Beer Bottle Display Case

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Pangolin

Pangolin

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
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Columbus, Ohio
I just got a call from someone who wants to "frame" a collection of beer bottles. She says she currently has 67, but she's probably not going to use all of them in the piece.

I have a couple of ideas about how to do such a project, but I thought I'd ask all of you with all your combined experience if you've ever created such a case or display, and how you did it.

Any suggestions?

She hasn't actually shown up with the bottles yet, but I thought I'd get a jump on ideas!
 
I have not done this ... but this was the first thing that jumped into my mind!

Gemini Moulding!! http://www.geminimoulding.com/?s=gem_home

You can have a gravity Groove case made (http://www.geminimoulding.com/index.php?s=gravity). They can make brackets to hold the bottles.

Using this product you will be able to see the bottle better (frame not blocking the sides) AND it can easily be opened and the bottles changed out!!

Gemini had GREAT classes at WCAF .. we learned a bunch and got really good full size samples to bring home. They are really nice people, too.
 
Build a shelf on the wall and line them up.

While anything can be framed, not everything needs to be framed :) I would think a floor to ceiling bookcase, with random sized boxes and different height shelves would be a fun way to accommodate beer cans. I know that every bookcase I saw in colllege had a couple of beer cans and bottles on them :) I think it was a conscious decorating decision then too.
 
Mary's idea of a Gravity Groove box would be OK, except that it could be awfully big for that frame design.*

How about a cabinet frame? You could easiy build something like the one depicted in the "Special Purpose Shadowboxes" article in PFM's November 2009 edition, page 32.

Rather than making one huge frame, suggest making two smaller frames, which would be easier to display and handle. If you allow 3" diameter and 12" height for the bottles, you could build a 2" to 2-1/2" deep shadowbox frame about 30" wide x about 40" high, which should accommodate about 30 bottles (3 rows of 10 bottles). Hinge door-frames on each side. That is, it could open like a cabinet with two "French doors". Depending on your choice of mouldings, the doors could provide up to an additional 2" of depth.

Inside the box, a row of bottles could sit on the bottom, and you could install two horizontal shelves made of acrylic or glass for two more rows. Due to the 30" (or so) length of shelves, you would need to embed them in slots in the reinforced backing board.

If you would like help with the cutting and assemblies, let me know. My shop is only about 20 miles from yours, and you're welcome to stop in any time.

*When I developed the original Gravity Groove design in 1990, I wanted to find the practical limit of size. A guitar-sized Gravity Groove is no problem. The biggest one I built was 48" square, and it worked well...except that removing and replacing the acrylic box-cover required the coordinated effort of two people. And when the cover is off the base frame, the large acrylic box is flimsy and could be broken easily, or scratched. These limitations would apply to Gemini/Showcase Acrylics' "Enhanced Gravity Groove" designs, as well.
 
Are they full or empty? Considerable weight difference.
 
@MaJa - An acrylic display would definitely make the bottles stand out. (Assuming they aren't going to hang this on a beer-bottle-colored wall!)

@Jim Miller - I was defintely imagining what you suggested. Thanks for the offer of help!

wpfay said:
Are they full or empty? Considerable weight difference.
Click to expand...

I got the impression they were empty. She said she'd collected them at the bar where she works.

If anyone has any other cool or interesting ideas, let me know.

Out of curiosity, how would you hang/attach such a piece to the wall? (Given Wally's point that the bottles may make this a heavy piece.
 
98 bottles of beer on the wall, 98 bottles of beer...Take one down and pass it around, 97 bottles of beer on the wall..

Next...
 
I'll play!!

97 bottles of beer on the wall, 97 bottles of beer...Take one down and pass it around, 96 bottles of beer on the wall..

Next...

(sorry Pangolin)

Jim ... good thought ... never thought about the size. I think it would cool for a few bottles, tho!
 
Pangolin said:
...how would you hang/attach such a piece to the wall? (Given Wally's point that the bottles may make this a heavy piece.
Click to expand...

My favorite system for this job would be two pairs of Magic Marker hangers. That is, one pair on the side rails near the top of the frame and an second pair near the bottom. These "keyhole" hangers almost snap onto their wall attachments, so a moderate side force would not budge the frame.
 
You might suggest framing them in more frames than one. I'm not sure how big the finished piece would be (and probably, neither would your customer) but wall space might be a concern.
You can use the same moulding, maybe different sizes and display them probably a lot better.
 
.... 94 bottles of beer on the wall .....
 
I suppose it will all depend on the enviroment that the display will be ... uh.. displayed. Will it go over the grand piano? Or near the Dali? Above the couch to match the Heiniken slip cover? Many things to consider. I would suggest the shelf idea. Or a round receptical that rests onthe floor lined with a dark mylar/plastic so that the local "Refuse Engineer" might easier handle them. That's what I did with my son's collection!! ... Shelves are best.
 
Sorry 'bout that Jim, but I was chewing gum at the same time that I was typing .....:help:
 
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