Tear down of cabinet's control panel and monitor support framework

[Richardgregory]

Hi folks:

Totally new at this, so bear with me...and excuse me in advance if I sound 

I posted my issue with a newly acquired cabinet on the "main" forum.  The control panel is too steep of an angle, and I would like to lower it - flatten it somewhat to maybe 10 degrees or so; however, I can't simply lower it because of the angled wood frame that acts as the frame for the LCD monitor. 

The control panel is posted here - as illustrated it's resting at a steep angle on and at the bottom of a piece of wood, which is the bottom of the monitor support frame, and is held by screws (1 hole on the left, and 1 on the right).

A.  I believe I need to removed the portion "A" as noted in the pic.

B.  In doing so, I will need to shift the entire monitor up, and with that the angled bottom wood support will be moved up as shown in the picture and labelled B.

Upon doing so, I will be able to lower the control panel to the degree that I want. 

Questions:

1.  So can all this be done with the cabinet sides still attached?
2.  What tool/technique do I use?
3.  When I go build the monitor frame again, how do I secure it to the cabinet side panels?
4.  With the control panel 'flattened' to say 10 deg, how do I secure it?  [I'm assuming that I'll need to place a horizontal piece of wood under the bottom of the LCD monitor frame, which  stretches from the left to the right of the cabinet.   The control panel will rest on that and held by screws?

THANKS for any tips anyone can offer - appreciate it much!  I hope that I made some sense.

[Richardgregory]

The picture here where I drew the red line C is the bottom of the piece of wood of the LCD monitor frame - the control panel is in line with this piece and is held down by the 2 screws shown in the above picture "A"

[jmike]

Would you be able to post some pictures with the whole top half of your cabinet?
I get what you're saying about the control panel's angle but I want to see how much room you got to work with for the monitor.
Not sure if that's the only changes you want to make, but if I were you I'd really think about it since you're removing the control panel
you can add anything you want now. (example more buttons, spinner, trackball,  light up buttons???).


 

[Richardgregory]

I have about 2.5 inches from the top....however, I think I'm going to convert this to a horizontal monitor configuration, so the top space will be ample.  I need to do some research on how others design and mount their control panels and just as well their monitor. 

[kahlid74]

I posted in your other thread but I can follow up here too.  What you want to do is completely feasible but will require patience and a good hand.

You'll want to empty EVERYTHING out of the cab.  Speakers, monitor, computer, etc.  The main joint of wood you're talking about adds support to the cab but can be removed once it's support nothing.  The other sides of the cabs wills support it while you work on that joint.

To remove that joint you'd want to verify no screws/nails are in it and then just cut it out as close to the sides as you can.  Then you would take a chisel/screw driver and hammer and slow "pop" the sides of the joints off from the sides of the cabinet.  They most likely used wood glue so no worries if you pull part of the inside wood with it as you can always fix that later.

Once you've removed it you should be able to modify the angle any way you want.  If you need to change the shape of your outside cabinet sides then I would definitely remove your T-Molding.

[Richardgregory]

Thank you Kahlid:  Appreciate the feedback - advice taken.

I also posted on the other thread - I'm not sure if there is a screw/nail in the block of wood....if there is then I'll have a problem in cutting it.

[kahlid74]

Thank you Kahlid:  Appreciate the feedback - advice taken.

I also posted on the other thread - I'm not sure if there is a screw/nail in the block of wood....if there is then I'll have a problem in cutting it.

Not really, you just want to be careful.  Plenty of blades made can cut wood/metal, but you just want to be careful of the mechanism used to cut.  My guess is there wouldn't be one but it never hurts to be safe.

You can do this, the chisel/hammer is your best friend in this case!