Display Cabinet | Frame
August 7th, 2011 | 
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Building the display cabinet frame
The display cabinet frame shown here has been built using Queensland Maple which is a relatively soft timber to work with. What I absolutely love with it is the wonderful hue of grains that run through the timber’s veins.
The display cabinet shown here is one that I modeled it on a walnut display cabinet I had bought 30 years earlier. At the time I bought that original display cabinet I was told it was solid timber. However, after the first move I found it was nothing but veneer crap! The only solid bit of timber in that original display cabinet was the door and drawer trims.
So my DIY display cabinet making days started. I started making simpler items first like coffee tables and hall stands, then came across a really neat plan in the Australian Woodsmith for bedside drawers. I decided to make a pair of beside drawers and this project was my first complex project.
After completing beside drawers I drew up the plans for a display cabinet and recycled the glass door inlay and glass shelving.
Steps to building the Display Cabinet Frame
The display cabinet is built in two parts. The top section with the two glass doors has four glass shelves inside and a mirror on the base.
The display cabinet top measures 1060mm high x 350mm deep x 850mm wide
When I have to cut a number of pieces to the same size I use stops on the saw bench to prevent timber moving during the cutting phase and usually cut two or more pieces at once. In this instance I cut both the bottom and top back and front rails at the same time to ensure a perfect fit.
The four lengths used to construct the display cabinet side panels were also cut in one run to ensure they were the exact same length. For each side panel I joined two lengths of timber 175mm wide x 19mm thick. The overall width of the each side panel is 350mm.
When joining the side panels of the display cabinet I ensured that the end grain of each length was running in opposite directions. i.e. one end of the timber grain looked like a convex shape and the other concave grain. I was taught that when joining two lengths of timber at the sides ensure that the end grain of each piece run opposite to each other to avoid warping.
The display cabinet four sides were then laid in one line and then with my large steel square made pencil lines across the width of all four pieces of timber to ensure a perfect fit when cutting mortises with my Festool Domino Joiner which would take the Festool Domino beech tenons. The mortises were spaced approximately 300 mm apart and at 50mm from the end of each length. This baby wasn’t going anywhere!
Once the sides were joined I then flipped the timber over and prepared for the display cabinet glass shelving holes. Again I laid out the two (now joined) sides and, using a large steel square laid across the two side panels, marked and drilled the holes needed at the required heights to hold the glass shelves. The display cabinet holds four shelves at variable spacing. The reason for this strategy was to ensure glass shelving was level in the finished product!
The next step was to join the top, back and bottom rails to the two side panels of the display cabinet.
To ensure that the display cabinet frame was perfectly square was pretty straight forward, as I used two sets of ratchet straps and then checked to to ensure the frame was square while gluing and screwing.
I found using the Kreg pocket hole system made framing the display cabinet a breeze. I had only recently bought it, so now was wishing I had had it years ago!!
I cut the top of the display cabinet pieces all in one piece to the required length to ensure the length was perfectand then joined them as described with the display cabinet side panels.
Things now started to get a bit tricky as I wanted to use the Festool Domino to line up the tenon biscuits to join the top of the display cabinet to the side panels and tops rails so as to have a seamless join. I needed to match perfectly the top and side panel mortises to ensure the display cabinet remained square. I cut mortises on the end grain of the two side panels and then on the underside of the top to match up with the mortises on the side rails! I did do a number of practice runs on scrap timber before attempting this task. Fortunately the practice paid off, as it all joined perfectly.
The next challenge was how to put pressure on the top of the display cabinet during the gluing and screwing phase to ensure a perfect join. Again my trusty ratchet straps proved very useful in doing this. I had to constantly double check to ensure everything remained square during this phase.
The base of the display cabinet did not pose any major challenges. Firstly I measured roughly the width required for the base allowing 10mm for trimming. I then cut the two pieces as one and then joined them into one piece. Now it was time to make adjustments to the final cut to ensure a perfect fit.
To do this I used an adjustable ruler I had made. It comprises two lengths of timber 450mm long x 50mm wide by 6mm thick. I then cut a hole 250mm along one piece and 100mm long hole in the second piece. The jigsaw did this cut very well. The purpose of the cut out hole strip was to allow for a bolt and wing nut to fit so I could slide one end of the ruler to get a perfect fit. For longer pieces I tend to use two bolts and wing nuts to ensure the ruler does not move. Each end of the rule is bevelled. This allows me to use this adjustable ruler to make sure the base piece I cut is a perfect fit with the display cabinet frame.
I fixed the to the bottom and back rails to the display cabinet using the Kreg pocket hole jig and wood glue.
I used a sheet of 6mm ply for the back of the display cabinet frame. The backing ply was glued and screwed for added strength.
Overall I am happy with the final result of my display cabinet and it is with a sense of pride when my friends comment on what a fabulous job I have done!
There is enormous satisfaction in seeing the end result of your handy work, so I encourage you to give it a go. Remember this saying. ”If you don’t give it a go… you will never never know”. Have a look at the Fine Wooodworking magazine
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