Silver (unpainted) metal racking arrived today
It made sense to polish it to remove the smell of metal.
I'm going to be limited to having just 2 shelves, as i need to allow for a height of 24 inches
minimum on both shelves. The reality being, it will not be possible to show all my pieces.
I guess i could get around this by having different set up's from time to time, as i doubt it
does a statue to spend it's life hidden in a box.
Update 1..
Started building a frame to surround the racking. It serves also the higher the racking so the
lowest shelf is as high as my limited ceiling space allows. The front right post as been painted
silver, using 2 coats of Chalk paint followed by a layer of wax. It looks good close up.
Update 2..
White panel added to the right side and left side
(out of view). It serves to add strength and
help keep dust out (once the glass front has been added). As luck would have it, the side's of
the white panels have a satin silver metal strip on each side that matches the silver painted
vertical wooden posts.
Update 3..
Found some free time today to do some more work on the display unit. Started to construct the
front pieces of wood that will eventually support the 6 pieces of glass
(from the dismantled Ikea
Detolf units). It's taken a ton of time measuring, sawing, drilling, screwing.
The front piece metal racking was put in place to make sure it fits. Fits it does.. just!. The middle
shot shows the rail the glass will sit behind. The 3rd shots shows a close up of the metal racking,
metal strip on side of wood panel, and vertical wood frame painted using silver chalk paint.
The plan is to spray paint the underside of the wood shelves silver. The other plan is to cover
the top and sides of the shelves with fabric. I located some fabric on ebay
(see image). The
fabric is described:
Grey Heavy Duty Thick Water Resistant Canvas Fabric 600D Outdoor Cover
The shade of grey should match the frame (fingers crossed). I like the surface pattern, as it
reminds of the texture of Deadpool's costume
Update 4...
Got some more work done today. The frame is 95% complete and painted. The grey canvas
(to cover the shelves) arrived today and it looks perfect for the job.
I ordered 2x two meter lengths of Super Bright LED Strip Commercial Lights Waterproof. I went
with water proof, as they are covered in plastic,
as i have seen some LED strips where the LED's are exposed.
The plan is to attach the 2 meter lengths to wood
(painted silver) using clear plastic clips, as double
sided tape can be unreliable. I decided to go with warm light, so as to avoid the clinical look
some displays have, which i find slightly cold.
Update 5...
I'm almost there. Got a stack of tasks completed today:
1. Ran speaker cables and extension lead under wooden base -
as the audio speakers are on the opposite
side of the room to the TV. Over on the wall withe the speakers there was no power. Now i have a 4 way power adapter so can
have Mileena 1/3 lit up (once i obtain a US - UK step down convertor).
2. Filled the space below the lowest shelf with sheep's wool insulation and covered with foil.
A number of reasons for this:
To block out sound, help insulate the room, possibly maintain room temperature balance,
as the room was prove to getting cold in the winter, hot in the summer. Since i had some sheeps wool insulation left over after
lagging the outside walls, it made sense to use it up. Not to mention it was taking up space.
3. Cut some wood to size to block up a gap between the top of the wooden frame and the ceiling.
This task took longer than expected.
4. Added white cotton backdrop. This required a pole to be fitted behind the metal racking. I'm
not too sold on the white backdrop, as the quality looks average. It will do for now.
5. Finally i got to put together the metal frame and place it inside the wooden frame. There is
zero millimeters to spare to the left and right side. There is more than enough room front to back.
Tasks remaining:
1. Cover shelves in fabric. The plan is to glue the fabric on.
2. Add 2x LED light strips.
This will require the strips to be added to lengths of wood via clear plastic clips.
3. Put 6x glass panels
(from Ikea Detolf units) in place.
Update 6...
Been busy for most of the day - attached the two strips of LED's to the metal racking. Why do
these things always take longer than planned?
The LED strips were attached to wood via clear plastic clips. Each length of wood required 3
sections of wood so that it was possible to sit the assembled piece on the front and rear lips
of the metal cross sections that form the racking.
Tasks remaining:
1. Cover shelves in fabric. The plan is to glue the fabric on.
2. Put 6x glass panels
(from Ikea Detolf units) in place.
I've covered one shelf in fabric already. Need to let the glue set for 24hrs. If all works out well,
i can cover the other two shelves.
Update 7... (MISSION COMPLETE)
Gluing the grey fabric onto the wood turned out to be a bit of a mission. I got there in the end.
The result turned out as planned.
The 6x glass panels
(from Ikea Detolf units) have been slid into place.
The white fabric at the back of the unit might need to washed to get the creases out, as the creases
have started to bother me somewhat. The good this is, if i get bored of white, it would be simple
enough to change the color.
I'll post some photo's as soon, as i have to be at work in 45 minutes.