Self Quarantine Project

NaderK · 19 Apr 2020, 05:28

Hello Everyone,

My name is Nader and I'm a self proclaimed IBM fanatic! I've been visiting this forum for quite some time and I finally decided to create an account and join the conversation.

Like all of us, I've been cooped up at home for weeks now so I finally had time to build a display cabinet for my collection of IBM keyboards and memorabilia.

I'm no expert woodworker but I'm here to answer any questions you may have, in case you are interested in making one for yourself.

Cheers,
-N

SneakyRobb · 19 Apr 2020, 05:54

NaderK wrote: 19 Apr 2020, 05:28 Hello Everyone,

My name is Nader and I'm a self proclaimed IBM fanatic! I've been visiting this forum for quite some time and I finally decided to create an account and join the conversation.

Like all of us, I've been cooped up at home for weeks now so I finally had time to build a display cabinet for my collection of IBM keyboards and memorabilia.

I'm no expert woodworker but I'm here to answer any questions you may have, in case you are interested in making one for yourself.

Cheers,
-N

Hi Nader,

Welcome!

Impressed. What a way to start. Happy to have you here! What made you want to make a display case?

Always happy to see another IBM fan. Is there glass on the front of the display case? Or just Lights? Both??

I would love to build one myself, do you have any instructions or further images of your build.

Regardless welcome! Excellent work.

Sneaky Robb

Invisius · 19 Apr 2020, 06:07

Welcome Nader, I can tell those boards have been well cared for. Original DOS disks and all, the memorabilia is a nice touch. Setup looks great!

NaderK · 19 Apr 2020, 18:43

Thank you guys, it's great to be here.

SneakyRobb wrote: 19 Apr 2020, 05:54
Hi Nader,

Welcome!

Impressed. What a way to start. Happy to have you here! What made you want to make a display case?

Always happy to see another IBM fan. Is there glass on the front of the display case? Or just Lights? Both??

I would love to build one myself, do you have any instructions or further images of your build.

Regardless welcome! Excellent work.

Sneaky Robb

I browsed commercially made glass display cases and they were either too narrow, too expensive or had a split front window. I looked at my collection and the amount of space I had in my office and realized that I need something bespoke.

The case is 75 inches tall, 35 inches wide and only 8 inches deep (just enough to fit my IBM portable).

Everything is protected behind a single piece 3/16 inch tempered glass. Obviously it keeps the dust out but it also allows me to control humidity better. I installed a descant for each compartment, out of sight but effective.

I used warm white LEDs to lit it up and the dimmer is installed outside the case for easy access.

All shelves are angled 45 egress so you get to see more of that beige goodness LOL

Please PM me your email address so I can share the google album I have for more photos.

Invisius wrote: 19 Apr 2020, 06:07 Welcome Nader, I can tell those boards have been well cared for. Original DOS disks and all, the memorabilia is a nice touch. Setup looks great!

Thank you for noticing the DOS boxes ! those are becoming harder and harder to find these days. And as for the boards, I started with original and well preserved examples but then of course I did a great deal of cleaning and made sure every switch works and feels right.

I also use external converters so logic boards and cables are all original.

I'll be sharing more photos from my restoration projects here, now that I have an account !

John Doe · 20 Apr 2020, 02:59

Damn, nobody cares that workshop? Thats dream place for self spending time!

Love it!!!

kbdfr · 20 Apr 2020, 07:31

NaderK wrote: 19 Apr 2020, 05:28[…] I'm no expert woodworker […]

You seem to be a rather well-equipped layman

Anyway, that's a really nice piece of work.

Heikkonen · 20 Apr 2020, 07:41

Hello and welcome to the forums!

As a fellow IBM fanatic im happy to see this. Way better shelf than i managed to get for my boards. I need to consider making one of these cabinets in the future

depletedvespene · 20 Apr 2020, 18:22

Great job! And certainly better than storing the keyboards in plastic bags, as I do... a friend does!

