Awesome project Mike! As a custom installer (home automation), we work with plenty of these style of TV lifts, and one consideration you didn't mention is that once you screw the insert concrete panel to the top of TV lift mechanism, you have a nice four sided guillotine. With the weight of the concrete and the power of the motor, you could easily fracture, maybe even sever a finger. We tend to prefer using dowel pins to locate the concrete top in place, and stop it sliding off into the cabinet, yet prevent fingers (or tails!) getting badly damaged. Love your combination of slick modern builds and great presentation! Keep up the great work!
Thanks James! So are you suggesting having the concrete lid be unattached to the lift, so the lift would kind of pick the concrete up off the dowels on it's way up? If so, would you be concerned about the lid getting knocked off by accident and cracking? I always love hearing tips from those who do this professionally, so I want to make sure I'm understanding your suggestion correctly :)
@@modustrial - Mike, this Depends on your lift mechanism. Let me see if I can explain this in a reasonably unambiguous manner. We use Nexus21 mechanisms which allow you to set your open and closed "limits" (of travel), so you can configure the motor to stop just after the lid closes on the way down, and just after the bottom of the TV appears on the way up. I would expect this to be the case for most models of TV lift mechanism. This is how you adjust the height of the lid such that it sits flush with the main top surface of the cabinet when closed, and also such that it comes up as far as you want it to out of the cabinet, depending on the size of the TV etc. Most of our cabinetmakers put a lip around the inside of the cutout in the main top surface such that the lid will come to rest on the lip once it comes all the way down. We set our closed limit to be maybe a 1/8 of an inch further down below the level of the lip, to make sure the lid is completely closed and resting on the lip of the top surface. On the way up, the top of the metal frame of the mechanism will collect and push the lid up as it lifts the TV, the lid sitting on the metal top plate of the lift mechanism that you screwed the wooden lid inserts down onto. It might sound a little precarious, but it isn't really, I would guess it depends on the size of the metal top plates of your mechanism. The wooden dowel pins I was mentioning would make sure that the lid doesn't slide around - they would seat in the screw holes in the metal top plates of the lift mechanism. It is, however, possible to lift the lid off, which can be useful if you can't otherwise get access to the inside of the cabinet, and also prevents trapping issues when the lid closes. Given that you are working with a much heavier concrete lid, your stakes are much higher. Cats are eternally inquisitive, and I can predict that an inquiring feline mind will discover an unbearable itch to see just how much better (and warmer) the view is from on top of the nice display platform that you have so faithfully created for them ;) Cat + precarious perch = 100% trouble. If our (maybe 1/2" thick) hardwood lid falls off, into the cabinet, it's not usually a big deal, unless it somehow scratches the front of the display, but your concrete lid could cause widespread chaos, mayhem and not a few tears were it to be dislodged from the top of the lift mechanism if you changed to dowel locating pins. As such, a third option would be to slightly longer screws to attach the concrete lid to the metal top plate, but back them out half an inch or so, to allow the lid to pivot just enough to prevent as much damage happening if something gets trapped. Above all else, I would suggest making it impossible to operate the mechanism remotely if you use the current setup, and provide an easily accessible emergency stop switch somewhere on the cabinet. In the end it's all about deciding on what combination of cool factor/risk/safety works for you! Hope this helps
Thank you for the amazingly detailed response. Pinning this comment as I think it has important safety/design considerations for anyone making one of these. For me, I think I'm on with it how it is since I'm a single guy with no kids, but throw kids in the mix, and I think this changes.
Looks incredible Mike! Thanks for incorporating one of our TV Lift Mechanisms into this build. This has to be the most creative DIY project we've seen with a lift mech to date. Well done!
Thanks much! The lift kit works great and was so easy to install. With all the other challenges in this project, it was nice for the lift itself to be so simple!
for the trim you could do a flat piece of 2x1/4" steel drill spaced out holes periodically down the length of the steel and then install rounded carriage bolts in those hole. it's best if you cut the heads of the carriage bolts off and weld them from the back side of the hole, but if you don't have access to a welder just use a nut at the back side of the trim and then make room for the nut on your removable wall. paint the whole thing flat black and it give a really nice custom rustic feel! i use this trick a lot. p.s. this was another excellent build!!
First of all; you have an awesome bedroom. Great video. I love the idea of positioning the TV at the optimum height for ease of viewing. "Dexterfying" is a must for most construction.
Where do we begin? So much great information, and so many great tips! We especially loved how you used the fondant ball tool for your caulk line, we'll have to remember that one. We really appreciate how you pointed out the things you weren't happy with, even if no one else would have noticed them. Fantastic project and video!
