How to Make a Museum Display Case

Cutting The Pieces for Your Display Case

• 1

  Take a sheet of plywood and measure out a square 5 feet by 5 feet. Cut it out with the circular saw. This is for the back of your museum display case.

• 2

  Measure out two pieces that are 5 feet long and 1 foot wide each. Cut these out for the top and bottom of the case.

• 3

  Cut out two pieces that are 4 feet, 10 1/2 inches long and 1 foot wide each. These pieces are for the sides of your case.

• 4

  Measure and cut out one piece 4 feet, 10 1/2 inches long and 10 inches wide for the middle shelf or divider. You may want to use this piece horizontally for a shelf or vertically as a divider for two separate sections in your case.

• 5

  Sand any rough edges off the cut pieces with the sander. Apply wood stain or paint of your choice and allow to dry.

• 6

  Go to a local glass shop and have two pieces of 1/4-inch thick glass cut for the doors that are 4 feet, 10 inches long and 2 feet, 5 1/4 inches wide each. Have all edges smoothed and finished and two hinges attached to one of the long sides of each piece of glass, about 3 inches inward from the short sides. Also, have a lock mechanism installed on the opposite side of the hinges for both doors either near the top or the bottom of the doors. Get the type of lock where both doors can be locked to each other when they are closed.

Assembling The Pieces of Your Museum Display Case

• 7

  Gather the top, bottom and two side pieces of your case, and construct a square frame from them. Lay the two 5-foot long sections on the ground with the short edges down, and place the pieces parallel to each other about 5 feet apart. Place the slightly shorter side pieces in between the top and bottom to complete the square. Drive three screws through each end of the top and bottom into the sides to attach them together. You now have a 5-by-5 foot square frame that's 1 foot deep.

• 8

  Lay the back piece on top of the section just completed and attach it. Drive a screw every 6 inches through the back piece all the way around into the sides.

• 9

  Turn the completed section over, and choose if you want the remaining piece to be a shelf or a divider. Screw it inside the case in the position you want by driving three screws through the top and bottom if you want the piece vertical, or through the sides if you want it horizontal.

• 10

  Install a door to the inner left and right side of your case by attaching the hinges securely with the necessary hardware.

• 11

  Stand your museum display case up. It is now ready to be used.