CapnMac
Member
Ok, a couple of things fro ma long time in casework and being around annoying visitors.
Veneer-faced 3/4" carcase will be plenty strong enough, especially with solid hardwood corner reinforcements with Kreg fasteners (BTW, Kreg is an elegant way to get strength, glue clamping, and slim design in one package, at least IMHO.)
Any openable device (door, drawer, etc.) below 48" above finished floor probably wants an explicit lock (which could be keyed alike). Above 48" you could use the magnetic locks, especially the compartment with the keys to the case, with the magnet knob stashed on top well out of reach.
Now, people being people, they will monkey with things they have no business fooling with, they break things and conceal the evidence, or flat out steal stuff (and their offspring are usually far worse).
I would make a case that could go around the press that could be locked to the bench. Now, you could make that cover lightweight, like 1/4" veneer on a 1x2 frame--the frame giving "meat" for the lock, you might could use 3/4"x3/4" for the frame, wit ha "throat" of 1x2.
I would make the surface able to be a clean, neat and uncluttered as possible. Guests are going to toss 40 cwt luggage up on the thing, their urchins will use every surface as a jungle gym. Anything that can be prised open, even a little, will be sprung open, and it will be claimed that "It was like that when we got here." (Ok, I may have done too much repair work for airBnB hosts, and have become over-cynical.)
But, that is only my 2¢, spend it as you will.
Veneer-faced 3/4" carcase will be plenty strong enough, especially with solid hardwood corner reinforcements with Kreg fasteners (BTW, Kreg is an elegant way to get strength, glue clamping, and slim design in one package, at least IMHO.)
Any openable device (door, drawer, etc.) below 48" above finished floor probably wants an explicit lock (which could be keyed alike). Above 48" you could use the magnetic locks, especially the compartment with the keys to the case, with the magnet knob stashed on top well out of reach.
Now, people being people, they will monkey with things they have no business fooling with, they break things and conceal the evidence, or flat out steal stuff (and their offspring are usually far worse).
I would make a case that could go around the press that could be locked to the bench. Now, you could make that cover lightweight, like 1/4" veneer on a 1x2 frame--the frame giving "meat" for the lock, you might could use 3/4"x3/4" for the frame, wit ha "throat" of 1x2.
I would make the surface able to be a clean, neat and uncluttered as possible. Guests are going to toss 40 cwt luggage up on the thing, their urchins will use every surface as a jungle gym. Anything that can be prised open, even a little, will be sprung open, and it will be claimed that "It was like that when we got here." (Ok, I may have done too much repair work for airBnB hosts, and have become over-cynical.)
But, that is only my 2¢, spend it as you will.
