I know there’s some woodworkers in here. I have a question for you.
I’ve been shopping around for a couple of new display cases as I’m running out of room for models. I thought of building one myself, which I can probably do and have most of the tools for, but I’m having a heck of a time finding plans for one in the size I want. I’m looking at about 6ft long, 4ft tall, and 1 1/2 or 2ft deep. It would be nice wood with full glass on all sides and a glass top. I could probably just wing it and do it from my head, but I thought a drawing might have some ideas I hadn’t thought of to make the job easier. Would anyone have any ideas on the best place to find some inexpensive drawings? Google search is turning up very little for me.
Thanks!
Chris
How about some 1x2 oak framing, route a rabbet in the edges the thickness of the glass, secure the glass with clear clips on the backside. The top you may want to rabbet on the outside and drop it in from the top. Shelves can be put in with one of the many styles of adjustable systems.
Years ago in one of the woodworking mags there were plans for the old style legal file cabinets that were around 4-5 feet long, about 18 inches deep and high enough to have a shelf in them for two rows of files. They were also stackable and the fronts lifted open.
Do a search for fancy legal cabinets and might turn up something.
That’s pretty close to what I had envisioned, Goldhammer. I wonder if I integrate those 1X2’s into a shallow cabinet-style base, if it would help reinforce them. Make the rear ones wider to accomodate shelf brackets. Dang, I think I’m on to something here!
I made one years ago when we lived at another house. That one got sold when we moved. I’m getting ready to make my own again and possibly using gh’s method which is pretty much standard. I just make my own plan and design. I’m also looking into using the Kreg Pocket Joint System that I have that makes assembly of the carcass fast and super strong. I will go with poplar cause I want to paint the frames black to match my mancave furniture.
Gary (Texgunner) posted some of the cases (cs.finescale.com/…/161918.aspx) he had custom made and they look the right size. You don’t want one huge one that is difficult to move around. I rather go with one or two med sized ones,
Google “furniture carcass” for some ideas.
Forgot to add. I made my own shelf pin jig from a piece of pegboard. The holes in the pegboard will keep spacing even. I use a collar stop on the appropriate size Forstner bit in my hand hell drill and lay out the pin pattern on the rails using the pegboard holes as a guide. Got this method from watching Norm Abram.
Thanks, guys. This is a good start.
Chris
Those “fancy legal cabinets” are called Barrister Bookcases.
I Googled “barrister bookcase plans free”
www.google.com/webhp
It gives you something to look at, anyway. One of the “images” tabs has an exploded view of the base part, the top part and the moduler insert part.
Rex
Two more links for you…
This is the main page for The Woodworking Shows: www.thewoodworkingshows.com
That’s a woodworking show held throughout the year, and though the site is for promoting the shows, there are links to other content, like vendors who participate, and I know there are some who sell plans.
Here is another one, for Woodcraft, a store that sells woodworking supplies, including plans: http://www.woodcraft.com/ We have a franchise here in Allentown, and they’re pretty good.
But you could even draft your own, too.