With that said, now that we know we have a woodworker in here... get ready for questions about how to build display cases and tables!

ZedTheMan · 21 Apr 2020, 16:12

That's a lovely display of IBM boards! Came out cleaner than my cabinet, but then, I bought my cabinet secondhand rather than making it myself.

Redmaus · 22 Apr 2020, 20:18

Very well done, I'm just using a basic bookshelf for my boards. What is that IBM system at the very bottom?

NaderK · 24 Apr 2020, 04:58

Redmaus wrote: 22 Apr 2020, 20:18 Very well done, I'm just using a basic bookshelf for my boards. What is that IBM system at the very bottom?

It's an IBM 5155 Portable XT with 640k or RAM and 32MB HDD ... The one and only way I play Pac-Man !

Just got an Ethernet card for it so now I can transfer files via FTP.

NaderK · 24 Apr 2020, 05:07

depletedvespene wrote: 20 Apr 2020, 18:22 Great job! And certainly better than storing the keyboards in plastic bags, as I do... a friend does!

With that said, now that we know we have a woodworker in here... get ready for questions about how to build display cases and tables!

I'll be honored to help ! what you need are some basic tools, a miter saw (or table saw), wood glue and some sand paper. I used 1 x 12 pine boards from the local hardware store and they are readily available just about anywhere.

NaderK · 24 Apr 2020, 05:16

ZedTheMan wrote: 21 Apr 2020, 16:12 That's a lovely display of IBM boards! Came out cleaner than my cabinet, but then, I bought my cabinet secondhand rather than making it myself.

Thank you ! It took me three weeks to make it and I wouldn't have done it if my state wasn't in full lockdown for weeks LOL I live in California and they are not even talking about re-opening the state as I'm writing this. I think I have time to make two more haha

NaderK · 24 Apr 2020, 05:23

Heikkonen wrote: 20 Apr 2020, 07:41 Hello and welcome to the forums!

As a fellow IBM fanatic im happy to see this. Way better shelf than i managed to get for my boards. I need to consider making one of these cabinets in the future

It's great to be here and I'm glad you guys like the cabinet.

I came across a photo of an IBM store in Toronoto from 1969 and it somehow inspired me.

NaderK · 24 Apr 2020, 05:28

kbdfr wrote: 20 Apr 2020, 07:31
NaderK wrote: 19 Apr 2020, 05:28[…] I'm no expert woodworker […]
You seem to be a rather well-equipped layman
Anyway, that's a really nice piece of work.

Dewalt tools have replaced talent for me and that's how I justify buying them

NaderK · 24 Apr 2020, 05:34

John Doe wrote: 20 Apr 2020, 02:59 Damn, nobody cares that workshop? Thats dream place for self spending time!

Love it!!!

I get to entertain our guests there also as they are somehow more interested in my shop that the rest of the house

There is something about power tools that speaks to our inner child I guess

ddrfraser1 · 24 Apr 2020, 16:02

Noice. That beam spring looks like it's in excellent condition. Was it like that when you got it or did you re-powder coat it?

NaderK · 24 Apr 2020, 19:31

ddrfraser1 wrote: 24 Apr 2020, 16:02 Noice. That beam spring looks like it's in excellent condition. Was it like that when you got it or did you re-powder coat it?

I don't have that kind of talent so I patiently waited for a pristine example to show up for sale on eBay and paid a pretty penny for it

ddrfraser1 · 24 Apr 2020, 22:33

NaderK wrote: 24 Apr 2020, 19:31
ddrfraser1 wrote: 24 Apr 2020, 16:02 Noice. That beam spring looks like it's in excellent condition. Was it like that when you got it or did you re-powder coat it?
I don't have that kind of talent so I patiently waited for a pristine example to show up for sale on eBay and paid a pretty penny for it

Even better!

inmbolmie · 05 May 2020, 20:47

Very beautiful indeed! I've been thinking of doing something like this for a time, and this is inspiring. Thanks for sharing it.