subject: Custom Showcases Can Be A Fun And Easy Project [print this page] Whether it is a small item you treasure or something large you are displaying for home, your business or an event, you can show off collectibles and display items in custom showcases that are fun and easy to make.
Before going out and getting the items you will need for your project it is a good idea to make sure that you know exactly how big you want to make your showcase. You first need to get dimension of what you want to display and then dimensions for how much bigger you want the case to be. Once you have done this, you can go to any home improvement store and buy the things you will need to build your showcase.
The items you will need to purchase will be one eighth inch acrylic and make sure that you buy more than you need. You will also need some adhesive or bonding agent like Methylene Chloride, some sort of cutting tool for the acrylic, sand paper and wood if you want a wood base.
Once you have all the items you need you can start constructing your showcase. Take the acrylic sheets and cut them down to size. You are going to need 4 different sides and the top piece. One of the best things to use to cut the sheets is a band saw but if you do not have one a circular saw will work too.
Sometimes your home improvement store will cut the sheets down to size for you for free if you ask them to do so. After the sheets are cut to size make sure that you take some sand paper and sand the edges down good. This helps the bonding agent stick better.
Take your bonding agent and seal all five sides of the showcase. If you purchased Methylene Chloride you will notice that it sort of melts the acrylic where the seal is and leaves it looking crystal clear at the seal. If you do not use the Methylene Chloride you can also use silicon caulking.
If you are planning on having a wooden base for your showcase make sure that the size is appropriate for the size of your case you constructed. If you happen to own a router you can use the router to put a nice attractive edge along all four edges, giving it a more finished or detailed look.
After you are finished using the router you should take some sand paper to the wood and make sure that all of the edges of the wood are nice and smooth. After you can pick a nice stain to add to the finished wood. Doing this will give your entire showcase a nice polished look
When working on this project or any project like it, make sure that you wear safety gloves and goggles. Also, it is always smart to measure twice so that you only have to cut one time. This will save you not only time but money.
