The raw 2x4's are part of the bed riser I built. They're not pretty, but they get the job done. It had to use bolts, so that it could be built, then disassembled, then carried in piece by piece in the middle of the night. (it's against regulations) It's a college dorm room, so space is at a premium.
The only tips I really have are: 1. Biscuits and wood glue are wonderful. 2. Buy the rails, don't try to make your own unless you have a machine shop. 3. Black spray paint does not stick well to aluminum. It scratches off with a fingernail. I think sanding the aluminum down first helps.
(reposted from an old Ask Slashdot on almost the same topic)
I needed a cabinet that I could use to house a server, a hub, and my stereo. I used plywood for the bottom, top, and two sides. I used oak for the facing to reinforce it, and left the back open. I wanted something presentable so I used biscuits and wood glue to hold it all together.
I bought a pair of rails from MilesTek and for the back rails I used aluminum from Home Depot and drilled my own holes. In retrospect, that was a bad idea, you'll save yourself a lot of trouble by just buying two sets of rails. It's good to have a solid metal frame built before trying to attach it to the wood part.
It's not quite finished yet, I plan to either use glass or perforated metal for the door.
That's about what I did for my rackmount cabinet. I needed a cabinet that I could use to house a server, a hub, and my stereo. I used plywood for the bottom, top, and two sides. I used oak for the facing to reinforce it, and left the back open. I wanted something presentable so I used biscuits and wood glue to hold it all together.
I bought a pair of rails from MilesTek and for the back rails I used aluminum from Home Depot and drilled my own holes. In retrospect, that was a bad idea, you'll save yourself a lot of trouble by just buying two sets of rails. It's good to have a solid metal frame built before trying to attach it to the wood part.
It's not quite finished yet, I plan to either use glass or perforated metal for the door.
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The raw 2x4's are part of the bed riser I built. They're not pretty, but they get the job done. It had to use bolts, so that it could be built, then disassembled, then carried in piece by piece in the middle of the night. (it's against regulations) It's a college dorm room, so space is at a premium.
I don't really have any plans, but there are some more pictures of the cabinet in various stages of being built:
the sides of the rails being assembled
the internal assembly
unstained
the cabinet after staining
what happens when you don't clean all of the wood glue off before staining
the final product
The only tips I really have are:
1. Biscuits and wood glue are wonderful.
2. Buy the rails, don't try to make your own unless you have a machine shop.
3. Black spray paint does not stick well to aluminum. It scratches off with a fingernail. I think sanding the aluminum down first helps.
(reposted from an old Ask Slashdot on almost the same topic)
I needed a cabinet that I could use to house a server, a hub, and my stereo. I used plywood for the bottom, top, and two sides. I used oak for the facing to reinforce it, and left the back open. I wanted something presentable so I used biscuits and wood glue to hold it all together.
I bought a pair of rails from MilesTek and for the back rails I used aluminum from Home Depot and drilled my own holes. In retrospect, that was a bad idea, you'll save yourself a lot of trouble by just buying two sets of rails. It's good to have a solid metal frame built before trying to attach it to the wood part.
It's not quite finished yet, I plan to either use glass or perforated metal for the door.
Here here is a picture.
If you don't care about aesthetics, it would be a lot less trouble to buy something from Ebay or a government auction.
That's about what I did for my rackmount cabinet. I needed a cabinet that I could use to house a server, a hub, and my stereo. I used plywood for the bottom, top, and two sides. I used oak for the facing to reinforce it, and left the back open. I wanted something presentable so I used biscuits and wood glue to hold it all together.
I bought a pair of rails from MilesTek and for the back rails I used aluminum from Home Depot and drilled my own holes. In retrospect, that was a bad idea, you'll save yourself a lot of trouble by just buying two sets of rails. It's good to have a solid metal frame built before trying to attach it to the wood part.
It's not quite finished yet, I plan to either use glass or perforated metal for the door.
Here here is a picture.