I need to reconfigure the gun cabinet in the pictures at link below to be a set of bookshelves. Looking for ideas and suggestions from the collective as I try to puzzle this out.

The inside dimensions are 12“ x 30“. My first thought and the easy button would be to put metal adjustable brackets on each side and use clips to support matching wood shelves. I had originally thought about glass shelves, but those would need to be tempered glass and probably turn this into a major project.

However, after further considering the glass challenge of the shelves, I realized the doors are also an issue. Those are just regular plate glass. It’s fine to look at, but when a grandchild breaks it and has sliced their arms it’s not gonna be great. Getting tempered glass cut to match that arch at the top of the doors is going to make that even more expensive, not to mention the inset area is pretty thin on the backside of the doors.

So my latest idea was to remove the doors, cut that center post out, patch and stain all of that to match, and put wooden shelves in opening.

Any other ideas or suggestions on how to make this work?

I realize I could just buy some shelves, but my father and I actually built this quite some time ago and I’d like to find a way to hang onto it if possible. It’s just not practical to store guns in.

Link

If you can match the stain and finishes, the easy way would be to install something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Pilaste...-2281435178538&psc=1

I'd be concerned about the shelves sagging over time with a 30" span, even if the shelf is solid wood. If they are loaded with books from end to end, that's a lot of weight. A midspan support of some type would mitigate that. Replacing the post with a full width divider would be best, if you're okay with 15" shelves on both sides. Other option is to use some kind of shelf bracket at the midspan that would get you back the 30" shelf, lots of options there.

If you’re not completely tied to the bookcase, it would make a fantastic curio cabinet. Tempered glass shelves could probably be used to keep it looking open and airy.

If you decide to go with the books, the sag that JoseyW mentioned might be a problem, but you can stiffen shelves with a deeper edge at front and back or go with a 2x member or two 1x members laminated. Another option if you don’t mind it being exposed is add a steel angle at front and back, screwed to the underside of the shelf to carry the weight or even make the system composite.

I’d keep the doors for a pseudo barrister look. The grandchild won’t stay small, and glass curio cabinets have been around forever.

Keeping the center post solves shelf sag as well, though I would notch the back (remove, notch, reinstall) for where it meets the shelf.

Some great suggestions, thanks.
The idea of keeping the doors hadn’t really stuck with me. However, I can do both; leave the doors on along with the center post for support of shelves and just take the glass out.

That could be interesting.

Keep the glass, spend $40 on glass security film, learn a new skill (i.e. installing security film), and install security film so if the grandkids break the glass it stays together like a car windshield instead of shards everywhere.