Free Standing Shelving

would it be safer to put 50" flat TV on a free standing 72x48x24 in. metal shelving unit then on a cabinet?

The TV would be on the 2ND. shelf with 2 shelves above it's cheaper then 1 of those ones built for a big flat screen and gives me room for my AV equipment below and/or above the TV. plus the shelving unit with protect the TV from tipping over. as for the difference in width the screen itself is 44"W giving me 3/4" of clearance on each side. Will this work as I planned or am I missing anything? Plan on screwing a sheet of plywood to the bottom of the bottom shelf for added stability.

Public Comments

1. There's one possible red flag here: clearance above the top of the set. That set will give off a whole lot of heat at the top in normal operation. You can't confine it in any sort of enclosed cabinet or shelf unit. It needs to allow plenty of air to circulate around the top and back. If the shelf unit is enclosed at the back and sides of the shelf you're putting the TV on, that's a very bad idea. If it's open enough to allow for adequate ventilation, and if the shelf unit is rigid enough to safely hold a weight of around 60 to 100 pounds, it might be okay.