Ideas for Fluorescent Display Cases

Below are thumbnail photos of some prototype fluorescent display cabinets I have just finished making. The thumbnails will link out to some larger photos when I have more time to make it so.

I have designed the cabinets to be easily assembled and dis-assembled with 8 tapered wooden pegs. I expect that this will make it much easier to bring the cabinets to and from mineral shows. The top and bottom pieces fit into a dado cut and a part sticks out through the side pieces such that the tapered pegs hold the top, bottom and sides tightly in place. The lexan in the front and the hardboard sheet in the back slide into slots from the top. There is a raised edge all around the top of the case to hide the lamps that will sit on top. This allows the heat load of the lamp to be outside of the case and the UV will shine down through a hole in the top piece of plywood. I have made two versions - a short one and a tall one. Both cases are 2 feet deep by 4 feet wide, but one is approximately 2 feet tall on the inside and the other one is about 3 feet tall on the inside. The overall height of each case is about 6" taller to allow for the bottom support and the upper raised edge (to hide the lamps) which is about 4" tall. The basic materials are oak veneer plywood, oak boards, hardboard, and Lexan XL10. According to the manufacturer, the Lexan has a UV coating on one side that blocks 99.99% of the UV up to 380nm. Lexan is also much harder than Plexiglass or other acrylics, so it is much more scratch resistant. The Lexan was not in place when I took most of the photos because I was getting some horrible glare from the camera flash.

If you would like directions for making a case, please contact me.

This series of photos show how to assemble one of these cases

Bottom piece	One side in place	Both sides in place	Both sides in place	Top in place
Pegs in place	Slide back into slots		Insert lexan	Put top edge on
Viola!		Top piece	side	side

The series below shows what a 3' tall case looks like.