i appreciate your thoughts --
i volunteer at a state park in SW VA and have made several display cases for instruments that have been donated to the park -- all the wood for these projects has been wormy chestnut which came from buildings that were on the property when the park was formed -- this project is a shadow box for a dulcimer -- the biggest constraint is that the supply of chestnut is exhausted and i have tried to make the best with what i have --
there are two issues that i wanted to run by somebody who actually knew what they were doing before i commit to implementing them --
the attached pic shows the big picture -- overall size is 26" x 43" -- 1) sides are 3/4", dovetails at the corners -- 2) face frame is 2" wide, 9/16" thick -- mitered half lap joints at the corners -- planning 3 hinges down the left side -- mortised in and 2 magnetic latches on the rt -- 3) back plane is 9/16" thick -- basically made up of whatever was left planed down to the best thickness i could get -- there are 12 elements of different sizes -- some pieces were constructed by putting sliding dovetails between 2 smaller pieces --
planning on cutting a rabbet in the bottom of the sides 9/16" x 3/8" to hold the back plane -- i didn't see a problem with that --
issue 1 -- plexiglas for the front cover -- thinking of .22" thickness -- will a 1/4" groove in the 9/16" thick frame be a problem ? is 3/8" deep adequate ? the alternative is to use 1/8" plexiglas and i confess i haven't been to lowes to look at that thickness and whether it would be OK -- would like to stick with 1/4" if possible --
issue 2 -- can't decide if simply edge gluing up the back is enough or would it be advisable to add T/G (1/4" wide, 1/4" ?, 3/8" ? deep) for strength due to the size of the piece -- right now i don't have enough wood to add the T/G -- there is just enough to get the size needed -- they are looking to see if they can find any more -- typically i use a frame to lay the individual pieces of a glue up on -- F clamps across the top to pull it together -- have recently acquired Bowclamps to provide the "flatness" -- have 2 pair of 24" and 2 pair of 36" -- would glue up the left half of the back using 3 pair of bowclamps, then the rt half -- and the final glue would be the middle joint -- using the 2 36" bowclamps in the center and adding 2 pair of my homemade cauls at the ends -- they work OK but pale in comparison to the bowclamps --
apologize if i have wandered into the TMI area -- bottom line is what size groove -- which will drive what thickness plexiglas and T/G or not the back plane --
many thanks -- i'm sure you don't want more words -- be happy to provide more pics if helpful --
larry
i volunteer at a state park in SW VA and have made several display cases for instruments that have been donated to the park -- all the wood for these projects has been wormy chestnut which came from buildings that were on the property when the park was formed -- this project is a shadow box for a dulcimer -- the biggest constraint is that the supply of chestnut is exhausted and i have tried to make the best with what i have --
there are two issues that i wanted to run by somebody who actually knew what they were doing before i commit to implementing them --
the attached pic shows the big picture -- overall size is 26" x 43" -- 1) sides are 3/4", dovetails at the corners -- 2) face frame is 2" wide, 9/16" thick -- mitered half lap joints at the corners -- planning 3 hinges down the left side -- mortised in and 2 magnetic latches on the rt -- 3) back plane is 9/16" thick -- basically made up of whatever was left planed down to the best thickness i could get -- there are 12 elements of different sizes -- some pieces were constructed by putting sliding dovetails between 2 smaller pieces --
planning on cutting a rabbet in the bottom of the sides 9/16" x 3/8" to hold the back plane -- i didn't see a problem with that --
issue 1 -- plexiglas for the front cover -- thinking of .22" thickness -- will a 1/4" groove in the 9/16" thick frame be a problem ? is 3/8" deep adequate ? the alternative is to use 1/8" plexiglas and i confess i haven't been to lowes to look at that thickness and whether it would be OK -- would like to stick with 1/4" if possible --
issue 2 -- can't decide if simply edge gluing up the back is enough or would it be advisable to add T/G (1/4" wide, 1/4" ?, 3/8" ? deep) for strength due to the size of the piece -- right now i don't have enough wood to add the T/G -- there is just enough to get the size needed -- they are looking to see if they can find any more -- typically i use a frame to lay the individual pieces of a glue up on -- F clamps across the top to pull it together -- have recently acquired Bowclamps to provide the "flatness" -- have 2 pair of 24" and 2 pair of 36" -- would glue up the left half of the back using 3 pair of bowclamps, then the rt half -- and the final glue would be the middle joint -- using the 2 36" bowclamps in the center and adding 2 pair of my homemade cauls at the ends -- they work OK but pale in comparison to the bowclamps --
apologize if i have wandered into the TMI area -- bottom line is what size groove -- which will drive what thickness plexiglas and T/G or not the back plane --
many thanks -- i'm sure you don't want more words -- be happy to provide more pics if helpful --
larry
