Stereo Cabinet back, cardboard or wood?

"Devon Miller" <[email protected]> writes:
>However you decide to do it...
>
>Unless the cabinet is going to be positioned such that the back is
>completely inaccessible, leave yourself a way to open the back to get
>at the wiring. It's much easier that way.
>

Not to mention ventilation, ventilation, ventilation. Modern HT
gear generates a significant amount of heat, to which modern HT
gear can be quite sensitive (e.g. Tivo and other PVR's, sat receivers, etc).

scott

dnoyeB wrote:
> I am closing up my stereo cabinet. I forgot to put the back on it up
> front, so I'll have to nail one on or use clamps. I am wondering if I
> should go ahead and use the 1/4" lowes plywood, sand and stain it, or if
> I should use that cardboardy stuff I see on the back of most
> entertainment centers?
>
> The cabinet will be relatively dark and all slots will be mostly filled
> so I don't expect you can see the backing. Plus easier to but holes in
> the cardboard I suspect. its actually like a thin particle board with a
> nice finish. Hope you know what im talking about.

Use the cardboardy stuff.

dnoyeB wrote:
> I am closing up my stereo cabinet. I forgot to put the back on it up
> front, so I'll have to nail one on or use clamps. I am wondering if I
> should go ahead and use the 1/4" lowes plywood, sand and stain it, or if
> I should use that cardboardy stuff I see on the back of most
> entertainment centers?
>
> The cabinet will be relatively dark and all slots will be mostly filled
> so I don't expect you can see the backing. Plus easier to but holes in
> the cardboard I suspect. its actually like a thin particle board with a
> nice finish. Hope you know what im talking about.

Still haven't made up my mind that _you_ know what you're talking
about! ;)

You can use just about anything for the back, really - except
cardboard. Call a local plywood distributor and ask them in what
colors they have 1/4" melamine. They'll probably have white, possibly
almond and maybe black. Black is a good color as it makes all of the
stuff in the back disappear, and there's no sealing necessary.

IKEA sells cabinets that have backs that aren't cardboard and not quite
hardboard. Not sure where you'd get that stuff.

R

However you decide to do it...

Unless the cabinet is going to be positioned such that the back is
completely inaccessible, leave yourself a way to open the back to get
at the wiring. It's much easier that way.

dadiOH wrote:

> dnoyeB wrote:
>> I am closing up my stereo cabinet. I forgot to put the back on it up
>> front, so I'll have to nail one on or use clamps. I am wondering if I
>> should go ahead and use the 1/4" lowes plywood, sand and stain it, or
>> if I should use that cardboardy stuff I see on the back of most
>> entertainment centers?
>>
>> The cabinet will be relatively dark and all slots will be mostly
>> filled so I don't expect you can see the backing. Plus easier to but
>> holes in the cardboard I suspect. its actually like a thin particle
>> board with a nice finish. Hope you know what im talking about.
>
> Sort of like Masonite? :)
>
> --
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico


isn't Masonite tempered hard board
--
if corn oil comes from corn,
and olive oil comes from olives
where dose baby oil come from?

dnoyeB wrote:
> I am closing up my stereo cabinet. I forgot to put the back on it up
> front, so I'll have to nail one on or use clamps. I am wondering if I
> should go ahead and use the 1/4" lowes plywood, sand and stain it, or
> if I should use that cardboardy stuff I see on the back of most
> entertainment centers?
>
> The cabinet will be relatively dark and all slots will be mostly
> filled so I don't expect you can see the backing. Plus easier to but
> holes in the cardboard I suspect. its actually like a thin particle
> board with a nice finish. Hope you know what im talking about.

Sort of like Masonite? :)

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

dnoyeB wrote:
> The cabinet will be relatively dark and all slots will be mostly filled
> so I don't expect you can see the backing. Plus easier to but holes in
> the cardboard I suspect. its actually like a thin particle board with a
> nice finish. Hope you know what im talking about.


It's called hardboard. Shiny brown on one side; rough brown on the back side.
Very easy to work with but has very little strength. Should be ok for your
application though...



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

[email protected]

Richard Clements wrote:

> isn't Masonite tempered hard board

Yes, just a brand name that more or less has become generic. Need not
be tempered though.

--
dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

dnoyeB wrote:
> I am closing up my stereo cabinet. I forgot to put the back on it up
> front, so I'll have to nail one on or use clamps. I am wondering if I
> should go ahead and use the 1/4" lowes plywood, sand and stain it, or if
> I should use that cardboardy stuff I see on the back of most
> entertainment centers?
>
> The cabinet will be relatively dark and all slots will be mostly filled
> so I don't expect you can see the backing. Plus easier to but holes in
> the cardboard I suspect. its actually like a thin particle board with a
> nice finish. Hope you know what im talking about.
>
>
One reason for attaching backing to cabinets is to provide rigidity to
the cabinet and preventing "racking." Using hardboard won't accomplish
this whereas 1/4" plywood will.

Better yet, get some 1/4" luan plywood which is probably as cheap as the
hardboard (or cheaper) and will do a better job. Home Depot & Lowes
carry it.

~Mark.

dnoyeB said

" I am wondering if I should go ahead and use the 1/4" lowes plywood, =
sand and stain it, or if=20
I should use that cardboardy stuff I see on the back of most =
entertainment centers?"

I'd suggest hardboard (the cardboardy stuff you refer to in original =
posting).

Various options available ... the simple shiny one side, rough the other =
ready for your coating, or white melamine on the smooth side, or, it's =
often sold as the backing plate for hearth/fireplaces in various =
patterns and colours, this can add style and variety to the internal =
look of your piece of furniture.