I've almost got my cabinets put together (have the front panel to put on--yeah, yeah I know probably the wrong way to go about it, but..) and was thinking that it sure would be nice to be able to get into the bottom half of the cabinet to deal with damping and such. I didn't want to make the front or any panel removable anyway, but thought that if I cut a larger square, say 6" x 6", then glued that piece that came out of the back to a slightly larger 1/2" thick piece that would have the normal size square cut out of it for the terminal box, then I could seal and attach it and still be able to get back in easy. This way the original piece out of the back would fill most of the hole and the plate would seal the cabinet. Would this cause any unforeseen problems that anyone would know of. I really want to make these come out right.
Basically, yes. An access panel. I really don't want any removable panels either, but it seems it could be a pain if you "needed" to do anything in the lower half of the cabinet for some reason or another. The braces would pretty much stop you I think. I was thinking just cut out a 6x6 piece out of the back, glue it to a a 7x7" piece of 1/2", and cut a hole through both for the terminal box. This way the "void" in the actual back panel is nearly filled back up (except for the saw kerf) when you replace the whole piece. Then just seal between the 7x7 piece and the back. I can just see me putting in the damping, glueing the front on, and needing to do something with the damping after the fact. It's just a idea. I'm always looking down the road to future situations.
Bill Epstein Messages: 1088 Registered: May 2009 Location: Smoky Mts. USA
Illuminati (2nd Degree)
Get a 3/8 rabbett bit for your router or a dado set for the table saw and make the entire back an access. Rout or dado 3/8x3/8 rabbets on both the rear panel and the rear opening so one fits into the other, Then apply a single strand of rope caulk all the way around. Screw it down. Lots of test cuts on scrap until it's just right.
Good idea, except I got ahead of myself and have glued the back on first while I was still working out the front. Thus the smaller removable panel. I've done what you're talking about on a stereo cabinet I built years ago. It was just an idea. I'm sure I won't need to get in there after the fact.