[Dixielandjazz] Care and Feeding Of Jazz Record Collection

[Ivor Jones]

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Farrell" <stridepiano@tesco.net>
To: <JazznDoug@aol.com>; <dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 4:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Care and Feeding Of Jazz Record Collection

Hi Doug.

It's easy, Step One, find two walls that are clear, no windows ,doors or
radiators.
Step Two, Decide how much space your record collection will take, this will
decide the vertical height. ( don't worry everything will become clear in
the fullness of time.)
Step Three. Go to your closest timber yard or DIY emporium . You can buy
veneer faced chipboard ( you, being of the American persuasion will probably
call it particle board or something) Buy a couple of big sheets and get your
friendly store assistant to rip it into 13 inch widths. Having worked out
the height (see step two) divide the wall space by 12 inches i.e. if your
wall is 2 yards long that is 7 pieces at the height you require ( this
includes of course one at each end against the walls). You then need the
rest of the boards cut into 12 inch pieces. THESE ARE THE SHELVES.

You will need a box of shelf supports which you fit to the long bits at 13
or 14 inches apart in pairs.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY.
Place one of the long boards, suitably fitted with shelf supports, against
the wall, get your, wife, mistress or
boyfriend,or all three, to hold another same length board vertical and
parallel to the first, and 12 inches apart. The shelves being 12 inches wide
will fit in between nicely. While one of the above holds the second board
in place, put a third vertical board 12 inches from the second vertical
board. Repeat this process until you reach the opposing wall. If you are
lucky the shelves will fit nicely and hold the whole thing together. You
will be unlucky and the last shelf will need to be shortened. To get a
really snug fit cut the last shelves slight larger than appears necessary
and force them down into position which will make the whole thing stable.
This method enables the most cackhanded, untalented 'carpenter' to construct
a record case, bookcase, video case. etc. Even a nutcase could make it. It
requires no talent.

TIPS. In order to get the most from your purchase it is advisable to draw up
a cutting schedule to make certain you have as little waste as possible. You
can of course vary the length of your shelves to 13, 14 or 15 inches
dependent on the thickness of your board. 17mm is what I would advise.
It is better to make the vertical space between the shelves at least 13mm If
your collection goes in the lounge or living room you can buy a roll of 17mm
veneer and iron it on to the face of the board. For a really posh finish you
can buy some wood strips or lathes 17mm x 10mm to match the surface of the
board and glue and fix to the exposed face. I have done this in my studio
for books and records and it looks very professional. You can also varnish
the whole thing before assembly. If you are building a bookcase it looks
more attractive if you make the uprights an inch wider the shelves. This
information comes entirely free of charge.

If you understand this, I've done a grand job, but it would have been easier
to
draw it.

And the best of luck

Ivor