Need assistance with custom wine cabinet

mystic_cobra · 11-17-2012, 04:16 PM

The inside of this custom wine cabinet (my first) will have frameless bypass sliding glass doors. I designed it based on a cabinet that the wife and I saw at a local bar.

1. Can I just stain the edge of my center divider since it will be behind the glass or can I get some kind of stick on veneer that is stainable? OR can I use a half round piece of wood trim? Plywood is 1/2" and I found a half round at home depot that is just over a half inch.

2. I already installed the back, sides, top and bottom. I know I shouldn't have but it's in there now. I used a pneumatic nail gun so it would be tough to undo. For attaching the center divider, I am thinking of adding a second top piece and cutting a dado slot to better secure the center. Is that necessary OR will it be secure enough if I do a couple of pocket holes to secure the center to the top?

3. What's the cleanest way to attach the wine holders on the left side given that the inside sides are already in?

4. On the right side, I plan to make those steps have hinged tops so I can hide an electric outlet and LED light control module/wiring inside. Any suggestion on how to do the lids? What kind of hinges?

Thanks

Fix'n it · 11-17-2012, 07:59 PM

how about some REAL pictures ?

mystic_cobra · 11-17-2012, 08:11 PM

Ok, here's what it looks like now.

Fix'n it · 11-18-2012, 09:11 AM

1. they have a wood tape that is made for edges like that. look by the strair parts at the home stores. it is stainable as it is real wood.

2 & 3. i would use dowls for the bottle holders, on each side. once glued into place, along with the center support, will hold that whole thing just fine.
then once you have those steps in there = rock solid.

4. i would see if regular hidden cabinet door hinges would work.

mystic_cobra · 11-18-2012, 11:34 AM

Thanks for the tips. For the hinges, can I use leftover cabinet hinges from my kitchen? Does it matter that my cabinet hinges are overlay style? I'm using half inch plywood. I wonder if my hinges will be too thick for this "door". I know I'd need to buy the 35mm (or whatever) bit to cut the holes.

Fix'n it · 11-18-2012, 11:58 AM

idk what hinges you can use. just go to the store and buy a few of all they have. then test fit them to see what works for you.

Blondesense · 11-18-2012, 01:28 PM

Those "steps" would be a great place for some hidden storage.

Building a secret compartment

ddawg16 · 11-18-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blondesense

Those "steps" would be a great place for some hidden storage.

Building a secret compartment

I was thinking the same thing......

Fixnit is right about the glue on edging...actually, you iron it on....

It's a good thing you don't have the center divider in yet....

Get your divider ready....take the edging tape and iron it on the edge....do NOT use the wife's good iron...trust me on that one....if you have to, go buy a cheapy just for the purpose.

Once you have it ironed on....trim the edges with a knife....sand....once you have it done, it will be hard to tell it from real wood....

Now...drill holes in the existing side for the wine holders like Fix said...you just need to drill it about 1/2" deep...same on the divider.

NOW you stain everything....and apply varnish...don't rush it....these steps typically take several days....for me it's day 1-stain, day 2-varnish, day 4-sand & varnish, day 4-sand and varnish....and sometimes a there is a day 5 & 6.

By now you should have the dowls glued and installed into the wine supports....

With this all done...you stick the wine supports into the fixed end...now you install your divider and push it over so the wine supports fit into the holes on that side.

Because you have stained and varnished everything before hand, you have have clean crisp edges....no stain wipe marks around the wine supports...etc.

Now you can install your shelfs on the other side...that will help to keep the divider in place.

On you door hardware...check out Rockler...they make plenty of hinges for that purpose.

Something else to consider....tempered glass.....you would be surprised at just how cheap it is to have a couple of doors made....if you want holes in the glass (for like a pull knob), you have them drill it before it's tempered. Once it's tempered....no drilling...or it falls apart in your hands.....

Tempered glass doors take on a whole new look...it puts an ever so slight tent to the galss...softens the edges and makes it a lot safer.

mystic_cobra · 11-18-2012, 06:58 PM

I had already planned to make those steps storage but had not considered that I could use them for "hidden storage".

ddawg, thanks for writing out all those steps. Now I have some more justification for the wife as to why it won't be done by thanksgiving.

mystic_cobra · 11-25-2012, 09:52 PM

I had initially planned to use the 1/2" plywood for everything but after looking at other wine cabinets, I was considering using 1x4 nominal solid pine board for the wine racks. If I do, will the stain come out the same given that's it's two different kinds of wood?

For the step doors on the right, I am wondering the same...plywood or solid pine? If I do plywood, I have to either hide the front edge of the lid behind the front (which sounds complicated) or use the hot glue edging like the center divider. With solid pine, I'd just stain and finish it. Should I do a quarter inch of overhang on these two lids?