Double Cube Altar
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Does anyone know where I can find plans or drawings for making a nice double cube altar from plywood? I could wing it, but am no woodworker, and would benefit from some guidance.
By the way, I'm not looking for instructions that say: "Buy a couple of wooden cubes and stack them."
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Too bad, because that's the easy way
Standard pressed wood cubes are 18" cubes. -
One cube:
Top and bottom pieces are the only pieces cut to the actual size of a side of the cube.
- for instance, for an 18" cube, only the top and bottom pieces are 18" square
- the rest of the pieces have to be adjusted for the thickness of the wood.
Front and back pieces are 18" wide, but only 18" minus 2 times the thickness of the plywood tall.
- actually measure the thickness of the plywood for these measurements. Listed wood measurements are wonky.
Left and right pieces are
- 18" minus 2 times the thickness of the plywood wide
AND - 18" minus 2 times the thickness of the plywood tall
I don't recommend using nails. They don't last as long as screws. Use like.. 2" woodscrews at least.
Pre-drill your holes one edge at a time with a bit that's as wide as the inner shaft of the screw, but not as wide as the ...outer screwy turny bits.
Put glue on the edge.
Then put it back together and screw the screws into the pre-drilled holes.
On the fly. Maybe think all the way through this before doing it. I have a headache, but the measurements should be good.
Pre-drilled holes, glue, screws is the way to go though.
Peace.
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I forgot.
I'd use at least 1/2" plywood. Anything else is going to be hard to get screws into. You could go thinner and use nails. It would be lighter but less sturdy. If you do use nails, try to still pre-drill your holes. It keeps you nails from shooting out of the side as you're nailing.
And at least 4 screws in each edge, spread out, to make it sturdy.
Watch out for the corners with your screws. Give yourself room so that you don't end up trying to screw one screw through another screw that's on the other edge.
Oh... and if the actual wood will be visible, then turn the cubes on the side so that what I call the top is actually the front. It'll just look better from the front that way.
Good luck!
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@Jim Eshelman said
"Too bad, because that's the easy way
Standard pressed wood cubes are 18" cubes."I'm not completely committed, and might take the easy way, but I like the idea of building my own altar. I'd prefer to avoid pressed wood, and real wood cubes seem pretty pricey. I was also thinking to add a couple of inches to the standard 36'' size to better suit my height, unless someone talks me out of it.
Plus, since when do you do things the easy way?
@Aion said
" Providing a bunch of awesome specifics "
Thank you very much!
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I am glad to be of use.
I keep thinking of more tips, but I'm not sure how many you actually need.
So here's the best tip. Before you invest the money in all this wood, make a model first using the same thickness wood, but only like 6" x 6".
The first one is always a "learning process." Lol
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93!
Is there any rule for determining the height of the altar in accordance with the magician's tall? -
@Quaestor Lucis said
"Is there any rule for determining the height of the altar in accordance with the magician's tall?"
Navel-height is practical (and has symbolic, and perhaps energic, appropriateness) if you want to personalize it to your height.
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Thank you!
