I've exhausted my eyeballs trying to find a tutorial that shows how to do this. It seems like no one does it! I like the look of the display cases you all use, but I want to incorporate a wider frame into the design. The pitfalls are many, the wider frame will impede the opening and closing of the case unless I make a modification. Then there is the issue of the latch, I have several design possibilities in mind, but I figured I'd throw a post up here before I go fire up the table saw to see if anyone on here can help me shorten the learning curve or even just toss some ideas around to firm up the design.
As it stands now, I have several 17.5 x 14.5 frames that I want to use, the width of the wood framing the outside of the opening is about 1-5/8"
One approach I have considered is building a shallow box around the outside and then another, with a hardboard backing that fits inside of it. This would essentially work like the box your Monopoly board game comes in. So there would be no hinges--one slides into the other. The hangup is coming up with a way to fasten them. The two thoughts I have are to either screw them together using a brass screws and grommets or to screw fender washers onto the back of the outside box--positioned so that the fender washers overlap onto the inner box--effectively holding them together. The hangup with these methods is ease of access... you need a tool to get in and out of the case. Which, doesn't concern me too much, but I'm not sure how often I will want to get in there and fondle them hahahaha! I'm really excited about hanging them up, we have dedicated a wall to the project and I think it's going to come out awesome in the end. I just need to get my head around the right design.
Then there is the hinged option: A simple box with hardboard backing, attached with small hinges to the frame... on the hinged side I would double the legs of the box--fastening one to the frame and connect them with the hinge so that the frame width would not impede the opening of the case. I run into a wall here with a latch style. I'd prefer the latches not to be seen from the front... the only thing I can think of is a small 'half moon' style window latch, but I don't even know if they make small ones.
I hope all of this is coming across without illustrations...
The other question I have is, should I build the boxes so that their depth is slightly less than the height of the backing foam to promote a firm fit?
Has anyone else on here taken on this task?
Thanks for any help or insights.
-Dave
As it stands now, I have several 17.5 x 14.5 frames that I want to use, the width of the wood framing the outside of the opening is about 1-5/8"
One approach I have considered is building a shallow box around the outside and then another, with a hardboard backing that fits inside of it. This would essentially work like the box your Monopoly board game comes in. So there would be no hinges--one slides into the other. The hangup is coming up with a way to fasten them. The two thoughts I have are to either screw them together using a brass screws and grommets or to screw fender washers onto the back of the outside box--positioned so that the fender washers overlap onto the inner box--effectively holding them together. The hangup with these methods is ease of access... you need a tool to get in and out of the case. Which, doesn't concern me too much, but I'm not sure how often I will want to get in there and fondle them hahahaha! I'm really excited about hanging them up, we have dedicated a wall to the project and I think it's going to come out awesome in the end. I just need to get my head around the right design.
Then there is the hinged option: A simple box with hardboard backing, attached with small hinges to the frame... on the hinged side I would double the legs of the box--fastening one to the frame and connect them with the hinge so that the frame width would not impede the opening of the case. I run into a wall here with a latch style. I'd prefer the latches not to be seen from the front... the only thing I can think of is a small 'half moon' style window latch, but I don't even know if they make small ones.
I hope all of this is coming across without illustrations...
The other question I have is, should I build the boxes so that their depth is slightly less than the height of the backing foam to promote a firm fit?
Has anyone else on here taken on this task?
Thanks for any help or insights.
-Dave
Comment