Wanted collection cases or suggestions

[jw]

Today I realized I am in desperate need of a nice case or two to keep my dried beetles in. They just keep building up and I had them all in an empty drawer but that has filled up. Can anyone suggest a good source to buy nice cases for the best price? Better yet I'd like to buy cases from collectors that they no longer need. Post suggestions here and message me if you have 1 or 2 for sale.

Thanks,
Jordan

[Zacatak]

i hear you, i too need more space. i have had to get a cabinet made by a friend. they just keep building up the more you collect. and the price for a good cabinet can be very expensive too, in most cases more expensive than any specimen you wouldn't usually purchase because of the price tag. if i was to be of some help to you, there a few websites that sell entomology gear it just depends where your from. as postage of such a large item would be just as expensive, as if not even more. my best option was to have it custom built from a cabinet maker... which is what i have just done

[jw]

Do you have images?

[Zacatak]

not yet, im still waiting for it to be finished. i could post some photo's no problem

[prillbug4]

I make my own cases for half what you would normally pay from a dealer. I can make them to any size I want. You can usually buy a small table saw for abou $250.00, plus the wood can be rather cheap, and I use picture frame bands to square them up, using six nails and wood glue. The boards are cut to 45 degree angles at the ends. You can make them to 25"x25"x31/2" in dimension. The lids are cut from the boards and there are a number of good ways to set them up for the glass. The easiest way is to cut a groove near the top for insertion of the glass or plexiglass, and cutting the end a little shy of the groove with a long groove to receive the glass. I can make ten cases in one week, and then I can buy the wood to make the cabinet.
Jeff Prill

[colin12303]

Most insect fairs have dealers selling cabinets and cheap used store boxes.
There are nearly always some also on e.bay but the postage can be high

[jw]

Jeff- Can you share some images of these? I like the idea. I could be wrong here but are collection cases supposed to be air tight?

Colin- Thanks for the advice! Sadly I haven't been about to find any insect events here in West Virginia. I've checked eBay with no luck. Maybe I'm just using the wrong terms? I'll keep an eye out on there though.

Thanks,
Jordan

[prillbug4]

I wish I could, but I don't have a camera. I make them airtight by taping them with aluminum tape, even though the lid fits very tightly. In fact, I know someone who makes very good cases with just an oscillating saw.
Jeff Prill

[Deleted]

I know this is no use to you, but i thought that i would post this incase anyone else needs any nice cases/cabinets.
www.chadwickendcabinets.co.uk

[jshuey]

Rack-type cabinets are not that hard to build if you have some woodworking experience. All a cabinet really is, is a very solid box with some rack-like attachment to support the insect drawers (in this example aluminum L-bracket). Add some doors and you are in business.

Because I have very limited space, I built these as extra-tall double wide units. Each cabinet holds 54 Cal-Academy drawers. These cost a little over $120US to build each. I have 2 such units and will add a third unit next summer.

One tip I'll give you - if you are working with something this large, have the side panels pre-cut to your exact dimensions. Working with large sheets of plywood is difficult. Lumber yards in the US will charge about $5 per cut - a bargain relative to how hard it is to accurately cut heavy plywood. Everything else you see here is very straight forward, and I cut to size with a table saw at home. The units are not air-tight, but they are good enough that I can treat for pests using pest strips once a year. I've had the units for about 5 years now, and have not had any pest problems yet.

Shuey

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[prillbug4]

Another way to cut the sides for the cabinet is to do it yourself on a larger table saw, which is what I have. Plus, there are 25" X 6'X 1" Pine, Oak, and various other hard wood boards available at Lowes, and other such stores. I can easily place them in my car or tie them to the roof. Saves a lot of time buying them.
Jeff Prill