Building an electronics cabinet
Moderator: Jim Walsh
Building an electronics cabinet
Stymied by weather on my chainplate project, I turned my attention last weekend to building a new electronics locker behind my icebox. This space was already used for electronics, including the VHF, AIS and related equipment and was a mess of cables and junctions that I desperately wanted to tidy up and hide behind a cabinet. The face of the cabinet will be made from 1/2" teak faced plywood, will hinge down to allow access behind, and will accommodate the current electronics and some future equipment including a Victron battery monitor. I removed the existing partition and a little shelf installed by the previous owner. I removed the teak trim from the top of the partition and set it back in place to use as the basis for a template for the cabinet. I used some scraps of 1/4" plywood to make the template, using a spring clamp to hold them in place while I marked and cut them to shape before securing them with screws. Once I was happy with the shape I made reference marks in case something shifted during removal before carefully pulling it out. Back in my basement shop, I switched out the screws for flat heads. I'm going to try cutting the final shape with a trimming bit on my router, which will take some careful planning but should yield the exact shape of the template. First I have to make my cuts for the hinged section of the panel.
As usual I neglected to take a good "before" picture but the first one shows the shelf and mess of wiring and cables, and the second shows the template for the new cabinet.
As usual I neglected to take a good "before" picture but the first one shows the shelf and mess of wiring and cables, and the second shows the template for the new cabinet.
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Avery
1974 Cape Dory 28
S/V Fayaway, Hull No. 2
1974 Cape Dory 28
S/V Fayaway, Hull No. 2
Re: Building an electronics cabinet
Much better than being outside when it's cold. Dennis
Lower Chesapeake Bay, Sailing out of Carter's Creek
Danielle Elizabeth
CD30
Danielle Elizabeth
CD30
Re: Building an electronics cabinet
It's been miserable here, hasn't it? The only good thing about the weather is that it's given me a rock solid excuse to stay in my basement shop instead of messing with epoxy and fiberglass on the boat.
On Saturday I made a blank out of the teak faced ply I bought for the project, including the hinged section of the panel. I set up the template I made last time so I could use my router to trim the blank to shape. Because of the way the panel fits in the space I made it out of five parts, the center hinged panel and four small parts that make up the frame. I temporarily secured the components from behind with scrap plywood and small screws so I could trim the whole thing using the template and a trim bit on my router. After some fussing with the router and some work with a sanding block, I got the shape to where I was happy. I took the parts to the boat and assembled them in place to dry fit. I was pretty happy with the fit although I think a little more trimming will be required when I install it permanently with cleats and screws. Annoyingly, there's a narrow gap at the top that I'll have to hide somehow, either with a small quarter round piece of teak or with some similarly colored sealant. My carpentry skills are in their infancy so I just have to accept such things for now...
With the panel components back at home, I'll install the VHF, hinges and a pair of thumb screws to secure the hinged section and start varnishing.
On Saturday I made a blank out of the teak faced ply I bought for the project, including the hinged section of the panel. I set up the template I made last time so I could use my router to trim the blank to shape. Because of the way the panel fits in the space I made it out of five parts, the center hinged panel and four small parts that make up the frame. I temporarily secured the components from behind with scrap plywood and small screws so I could trim the whole thing using the template and a trim bit on my router. After some fussing with the router and some work with a sanding block, I got the shape to where I was happy. I took the parts to the boat and assembled them in place to dry fit. I was pretty happy with the fit although I think a little more trimming will be required when I install it permanently with cleats and screws. Annoyingly, there's a narrow gap at the top that I'll have to hide somehow, either with a small quarter round piece of teak or with some similarly colored sealant. My carpentry skills are in their infancy so I just have to accept such things for now...
With the panel components back at home, I'll install the VHF, hinges and a pair of thumb screws to secure the hinged section and start varnishing.
