A local highend cabinet shop approached me and asked if I would be willing to build steel frames to allow two bookcases to rotate and expose a hidden entry into a secret room. I had a chance to work out the details with their production manager and drafting person during the last few days, and was now finally ready to start. The swivel plates were supplied by the cabinet shop, but one of the challenges was to integrate two stops for the open and closed position into the the hardware. In addition, everything had to be hidden underneath the covered cabinet space. After getting the materials for the frames, I started to build those first. Here are some pictures of Day 1!
After cutting the frame members I was drilling mounting holes into the vertical pieces to allow strong fastening of the bookcases.
On the inside of the frame are 1/4″ holes, on the outside these holes are drilled up to 1/2″.
Clamping of the frame members to my welding table and welding the frame.
Drilling top and bottom plates.
Tried my luck with TIG welding on those flange nuts on the bottom plates.
Top and bottom plates ready to be welded in to the frames.
Clamping the top plate to the frame.
Here is aother view!
MIG welded the plates. Here is the top plate all welded in place. The same was done to the bottom plate.
A close up of one of the beads. I can see my welding skills improving! That was the end of the first day.
