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Hi everyone,
Awhile ago I had purchased an old zenith console radio/record player from the salvation army, basically to use as a small desk/coffee table while finishing up college. There were considerable scratches and dents (and the radio/speakers only worked half the time), so I wasn't planning on keeping it.
Then I got the idea to stick an old computer inside, and set it up as a multimedia center. I wish I had taken pictures since the beginning, but since I don't heres the step by step process:
First, I gutted the entire console, - radio (old tube kind), record player, speakers, etc... I stripped down the old varnish first, then lightly smoothed out the veneer. After staining it over again, it looked brand new (most of the previous scratches disappeared with stripping.
Next, I started on the inside - my old pc is as follows:
asus mobo
p4 1.8a cpu
512mb ram
g4 440mx
dvd burner, 80 gb hdd, etc
Obviously very basic and old machine, but good enough for music, movies, and web browsing.
I basically laid these out on the bottom of the cabinet, and built a shelf above it, to hide it from plain view.
The main idea I had behind this mod was the monitor of course. The top lifts up, so I took some metal brackets, and made my own mount to secure teh monitor to the top of the console. (as seen in the pics below).
Well - here is the progress thus far. Sorry for the picture quality. Bad camera + taken in basement + bad camera man doesn't do much justice for the case.
Console closed (looks like a normal piece of furniture right?):
Opened up:
Whats inside:
Still to do:
Stealth the dvd burner.
Theres a lift up compartment that has to be finished.
Right now, I have some old pc speakers sitting in there - I plan to get 2 speakers to fit in each side (like originally done)... any suggestions? Preferrably a good pair of computer speakers would work (not the best with wiring/audo equipment).
I planned from the beginning to get a 19 or 20" widescreen monitor - but I'm not sure about dimensions. For those of you who have a 20" widescreen (or 19) , could you please let me know the W x H x D of the monitor alone (without the stand)?
Thanks, hope people enjoy this.
I'll be updating eventually on progress.
Awhile ago I had purchased an old zenith console radio/record player from the salvation army, basically to use as a small desk/coffee table while finishing up college. There were considerable scratches and dents (and the radio/speakers only worked half the time), so I wasn't planning on keeping it.
Then I got the idea to stick an old computer inside, and set it up as a multimedia center. I wish I had taken pictures since the beginning, but since I don't heres the step by step process:
First, I gutted the entire console, - radio (old tube kind), record player, speakers, etc... I stripped down the old varnish first, then lightly smoothed out the veneer. After staining it over again, it looked brand new (most of the previous scratches disappeared with stripping.
Next, I started on the inside - my old pc is as follows:
asus mobo
p4 1.8a cpu
512mb ram
g4 440mx
dvd burner, 80 gb hdd, etc
Obviously very basic and old machine, but good enough for music, movies, and web browsing.
I basically laid these out on the bottom of the cabinet, and built a shelf above it, to hide it from plain view.
The main idea I had behind this mod was the monitor of course. The top lifts up, so I took some metal brackets, and made my own mount to secure teh monitor to the top of the console. (as seen in the pics below).
Well - here is the progress thus far. Sorry for the picture quality. Bad camera + taken in basement + bad camera man doesn't do much justice for the case.
Console closed (looks like a normal piece of furniture right?):
Opened up:
Whats inside:
Still to do:
Stealth the dvd burner.
Theres a lift up compartment that has to be finished.
Right now, I have some old pc speakers sitting in there - I plan to get 2 speakers to fit in each side (like originally done)... any suggestions? Preferrably a good pair of computer speakers would work (not the best with wiring/audo equipment).
I planned from the beginning to get a 19 or 20" widescreen monitor - but I'm not sure about dimensions. For those of you who have a 20" widescreen (or 19) , could you please let me know the W x H x D of the monitor alone (without the stand)?
Thanks, hope people enjoy this.
I'll be updating eventually on progress.