm was one of the most frightening things I’ve ever seen. 
Here’s the finished results loaded up with geeky stuff.
After: Modified entertainment center.
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15 Responses to “Chopping Down an Entertainment Center”
Posted by: Shelli Genn - 10/18/2009
WOW! Looks great – that’s what we need to do with our big thing. Tho for now it is holding our TV – no widescreen yet – and all the dc’s etc on the side pull out door.
Interesting – and very creative. Great job Doug!! Now that you know how to do this you may have a new career coming up.
Posted by: Dale Smith - 10/20/2009
Show off!
Don’t tell Summer about it or I’ll have yet another project on the list of things I should do but don’t.
Posted by: Andy - 11/12/2009
NICE! This is what I’m going to do with our oak entertainment center. Do you have any tips?
Posted by: Doug Smith - 11/12/2009
@Andy, The best tip is the usual tip: measure twice, cut once.
Posted by: Debbie - 06/05/2010
This is just what I was looking for we have the same entertainment center that I want my husband to cut down, know I wont get the drawer though. Thank you so much for putting this on the computer for others to see!!!!
Posted by: Gary - 11/03/2011
Great job modifying that cabinet.
I would also like to modify my cabinet that is similar to yours. How was the top and molding fastened to your cabinet. I am afraid to start wacking on the top to remove it because I am unsure what I am going to run into. Any comments would help.
Thanks,
Gary
Posted by: Doug Smith - 11/04/2011
Everything appeared to have been nailed together with a nail gun. I pried the trim off easily, starting from the back so it wouldn’t leave any marks that might show. There wasn’t even any glue. Then I tapped under the top with a rubber mallet (and a rag to protect the wood more) and it too lifted off easily. I was careful so I only had to fill a few nail holes when I reassembled it.
Posted by: Kerry - 12/11/2011
How did you go with the leadlight glass? Did you have to reassemble the leadlighting? We have a similar cabinet and the glass is one issue for us – would like to reuse it, but the leadlighting needs to be cut down.
Posted by: Doug Smith - 12/12/2011
The glass was divided with brass pieces that were soldered together. I did have to unsolder some of the parts. Then I cut them to size with a hacksaw, filed the ends smooth, cleaned them, and soldered them back together with the smaller glass.
Posted by: Paula - 01/15/2012
I’m guessing that you had some spots on the door that had to be stained…how did you match the stain? I’m trying to figure out how to do ours without re-staining, but cutting that door is an issue. Thanks!
Posted by: Doug Smith - 01/16/2012
I had my original sales receipt from the manufacturer and it specified the color of my unit. The name matched that of of a major brand stain available at a local store. I checked it out and it was a perfect match!
It hasn’t always been that easy, though. For other projects I’ve had to take a door or other part to have the stain matched and custom mixed. Fortunately, there is a paint and stain store in my area that has done a fantastic job of that.
Posted by: pat hintz - 01/21/2012
Inspirational!!! I have acquired a couple entertainment centers from Freecycle and intend to try this. Thank you for posting and answering questions. What a fantastic job!!!! I think I will skip the drawer due to lack of skill on my part and use a couple wicker baskets. The cheater’s solution…
Posted by: Doug Smith - 01/21/2012
Yes, baskets would be a very nice, and flexible solution.
Posted by: Beth - 01/29/2012
LOVE IT! A widescreen is on the horizon, and turning my entertainment center into a new lower usable stand was always in the back of my mind. Your entertainment center looks to be very similar to mine. The difference is that mine has a full non-leaded glass door – which should make my life easier to cut down and rework. How and what did you use to cut down the sides? A jigsaw, or a circular saw, or something else? I’m assuming that you left the sides intact and just removed the top. Any hints so there’s no splintering? It appears that the trim around the top will come off easily enough. The top may be attached with screws, which would be the best case scenario. The drawer is a great option. Can’t wait to get started.
Posted by: Doug Smith - 01/30/2012
I cut the sides after removing the top. I clamped on a board as a guide and then cut it with a circular saw. You can avoid some of the splintering by putting a piece of masking tape along the line where you’ll be cutting. But it’s no big deal if you get a little splintering near the edge since the trim covers it.
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