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Avery
1974 Cape Dory 28
S/V Fayaway, Hull No. 2
1974 Cape Dory 28
S/V Fayaway, Hull No. 2
Re: Building an electronics cabinet
I think it looks great. My woodworking skills are, and likely will remain, in their infancy. I always figure I’ve done well if Steve Laume holds off laughing out loud until he has stepped off my finger pier onto the main dock. ![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
Jim Walsh
Ex Vice Commodore
Ex Captain-Northeast Fleet
CD31 ORION
The currency of life is not money, it's time
Ex Vice Commodore
Ex Captain-Northeast Fleet
CD31 ORION
The currency of life is not money, it's time
- tjr818
- Posts: 1851
- Joined: Oct 13th, '07, 13:42
- Location: Previously owned 1980 CD 27 Slainte, Hull #185. NO.1257949
Re: Building an electronics cabinet
I might suggest raising the panel to have that gap at the bottom, that way any spilled liquid will not have the opportunity to discolor the panel. A bead of white BoatLife at the bottom and no one will ever know.SVFayaway wrote:. . . Annoyingly, there's a narrow gap at the top that I'll have to hide somehow, either with a small quarter round piece of teak or with some similarly colored sealant. . . .
Tim
Nonsuch 26 Ultra,
Previously, Sláinte a CD27
Nonsuch 26 Ultra,
Previously, Sláinte a CD27
Re: Building an electronics cabinet
Thanks Jim. I'm hoping to one day achieve carpentry greatness if only because it's one of the boat projects I really truly enjoy, along with sewing and electrical work. I do not much care for mechanical and fiberglass work.
Tim, that's a good idea, and probably what I'll end up doing when I do the final install.
Didn't get much more done today but I did cut the opening for the VHF and drilled the hole for the man overboard alarm mute button for the AIS. I also routed the recesses for the hinges at the bottom of the panel. There will be a short pause while I wait for hardware and varnish, and in the meantime I'll get back to my chainplate project so I can take advantage of a couple of days of good weather.
Tim, that's a good idea, and probably what I'll end up doing when I do the final install.
Didn't get much more done today but I did cut the opening for the VHF and drilled the hole for the man overboard alarm mute button for the AIS. I also routed the recesses for the hinges at the bottom of the panel. There will be a short pause while I wait for hardware and varnish, and in the meantime I'll get back to my chainplate project so I can take advantage of a couple of days of good weather.
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Avery
1974 Cape Dory 28
S/V Fayaway, Hull No. 2
1974 Cape Dory 28
S/V Fayaway, Hull No. 2
- Steve Laume
- Posts: 4127
- Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
- Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
- Contact:
Re: Building an electronics cabinet
For an "infant" carpenter, that is some damn nice work.
If you try to raise up the bottom you will open gaps elsewhere. Did you put a back bevel on the top? After a career sprinkled with carpentry mistakes, I learned a couple of things. The first thing is that you never point them out because the vast majority of people will never see what you consider to be a flaw. The second thing is that a project can often be enhanced by covering up a mistake. That is adding a molding or other detail to cover a problem. I did install 1/4 round where the cabinetry meets the counter on Raven. It always looked kind of unfinished to me and it also gave me the opportunity to run a little caulk behind it, near the sink.
I don't ever recall laughing at Jim's work. I usually try to stop him before he does too much damage or he's better than he thinks he is, Steve.
USB ports?
If you try to raise up the bottom you will open gaps elsewhere. Did you put a back bevel on the top? After a career sprinkled with carpentry mistakes, I learned a couple of things. The first thing is that you never point them out because the vast majority of people will never see what you consider to be a flaw. The second thing is that a project can often be enhanced by covering up a mistake. That is adding a molding or other detail to cover a problem. I did install 1/4 round where the cabinetry meets the counter on Raven. It always looked kind of unfinished to me and it also gave me the opportunity to run a little caulk behind it, near the sink.
I don't ever recall laughing at Jim's work. I usually try to stop him before he does too much damage or he's better than he thinks he is, Steve.
USB ports?