Access Panels

[thewisteron]

I am in the middle of my first build, and I am trying to decide how to do a rear access panel (to get to the PC components) and make it look nice.  I don't want to just cut it out and put hinges on the outside.  I'd love to see pictures or hear ideas of how you made your access panels, what you would do differently, etc.

[Vigo]

If you are going for authentic, then you don't need hinges at all. (Unless you prefer them) Commonly, machines were just open in the back, and a sheet of wood that was the entire interior width of the cabinet would simply drop into place on the back and locked on the top simply using a cam lock. Other machines had hinges mounted on the inside of the cabinet, but were generally the entire interior width of the cabinet as well. The hinge would just be mounted on the interior side of the cabinet, with a cam lock holding it shut on the other side.

[yotsuya]

If you are going for authentic, then you don't need hinges at all. (Unless you prefer them) Commonly, machines were just open in the back, and a sheet of wood that was the entire interior width of the cabinet would simply drop into place on the back and locked on the top simply using a cam lock.

Easiest and best way to do a back door. 

[thewisteron]

I'm going for whatever looks best :-).

I may go with some sort of cabinet hinge on the inside and a frame around the cutout so there is not a big gap where the jigsaw cut is.  I thought I saw a 45 degree cut on one panel which looks interesting as well.

[eds1275]

I just leave mine open!

[SavannahLion]

I prefer front entry. I think some Dynamos came like that in the form of a sort of drawer. In general however, I just do what is appropriate for the cab. If it works better as front, I'll do front. If back is called for I'll do back.
Just do what is called for with your design and try not to sink too much thought into it.

[Generic Eric]

I prefer front entry. I think some Dynamos came like that in the form of a sort of drawer. In general however, I just do what is appropriate for the cab. If it works better as front, I'll do front. If back is called for I'll do back.
Just do what is called for with your design and try not to sink too much thought into it.

I like the dynamo drawer! h5?

@op

I have a hinge that opens my cp.  the back door was supposed to be a wooden frame about 3" that had black screen for open air.

[thewisteron]

I decided to cut out a panel on the back side of the cp base. I'll probably cover it with a nice solid piece of 3/8 or 1/2 pine or something similar and route the edges to look good. I'll try a couple of cabinet hinges on the inside.  I'll post pics of how it turns out this weekend.

[keilmillerjr]

I decided to cut out a panel on the back side of the cp base. I'll probably cover it with a nice solid piece of 3/8 or 1/2 pine or something similar and route the edges to look good. I'll try a couple of cabinet hinges on the inside.  I'll post pics of how it turns out this weekend.

I'd route 1" wide by .25" deep around your hole, install 4 t-nuts in each corner, and then get some button hex bolts to attach a .25" deep panel. It's not structural, so I'd save some weight and make things easy. 4 bolts, take the panel off. Done.

[thewisteron]

That is a very interesting idea. Have you done this on your cab? I'd love to see an example.

[keilmillerjr]

That is a very interesting idea. Have you done this on your cab? I'd love to see an example.

No. My cabinet is just a 3d model right now. Waiting for winter to be over. Actually, today is the first day of spring, but we still have snow in some areas.

Utilizing my idea for the panels will strengthen the cabinet, while reducing weight a bit.

[thewisteron]

I ended up just attaching L brackets to the back of the panel which allow me to slide it on and off some hardware mounted inside the cab.

[DeLuSioNal29]

How about cutting a ventilation hole where you can install mesh for heat dissipation?  I did something similar to one of my back doors.  (It's a bit sloppy in my pic, but you get the idea).

DeLuSioNaL29

[thewisteron]

I may end up doing something like that depending on how hot it gets.  I'm hoping fans on either side will be enough though.