Some TV lift builds are about hiding a screen. Nick Ferry's build is about making a real piece of furniture that also happens to hide a screen. He made this cabinet out of cherry, and TVLiftCabinet.com sponsored the video and supplied the lift mechanism.

The case starts with cherry panels glued up with biscuits and an aspen subtop built with mortise and tenon joints. He cut dados for the bottom shelf and a rabbet for the subtop, then glued up the carcass and checked it for square. The face frame is cherry too, again with mortise and tenon joinery, and he finished everything with a satin wipe-on polyurethane that really brings out the grain.

Because the lift lives in the back of the cabinet, he had to plan around it. He cut a notch in the bottom shelf for the mechanism, mounted the top bracket, and fit a bottom stretcher to support the lift. For the four drawers, he added cleats and braces so the drawer slides had something to attach to without running all the way to the back where the TV would sit.

This is where the fun details show up. The top drawer has a charging station for phones and game controllers, and it also has a built-in secret compartment. The doors are tongue and groove frames with cherry veneer plywood panels, hung on European cup hinges. He added breadboard ends to the top, glued only in the center so the top can move with the seasons, and set a piano hinge on the back section of the top so it swings out of the way when the TV comes up.

Nick also put real thought into the electronics. He mounted a surge protector inside, added an infrared repeater so a regular remote works through the closed cabinet, drilled vent holes in a mid panel for heat, and made a foam grommet so light from the TV would not shine toward the front. Installing the lift itself took just a couple of screws, then the TV bolted to the crossbar.

His favorite part of the whole system is how the lift reacts to the TV. He explains that the mechanism senses when the TV turns on and raises it, then lowers it when the TV turns off. Our current smart lifts include a current-sensing outlet that works this way, along with a remote, manual controls, and app control, so check the product page for the exact features on the model you choose.

If you are planning a winter shop project now that the weather is cooling off, this is a great one to study. It shows how a lift can live happily inside traditional cabinet joinery.

What You'll See in the Video

  • Milling cherry and building a biscuit-joined case with an aspen subtop
  • Mortise and tenon face frame and panel doors
  • Notching the shelf and fitting a stretcher for the lift mechanism
  • Four drawers, including a charging station and a secret compartment
  • Breadboard ends, a piano hinge on the rear top, and an IR repeater
  • Installing the TVLiftCabinet.com lift and the finished cabinet in action

Ready to Build Your Own?

Find the right lift height for your TV at https://www.tvliftcabinet.com/lift-mechanism. Prefer a finished piece? Our Amish-handcrafted solid wood cabinets include free white-glove delivery and a 100% money-back guarantee.

 

Creator Credit: Nick Ferry, "Making A TV Lift Cabinet w/ Secret Compartment (ep63)." Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@NickFerry