I posted a while back looking for a metal grill for a door. Someone had nicely referred me to H&K Perforating but after reviewing options, my client has decided that he does not want a metal grill but a vented door.
I’ve built raised panel doors on a recent project, but I am not sure what to do to put venting into the door. The cabinet will house a PC. modem, router, so there needs to be some air flow.
What I thought was to remove a rectangular area near the bottom and top of the panel (about 1.5″ in from the sides) and then put some decorative spindles or something in there.
I’ve drawn up a couple ideas but can’t tell from my drawings whether they are going to look ok or not.
Any ideas anyone out there would suggest?
Thanks in advance,
Shawn
Replies
I still had some links laying around from when I was investigating replacing metal heat register covers for decorative wooden ones. Not sure if these will help, but ...
http://www.americanwoodvents.com/vents.htm
http://secure-data-center.com/patterncut_com/Results.tpl?rnd=5480&cart=1113931992694138&category=6&startat=1
Waddaya mean it wont fit through the door?
Drill holes in the back of the cabinet where they won't be seen?
Venting can also be done with fabric in a multitude of colors,like old audio speakers.
Shawn, I, forgotten the correct name for the product sold in builders hardware and decorators supplys. The stuff is perforated polished brass sold in strips about two inches wide
I believe it's called gallery moulding
It is not just punched holes or squares but decorative leaf shaped notches
It is generally used as a shelf surround and it is installed into a horrozontal 'slit' cut into the shelf
In your case it could be attached above and below the panel to allow air circulation Steinmetz
Would a simple louvered insert do the job? Pretty easy to make.
VanDyke Restorers has a good selection of decorative grills, both wood and metal registers, and pie safe tins, copper and tin sheet, and punching tools. Might be able to find a solution there.
Michael R
"You have to look for possibilities where there are none" Krenov
You'll get better air flow by venting underneath. You could make the bottom quite open with just slats across the bottom, kind of like a mini bed frame. Let the heat out the top in back.
Not knowing your style, another alternative for venting a door is to use chair caning.
Shawn -- the key is to vent from the back or bottom and use a small ducted fan. These are available from Rockler (check the catalog or on line). They are very quiet and inexpensive and come in several sizes. My own preference would be to exhaust from the back of the cabinet and arrange the shelves or interior paritions so air will come in from the bottom or side and flow over the heat-producing components. If the exact placement isn't known when you build it, just drill some holes in each shelf and either leave them raw or get inserts/grommets to cover them (also at Rockler) and assume the owner will put the components in the middle of each shelf. In my opinion, there is no need to mess with grills or louvers or modified doors in the front. In fact, if all of this is too complex, the easiest solution is to just leave the back of the cabinet open and let the air flow come up through the bottom without a fan. Good luck.
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