Hi Mike, all your projects are fantastic but I think you've really outdone yourself, this is an awesome build, I was having a crappy day and my phone pinged with this video, feeling better. Keep up the great work and by the way, that's a great apartment too! 😊
You have a lot of great ideas. I've learned a lot from just 2 videos. I also have to say the rate that you put together, execute, and edit these projects is impressive. I like that you admit to an issue, like casting the concrete on the floor, and follow up on it.
You should install a dark black, scrolling backdrop on the window so that anytime the TV comes up, your blackout curtain/ screen comes down. And conversely anytime the TV goes down, the backdrop goes up. Great video, love the install. Also REALLY appreciate the *honest moments of when projects fail or have imperfections. I don't want to watch a RU-vidr whose perfect. I enjoy seeing the errors as 1) that humanizes you to your audience and 2) helps me avoid pitfall I would make.
Excellent project! I'm assuming you have already trimmed the bottom but if not you could cast another trim but instead of having it on the floor, leave a 5mm gap(enough that you can't see the floor to cabinet intersection) so it floats and run another led track pointing down.
You could make the bottom trim out of matching 1/2" concrete (would 1/2" hold up? I think it would) using the fiber filler and just glue it on all the way around.
Amazing build per usual! Looks great in person as well. You make using concrete look easy, even when I am sure it is not. I do look forward to designing something concrete pieces at some point though and giving it a whirl. Lastly, glad I could help out :)
You could try using a flat piece of black steel for the trim at the bottom. It would balance out the dark concrete top and would look really nice against the exposed brick as well.
I know it wouldn't be super cost effective but could you use some nice picture framing for the trim? Might be worthwhile if you find something you like. Great Video, thanks for the upload.
That bedroom.... OMG (open mouth) If i had a bedroom like that i never get out of bed... unless to go to my workshop and build other beautiful things... and to eat of course LOL
How flexible is the concrete lid❓ Build a steel frame (just 4 pieces of square tube welded into a rectangle), slightly bowed ends down, and attach the lid to it, forcing it to be flat. If it does not work, at least you have tried something.
I think you'd get surface cracks if you tried to flex it. I like the effort to think outside of the box! For me, without ability to weld, the simplest thing is probably to just make another one from concrete to fix it.
hey Mike, as always a very nice video! Your projects are always well thought out and professionally built. So far I have not known that there are special saw blades for melanine. I will get in any case, too. Best wishes Frank
Thanks! The blade is specially made for double sided melamine, so both sides come out clean. It's a must for anyone like us that does lots of concrete work like us 👍👍
That was a fantastic project and some ideas for me to tackle... As for your trim at the bottom how about some 15mm copper pipe, keeps things sturdy and a different approach to coving or skirting
Thanks! I'm intrigued by the copper pipe idea, but not quite picturing it...were you thinking of slicing the pipe in half and just using construction adhesive to attach it?
@@modustrial I was initially think as the pipe is small you could just straight attach it sort of a mini bump stopper... However I do like the idea of slicing it in half and adhesive fixing it to the bottom
@@modustrial My pleasure and I just finished --- well done!!! It is good to be critical of your work.....don't let anyone tell you otherwise. That's why you are so good and probably why everyone wants to hang out in YOUR bedroom. I mean that in a creative way of course. 😉 Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
Looks good. Only thing I would change is to give the lid and space that the lid goes into a tapered shape so it flows more seamlessly with the counter top when down. It's too evident the way it is made.
Awesome project! Should take some flat aluminum and paint it the same black as the edge piece for the trim along the bottom. Would be simple, easy, and clean!
you can add some vertical wireless spreaker on side of the tv or hang it on with the top. that will look super awesome if they look kind of levitating on side of the tv
You mean the melamine? I disassemble them and save what pieces I can for reuse in future projects. I can usually get two or three uses out of melamine before I have to throw it out.
Thanks! Yup, that is definitely an option. Just wanted to see if I could come up with something clever beyond that... But very well may just go that route in the end
You should attach a sound bar to the top of the lift and leave it there as it goes up it could be a good way to hide the concave shape that the flat panel has
have you considered creating your own trim from concrete? add in some aggregate that'll sparkle underneath the LEDs but still dark to match the top. as far as mounting consideration, when casting, use some screws or bolts to make depressions while the concrete is setting and use those depressions as DIY keyhole mounts that'll slot onto screws/bolts mounted into the base of the cabinet
@@modustrial I see. You also answer fast 😄. Do you have any advice or video on how a beginner should deal with supplies and waste? Im hesitant to do anything with concrete because Im afraid that Im stuck with a ton concret stuck to every surface and buckets. Anyways keep the nice videos coming and be safe
If you haven't already build a mold that you can cast the trim out of the concrete and color match to the counter top. It would be different and compliment it well
