Cupboard experts - I need your help!

[icowden]

I'm not the strongest DIYer but I'm not terrible.

At the moment I have cheap floating shelves by my desk to put my Lego on. They droop slightly and are dust magnets which annoys my wife.
I have therefore been thinking that I could create a shelving unit (I have looked at display cupboards but they tend to be far too shallow - I need about 35cm depth for things like the Millenium Falcon.

I have worked out that I could build shelves with a sidewall, use some brackets to attach to the wall. However I want to add a perspex or glass front to keep the dust out. B&Q do clear Perspex or acrylic sheets which could be used as doors (although not cheap). What I can't figure out is a good way to attach the clear front to the shelves. Thoughts in my head are around using some sort of magnetic strip around the edge, or using some sort of hinge - although then you seem to create a gap through which dust can penetrate.

What would the hive mind suggest?

These are the current naff shelves. They are also very short - I want to double the length and make a unit that goes up to the ceiling (I can move the alarm sensor)

 

[Pduk]

You could add a plinth (single mdf plate that you can paint in any colour) to the existing shelf, 8 - 10mm narrower than the shelf (all round), and buy / build an acrylic tank (upside down fish tank) that simply drops over the plinth.
Plinth is to also act as a locator to stop the tank from moving when being dusted. No fixings required.

 

[T4tomo]

If the top and bottom are slightly deeper than shelves in between and the sides you could simply rebate matching grooves in underside of the top and upper side of bottom and slide the perspex front into (& out) of it from the LHS.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I don't know what they are called but for attaching the window they are U shaped, the window slides in them. This unit is a pre-built one and probably too heavy to wall mount (its an office piece originally, very industrial) but the glass front slides back and forth and keeps it dust free.

 

[Pduk]

They'll be pvc guide rails that get rebated into the base panel, then a M shaped profile gets mounted to the underside of the top panel. Glass doors are then shuffle fit into the grooves to create sliding doors.
There's a number of options for wall mounting the cupboard, as long as you're fixing into the wall with the correct type of fixings.
By the time you've bought all the parts and materials, it's probably cheaper to buy a complete cupboard. There's bound to be companies that specialise in displays for lego / hobbies.

 

[icowden]

By the time you've bought all the parts and materials, it's probably cheaper to buy a complete cupboard. There's bound to be companies that specialise in displays for lego / hobbies.

It's surprisingly difficult.

They mostly specialise in individual cases for particular models, which works out expensive. I did fine one that makes cabinets but they are floor to ceiling. I seen a number of kallax based solutions but Kallax cubes are too small for a lot of my models (I have a number of items which are 50cm - Kallax is 32cm).

 

[wiggydiggy]

Have a trawl around your local charity shops, and on their ebay pages, ex shop display cabinets may be suitable but its finding them.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Re perspex etc.

Cheap as chips from an online specialist.

Precision cut and finished to exact specification. Can do fingerhole opening to slide the doors, drill holes for handles, doorknobs & hinges, etc.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Sorry OP, but unless you make your cabinet airtight, dust will always get in.
In a previous life I used to have lots of ornaments in a glass cabinet

but the glass front slides back and forth and keeps it dust free.

Lol you don't say! Those grooves in your picture look pretty dusty to me!

Re perspex etc.

Cheap as chips from an online specialist.

Precision cut and finished to exact specification. Can do fingerhole opening to slide the doors, drill holes for handles, doorknobs & hinges, etc.

Thank you @SpokeyDokey, I didn't know that.
I wanted to build a small greenhouse/cold frame, but I wasn't sure on how to cut the big sheets you see for sale in B&Q.

 

[icowden]

Sorry OP, but unless you make your cabinet airtight, dust will always get in.

Of course. But I'd like *less* dust than currently accumulates :-)

 

[wiggydiggy]

Lol you don't say! Those grooves in your picture look pretty dusty to me!

Yeah I wasn't cleaning the tracks just for a picture! This works pretty well though the inside stays dust free.