Need Advice on Built in Bookshelf

[Electric Trim]

Hey guys, I need to build a bookshelf for a customer in a small nook.  It will be floor to ceiling and I would normally leave about a 5" face frame at the top to apply crown moulding to, but in this situation I'll probably make it 8"-12" because I need to make a custom vent to vent the refrigerator that backs up to the bookcase before the crown goes on.

Do any of you have a picture of a vent that you have incorporated in a situation like this?  Even if it's not identical to what I'm saying, any pictures of custom vents on the floor or in a cabinet would be much appreciated.  Thanks!

 

[mastercabman]

I don't think i have any pictures to show,but i have made my own vent for HVAC in the furniture toe kick on cabinets.
I used a 1/2" straight bit and make a few cuts on the board to make up a vent.

 

[jmbfestool]

could you not create some sort of shadow gap or something which would be the vent.  So it would be pretty much an invisible vent so you could leave it to what you normally do a 5'' face frame I think it would look a lot nicer than creating some sort of venting grills or holes.

JMB

 

[jmbfestool]

I think you can tell from my sketch up what im trying to say.

[attachimg=#]

 

[peter halle]

How about putting a false top in the bookcase ( stopping it 5 inches below the ceiling) and then ventilating that.  Somewhere I have an image of a built in that I did that covered two or three hvac supply vents.  I used parabolic plastic egg crate in those.  I will look and see.  That might give you an idea.

Peter

 

[builderbob]

Here's one that I did earlier this year. The cabs were Kraftmaid prefinished so I just got a Mohawk finish kit to match! 

Basically, I clamped the board to the saw, set an angle (maybe 25 degrees or so) and I rose the blade through the piece. I just kept moving the fence back until I had all of my cuts. I was going to rout the piece, but I wanted the air facing a downward direction instead of straight.

Bob

 

[FEStastic]

What about using a domino cutter to perforate the top

I did a radiator cover like this, sorry can only find this poor picture

[attachthumb=#]

I find that I can get away with smaller top vents, if I make some lower vents and create a air flow

 

[Ken Nagrod]

[thumbs up] Another use for the Domino -- custom made radiator louver.

 

[Electric Trim]

Thanks a ton for all the pictures guys!  Those are some great ideas.  Much appreciated.

 

[honeydoman]

make sure you take pictures of doing the project and post them as you go and when finished.

 

[Electric Trim]

Great input Kreg.  Will do.  Since I got my wife a nice SLR camera for Christmas this past year, I've been keeping our "old" camera with me, so I'll try to get this on camera for sure.