I've just spent a few days browsing various web sites looking for media storage options. I've also tried to locate opinions on possible choices, looking especially for reviews that complained about cheap materials or shoddy construction. No doubt many of you have done the same.

Has anyone found a nice cabinet to store up to about 600 pieces of CD and DVD media? Something that hides the media (no glass doors or open shelves).

I've built over 100 pieces of fine furniture over the years and can't help being a little fussy. But I'm willing to compromise if the price is right.

Bob,

I don't have nearly the number of DVDs or CDs that you do, but I started to run out of room and was also looking at options. Additional furniture was not really one of them so I've put everything in binders. Maybe binders are a option for you too. For my CDs I use basic three-ring binders with pages that are designed to hold CDs. I pull the CD info from the jewel case and slip it in the adjoining slot on the page. Each page has eight slots. For DVDs I found some faux leather cases specifically for DVD storage. Each sheet will hold the art from the DVD case and two DVDs. I cut down the space used by my DVDs and CDs by about 75%. I found all the supplies at Staples or Office Depot.

If my solution does not work for you then there is always the option of having some fun making a little sawdust! If you do, please share your design.

Actually, your plan makes a heckuva lot of sense. Maybe I just have the itch to build some furniture again. I've built well over a hundred pieces over the years but nothing in the last 6-7. All that machinery and hardwood lumber is beckoning me to the depths of the basement. Or maybe it's the wine.

I suppose the jewel boxes can go in the basement in cardboard boxes. Actually...you've got me thinking. Maybe I just wanted to have everything out on display. Most of those CD's are on a PC that's used as a music server. I don't really need them. Ebay? Make money instead of spending it? Hmm. Now you've given me some real fodder to chew.

BTW, I have only about 400 CD's. I have to design in some room to grow. I'm not that old...yet. :rolleyes:

All my jewel cases and DVD boxes are stored in the garage but I'm not getting rid of them just yet. As far as the CDs I like having the originals even though everything is stored on my computer in FLAC format. My originals are my backup.

Don't forget, you can still build a piece of furniture to hold the binders. Mmmm...

Here's a great way to store 400 CDs and have them ready.
400 CD megachanger

Sells for $192 at BHPHOTOVIDEO

It has optical and analog outputs. If using analog you can "daisy-chain" two together. I'm using the analog and it sounds great. Doesn't do SACD or DVD-A, but then many of us probably have Oppo.

nfaguys --
When the carousel motors on one of those boys stops working it is one heckuva mess. I used to be a regional service manager for a large consumer electronics company and boy did we ever catch hell when a carousel changer was brought in with a bunch of CD's stuck inside.

AvFan --
The more I think about it the more I believe my inner self wants a display cabinet that displays only when the doors are opened. Like with you, the CD's are already on a hard disk and are played from there. Except, of course, for the SACD and DVD-A discs.

I'm playing with sketches at the office when I should be working. When I have something tangible I'll take a couple of photos and post them with basic measurements. This will likely not happen until it's too cold to hold a golf club without winter gloves. The weather in the Chicago area has been gorgeous the last few days.

I construct most of my furniture empirically. There are some instances where a full size drawing is helpful, but for me not many. I think a full size mockup can be very useful. Scrap wood, heavy cardboard, hot glue and staples give me an idea of size and scale. I build mostly in Arts & Crafts style, so construction is pretty straightforward. If you know Greene & Greene and Stickley you have an idea where I'm going. I did a lot of Chippendale furniture many years ago but the ex got it. I ended up not liking it so much in spite of all the time and effort spent carving feet and knees. I'll take a mission style table and chairs anytime.

BobZoom wrote: nfaguys --
When the carousel motors on one of those boys stops working it is one heckuva mess. I used to be a regional service manager for a large consumer electronics company and boy did we ever catch hell when a carousel changer was brought in with a bunch of CD's stuck inside.

I'll bet the consumer was upset. I've been told one could take the cover off to get them out. I have had four. The three I now have one DVD-SACD-CD and two CX455s are 400 disc changers, and I've never had a problem, though I follow the instructions and either remove the discs when moving the units...or...make certain to keep them absolutely level. Instructions are specific about when moving the units.

BobZ,

I look forward to seeing your sketches on a storage cabinet. I also like arts & crafts furniture. I seem to be drawn to Shaker, mission and Stickley and often I look over a Thomas Moser book for inspiration. Check out this thread for my latest project, an open shelf cabinet for my AV gear. It is a little more ornate (with the panel sides) than I usually build. I have a weakness for cherry that ages on its own to that deep red/brown. That thread also has Grimsters' nice ebony black oak cabinet that fits his dedicated theater very well. All this talk about woodworking and now I need to make some sawdust soon!

a buddy of mine is building a cd storage unit...
holding...hic! 720 cd's
using these from Lee Valley...
everything encased in a cabinet...
3 pull out drawers holding six of those brackets...which hold regular jewel cases...and you can still open the case while it's being held by the bracket...I'll try to get some pics when it's done...

Many years ago before I became single again I purchased several different kinds of CD holders for evaluation. They're now sitting in a box in a corner of the basement collecting dust. Those Lee Valley holders are pretty clever. But one of the problem with using a holder like that with a large collection is sorting. I like to keep things alphabetical. Plain old shelves are easy to keep organized. Holders mean moving a bunch of jewel boxes around when you add a new artist to your collection.
But then again, when you're playing everything from a PC the cabinet is more a display case than anything else. And those slick looking CD holders make the case sharp looking on the inside as well as the outside. I'm curious to see how he's implementing them.

AvFan...
That's a really nice job on your cabinet. Nice, tight miters. And you used cherry ply for the panels instead of birch ply, something I often do when cherry ply is hard to find. (the pitch pockets are the tell)
Cherry can be really tricky. If you don't get all your boards from the same log they can age quite differently. I scarf joined some cherry that looked exactly the same in color after sitting out in the shop for a year or so. I used it for wide baseboard in my dining room. Well, one board aged very dark and the other stayed fairly light in color. Yucko. I have a piece of furniture in front of it. One of these days I'll stain the light section to match it up.
Like you, I love working with cherry. I'll get some pictures of some of my pieces up for you somewhere.