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Project Information

Construction notes: This gun cabinet design comes from the Popular Mechanics website and is recommended for those with advanced woodworking skills, as the plans require you to rely on past woodworking technique experiences. This is my second build of this project.

All materials were available at my local Lowe's Home Improvement store. The sides and back panels are oak plywood. The door frames and drawer fronts are solid oak. The drawer sides are select-grade pine.

The trim was custom cut on the router table according to the plan specs. The plans included a simple to follow outline for making dentil moldings (photo 5). I am especially pleased with the quality dovetails from Porter Cable Dovetail Jig 4210. As noted in an earlier project, the more one uses it, the more confidence one gains, thus, better results.

The finish is a single coat of cherry stain and three coats of polyurethane (Clear Satin). The door contains 1/8" tempered glass. The lights are wired directly to one of the door hinges. Simply touch the hinge for multiple brightness levels.

The total cost of materials was right at $500. The construction took approximately 35 labor hours, less sanding, finish and hardware (another 20 hours).

Tools used: Tablesaw, router, dovetail jig, brad nail gun, bandsaw, miter saw, sander.

Additional thoughts and notes:
- Rather than using mechanical drawer guides called for in the plans, I chose to go hardware free and framed the drawer compartments with hardwood runners.
- Spending a little extra for solid pine vs. plywood for the dovetailed drawer sides is a good investment. From experience, it is worth the extra cost.
- I stained the dovetailed drawer fronts prior to connecting them to the sides. I like the contrast of the joint by staining the front and just giving the sides a clear coat of finish (photo 4).
- The last photo shows the cabinet owner (my son-in-law, left), me (center) and future son-in-law (right). It was his first woodworking project. I am blessed with fine daughters and their great husbands.

Thanks for looking!

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
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2 Posts
Really nice job. I like the glass-front knife display.
 

· Registered
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211 Posts
I have seen it in person.

Nice fit and finish.

Good job, bro!
 

· Registered
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272 Posts
Smart job, making a delightful display.
Over here in the UK we have to keep our shotguns in hidden-hinge steel cabinets bolted to walls and preferably out of sight!
A clever idea - using a hinge as the electrical connection for the dimmer - I must remember that!
(I assume when you said 'wired directly' that doesn't mean 110V on the hinge LOL )
 

· Registered
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1,833 Posts
What a great job on this, all the way around. Looks real nice.
 

· In Loving Memory
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3,873 Posts
Great looking cabinet. It must be nice to live in a place where you don't feel the need for a safe.

I really like the glass door display.
 

· Registered
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76 Posts
very nice
 

· Premium Member
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11,639 Posts
Really well executed. Spacious and attractive. GaryK's comment above struck a chord with me. For the first time in my adult life, I live in an area where I don't need a safe. And it IS nice! Thanks for that bit of gratitude, Gary. Awesome cabinet.
 

· Registered
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86 Posts
Very nice build Randy, I really like the lights and the knife display.
 
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