Looking for some advise

[daclgr]

I am fairly new to wood working and need some help with a project.
I am working on a 10 gun gun cabinet. My question and concern is that the glass in the door will be to heavy or unsafe because of its size. The door is 37.5 by 52.5 the glass will be 1/8 by 32 by 48. My concern is that the door will be to heavy when opened and make the cabinet unstable, cause the door to sage, or that the glass will be to fragile and easlie broken.

My questions are
Should I go with tempered or thicker glass?

Should I try to install 2 smaller doors instead of 1 large?

Should I install some type of streached in the door and if so any suggestions would be helpful

 

[MikeH]

I'm not an expert by any means, but I would suggest 2 doors. A piece of glass that big would put a lot of stress on the door and hinges not to mention the case itself.

HTH,

 

[quid_non]

That is a big piece of glass. Ever consider using good quality plexiglass? Alot safer and easy to cut in the shop. Downside is that it will scratch easier than glass. I've been using it for very large picture frames where I had a similar weight concern for glass.
Best
Quid_Non

 

[chris99z71]

I agree that two doors would be the way to go. I'd go with the tempered safety glass as well. Much safer.

 

[cpowell]

I'm currently working on a gun cabinet and will offer some suggestions I got from a more experienced NCWoodworker - Mshel. Definitely go with two doors closing on a center frame member.

I am not sure what joinery you are planning on for the glass door frames. I am going to use M&T joints and will add a support member near the center of each door to stiffen the frame, so I'll have 4 panes of glass. The tenons top and bottom will be off-center (don't remember the term for this) to allow more wood around the mortise at the top and bottom of the stiles and lessen the chance of blowout. I plan on raised panel sides and will also split the side panels, using the additional middle rail to stiffen the assembly. The center rail on the glass panel will visually wrap around to the rail on the side panels.

I haven't decided on glass but am thinking about 1/8 tempered.

Keep us posted on your progress. We love pics!! At the rate I'm going you'll likely be done before I get much accomplished! :lol: :lol:

Chuck

 

[DaveD]

Info I have says 1/8" thick glass weights about 1.7#/sq ft. I'd opt for 2 doors also but I would think that quality full mortise/tendon construction with quality heavy duty hinges should be able to handle one big door.

Go poke around in a couple of furniture stores that have dining room china cabinets, etc. and see if anything has big glass doors and see how they are constructed.

 

[cpowell]

Info I have says 1/8" thick glass weights about 1.7#/sq ft. I'd opt for 2 doors also but I would think that quality full mortise/tendon construction with quality heavy duty hinges should be able to handle one big door.

Go poke around in a couple of furniture stores that have dining room china cabinets, etc. and see if anything has big glass doors and see how they are constructed.

Dave, I believe you are correct!!

I glued up a single test M&T joint last night with scrap sized to my panel frame. Tonight, I could NOT get the frame to move by with a lot of hand force. I also tried to make the joint fail by beating it against the shop floor...HARD. The oak finally cracked but the joint never wavered. Apparently 2 inch wide red oak frames are pretty strong.

I'm still going to use 2 doors for the front because I want that look. However, I will not need a center rail to split the panes.

Chuck

 

[daclgr]

Thanks to ever one for there advice. I know once I glued the door up that it was going to be to large. I never thought about it until it was glued up and laying on the bench. That was when I decided to ask for advice.

I will go with 2 doors and join them in the middle. I will also use the M&T joint. I had originally used a miter joint with dowels which after doing some research I see that may not the best way to go.

Again thank all of you for your help.

 

[daclgr]

I finley finished the gun cabinet I was building. As suggested by many of you I went with 2 doors, this worked out well. This is the largest project (6ft tall 44" wide ) I have tackled to date and it challenged my limited shop space. Some of you had asked for photos when it was completed.

 

[daclgr]

Let me try this again

 

[sapwood]

Nice Clark!
That is huge, even the bottom drawer looks to be sizeable :icon_thum

Roger

BTW, I just noticed you are in Fort Mill. I'll be having brunch at Baxters Sunday for my aunts b-day.

 

[mkepke]

As far as safety/security concerns you don't want to use 1/8 inch thickness glass. It is far too easy to break out of the door and allow access to your firearms. 1/4 inch Lexan or double pane safety glass would be best. Of course then you really need a much thicker frame and hidden hinges also. A locking bar would be an added level of security.

I think a traditional gun cabinet is fundamentally the wrong approach if you're looking for security (theft prevention) or safety (mishap prevention).

"You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear".

Daclgr - re: the finished cabinet. Looks nice ..can you give us a few more close-ups ? I agree with the two door choice. Plus, when you put a gun-butt through one of the doors, you have half as much glass to replace :rolf:

-Mark

 

[cpowell]

Th gun cab looks good, Clark. I'd like to see a few more pics too.:icon_thum

You got it finished pretty quick. At the rate I'm going I'll have my gun cab done sometime in May...or June.:lol:

Chuck

 

[Travis Porter]

Ditto, it does look good and I would like to see more pics as well!

 

[daclgr]

Thanks for the comments

Rodger, the bottom cabinet is 40w 13d 11h. It is not a draw, just a cabinet with a fold down door. I did not want someone over loading a draw to heavy, and then when it would open cause the cabinet to lean forward.

Mark, I do agree with you on the security, in some cases that could be a concern. If that was my concern I would us a gun safe not a cabinet. Over the years and during my travels I have found that something my father told me years ago has always come true. " A lock only keeps a honest man honest, and slows a crook down. If he wants it he will get it."

As for pictures, I wish I had taken more. I built this to donate to a friend of the family in WV. He is in middle school and was 1 of 8 students that was selected in the state to go to Europe this summer for school. The trip will cost him $5000-$6000. They are doing some fund raising and will raffle this off. It is already in WV. I will see if I can get some one to take more pictures and send them to me. I hope it brings in some money for him,

I have notice that with each project I learn more. Also each project looks better then the one before , however I also find more wrong with it. This board and some of the others, many magazines along with the FWW web site which I have subscribed to, and has some great info and the best detail, has helped to speed up my progess and improve my projects.

Again thank you all for the comments and the advice.

 

[DaveD]

Very nice work.