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Putting together an attractive and functional display case for showcasing custom cakes or other food items doesn’t need to be a complicated process. In fact, with a little bit of time and effort, you can put together a DIY display case in no time at all. You probably don’t want to spend the next few years of your life working on it; there are much better things you could be doing with your time! Luckily, it doesn’t take long to build this kind of display unit when you know what you’re doing. Typically, it should only take about one hour from start to finish. It all depends on how much pre-cutting you do ahead of time and how many times you hit your fingers with that hammer. Let’s take a closer look at all the elements that go into creating your very own DIY display case for home use:
Getting started: Gather your supplies
Before you cut and nail the wooden pieces, you’ll need to ensure you have all the necessary supplies to hand. All the materials you’ll need for this project can be purchased at your local hardware store. Here’s a list of what you’ll need: – 2 pieces of wood (5” x 23”). These are going to form the main body of the display case. The size of the wood pieces depends on the size of your cakes or other food items you want to display. – 1 piece of wood (3” x 23”). This will form the back of the unit. The size of this piece will depend on the thickness of the wood you choose for the front of your case. – 1 piece of wood (3” x 49”). This will form one side of the display case. This piece’s length should equal the length of your two 5” x 23” pieces. – Nails or screws. Depending on the type of wood you’re using, nails or screws will work best for the actual construction of the unit.
The wood you’ll need
You can choose the type of wood for this project however you like, although certain types are definitely better than others. For example, softwood like pine isn’t the best option here. It’s not very strong and is also very porous, which means it won’t hold paint very well. Hardwoods, on the other hand, are a much better option. They’re much stronger and more stable, so they’ll be much easier to work with. Alder and cedar are two excellent hardwood choices. They’re both very strong and are easy to work with, even for beginners. They’re also easy to paint, so you don’t have to worry about them looking bad after a few years. Oak, on the other hand, is one of the most popular wood types for this project. It’s very strong, holds paint well, and is easy to work with. Maple is another excellent option. It’s extremely stable and is easy to work with. However, it comes at a higher price than most other hardwoods.
Mark your cuts and lay out your pieces
After you’ve selected your wood, it’s time to mark your cuts and lay out your pieces. You’ll want to mark your cuts on one end of each of your wood pieces; this is the side to which you won’t be nailing or attaching anything. Take one of the two 5” x 23” pieces and mark a line across it that’s 5” from the end. This will be the back of the display. You should also mark a line that’s about 1” from the other end of this piece. This will be the front of the unit. The other 5” x 23” piece will be one side of the display case. Mark a line that’s 5” from one end of this piece and another line that’s about 1” from the other end. This will be the side panel of your case. The 3” x 23” piece will form the back of the unit. Mark a line that’s 3” from both ends of this piece. The 3” x 49” piece will form one side of the unit. Mark two lines that are 3” from both ends of this piece.
Attach your side pieces with nails or screws
The next step is to attach your side pieces to the 5” x 23” piece that will form one side of the display case. You can use nails or screws to do this, whichever you prefer. With nails, you want to place the heads on the side that doesn’t have any marks on it. With screws, it doesn’t matter where you put them as long as you don’t go through the marked side of the wood. Once you’ve attached your side pieces, it’s time to add the front panel. It should sit about 2” from the back. If you’re using nails to attach the panel, place them on the side without markings.
Put in your supports and shelf
Next, you’ll want to put in your supports and shelf for your display cases. The supports will sit directly under the shelf and help hold it up. Place the supports about 1” from the back of the unit so they don’t interfere with the front panel. The shelf should be just a little over 5” wide. Again, place the supports 1” from the back of the unit. If you’re using nails to attach the supports and shelf, put them on the unmarked side of the wood. Finally, it’s time to sand the wood. This will help smooth out the rough cuts and make it easier to paint the unit. You can also stain the wood at this point if you’d like.
Wrapping up
Once your DIY display case is finished, you’ll want to protect it from the elements. You can do this by applying a coat of clear varnish to the wood or using a polyurethane or polyester spray sealer, which will provide extra protection from moisture. After you’ve finished the project, show it off to all your friends and family or bring it to your next bake sale or craft fair. You’ll have plenty of space for your cakes and other baked goods, and passersby will love the design of your showcase.
