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New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

Does what it says on the tin
AsleepInYorkshire
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New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501611

Postby AsleepInYorkshire » May 19th, 2022, 9:42 pm

We have an avid Harry Potter fan in our family. My better half has been a huge fan since the release of the first book. She works as a Librarian and overlooks the children's sections in our counties libraries.

Last week we had some glass fronted oak display cabinets delivered. They were purchased to become home to the Harry Potter Lego sets she has. Roughly 25 of them (so far ;) ). She also has lots of figurines and there are other items which will turn our dining room into the Harry Potter room. We've been working on it for a year or two now.

The display cases were pants. The workmanship on them was appalling. They are going back next Monday.

We are now back to "square one" in trying to source some decent display cabinets. Its been a slog and unless we pay for joinery made cabinets the choice is very limited.

One of the options I am looking at is to purchase this bookcase. That's easy enough.

But then here's the part I need some help with. We all know that Lego discolours if it's kept in direct sunlight. Our dining room is south facing with a large sliding aluminium door at the rear. So I want to buy a piece of "display case cabinet perspex" which has high ultra-violet filtering capabilities and fix it to the front of the cabinet shown. This will stop the Lego discolouring.

The only solution I have is to use some small brass screws with cups and covers and plant it over the cabinet. It will look ok, but we won't be able to clean inside unless we remove the screws and I don't fancy that.

Any ideas please? Or is this a joinery shop job?

Thank you

AiY(D)
Image
Source: https://www.cotswoldco.com/living-room- ... 20Bookcase

Itsallaguess
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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501612

Postby Itsallaguess » May 19th, 2022, 9:50 pm

AsleepInYorkshire wrote:
Any ideas please?


If the perspex sheet might go fully between the upper and lower darker wood rails, then that lower section of darker wood could act as a bottom support for the sheet, and perhaps a neat array of magnets could then pull the sheet onto the other vertical cabinet edges?

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

AsleepInYorkshire
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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501613

Postby AsleepInYorkshire » May 19th, 2022, 9:57 pm

Itsallaguess wrote:
AsleepInYorkshire wrote:
Any ideas please?


If the perspex sheet might go fully between the upper and lower darker wood rails, then that lower section of darker wood could act as a bottom support for the sheet, and perhaps a neat array of magnets could then pull the sheet onto the other cabinet edges?

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

Thank you - I was musing felcro but I think magnets is worth a look too - I also thought about display cabinet fittings but I'd have to sit and work that one out properly.

AiY(D)

monabri
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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501614

Postby monabri » May 19th, 2022, 10:07 pm

Googled for some ideas for fixings.

Image

richlist
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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501639

Postby richlist » May 20th, 2022, 7:15 am

Have you considered window blinds ? They come in all shapes & sizes vertical, horizontal, automatic etc. That way you protect the whole room from the effects of the sun.

GrahamPlatt
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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501646

Postby GrahamPlatt » May 20th, 2022, 7:58 am

My initial thought was to simply glue a thin strip of wood to the top and bottom lips of the cabinet (or perhaps a fine aluminium curtain rail), to provide a groove whereby you could slide the Perspex sheet behind. But I think IIAG’s suggestion’s perhaps best, and I found this: https://www.instructables.com/Magnetic- ... -Closures/

There’s a firm local to you selling magnetic closing systems: https://www.anchormagnets.com/pages/magnetic-fixing

AsleepInYorkshire
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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501648

Postby AsleepInYorkshire » May 20th, 2022, 8:09 am

richlist wrote:Have you considered window blinds ? They come in all shapes & sizes vertical, horizontal, automatic etc. That way you protect the whole room from the effects of the sun.

Hi rl,

Yes. Sorry I should have put that in my opening post. We are fitting vertical blinds and have a heavy pair of curtains. But we rely on the light from the doors as it's the only "window" in the room. Also my better half is getting a conservatory chair to sit and read in whilst the sun is "peering through".

I've not kept a running total of how much we have spent on Harry Potter stuff to make the room "convincing", whilst "livable". It's not in the hundreds :shock:

There's a white oak corner unit with these sort of figurines in

https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/f ... ix-statue/
https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/hedwig-sculpture/
https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/m ... -and-cage/

There's are 10 figurines in this unit alone. It looks great.

She has a lot of "wall art".

https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/t ... dor-sword/
https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/p ... -3-4-sign/
https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/h ... all-decor/
https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/mirror-of-erised/
https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/h ... -wall-art/

A few of these sort of things too

https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/m ... ts-goblin/
https://noblecollection.co.uk/product/m ... res-dobby/

Loads more.

So the way all this is set up and laid out is key to getting it to look "submersive" without it looking confused. We've not really got started on the attention to detail yet.

Anyway I digress - thank you

AiY(D)

88V8
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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501683

Postby 88V8 » May 20th, 2022, 10:39 am

Itsallaguess wrote:...a neat array of magnets

Nearly.... magnets... this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/374073819232?hash=item5718898060:g:FeIAAOSww3hifmn2

You'll need to screw some knobs near the corners of the perspex so you can pull it off when required.

V8

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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501710

Postby mc2fool » May 20th, 2022, 12:13 pm

I didn't know Lego discolours in direct sunlight, but then I haven't had any since I was a kid (and was more the Meccano type then anyway ;)).

What do they do at Legoland? Do they rebuild their entire "cities" with new bricks every year or two or three, or do they treat it all with something to avoid the problem? May be worth finding out!

There's plenty of solutions one can come up with but I think there's a little more info needed on the requirements and non-requirements. E.g. you say in the OP, "The only solution I have is to use some small brass screws with cups and covers and plant it over the cabinet.". Uhh ... what about the obvious solution of just putting two panes of it on hinges?

So, two questions: (a) How often will you want access? Your comment on not being able to clean without removing the screws implies not very often, but nevertheless a not-easily-openable solution isn't attractive. (b) How air/dust tight do you want it to be?

Grooves (a la GrahamPlatt) and magnets (a la IAAG) are both viable approaches. With grooves if the height of the perspex is a bit less than the vertical gap between the attached strips making the outside of the groove, then it can be just lifted-in-and-dropped into the groove, rather than slid in (and so you won't need width-of-the-perspex side access).

If you put in two grooves and use two half-width panes of perspex then it can be very readily opened by sliding the panes by each other, as is common in many bathroom cabinets, e.g. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4842831

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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501721

Postby servodude » May 20th, 2022, 12:42 pm

How much UV do you get in Yorkshire these days?

If it de-colours it will just look like vintage Lego, escalating it's worth because the provenance is written in its patina, and still being awesome! I'd keep it out and not worry (once Lego is open it's used as far as most of the market cares)

That said I did move our Lego Bonsai recently because it was getting direct sun for most of the day - stuck it next to the Lego flowers ;) (Our Hogwarts is under the house because the big kid thinks she's outgrown it.... for now! ;) )

-sd

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Re: New Bookcase - DIY Fixing of UV Perspex

#501723

Postby richlist » May 20th, 2022, 12:53 pm

The rear of our large property is South facing. We have a number of items which could & would submit to sun fadng if we didn't have window blinds to filter & shade the rooms. They have worked extremely well for over 30 years without affecting the rooms use or enjoyment.


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