Old Glass Shop Display Cabinets

teganthomas

Just ordered a greenhouse and waiting for it to arrive when I saw 2x Old Glass Shop Display Cabinets being offered for sale (£50 for the pair) locally on Fb Marketplace. Does anyone know if these would be good to put in the greenhouse or use separately as large cold frame type things. Seems a good price for a lot of (apparently safety) glass cabinet.

Farway

The only problem I can think of is these would not be made for use in a moist atmosphere or outside


Not knowing the construction rot or corrosion could become a problem

teganthomas

That is a very fair point - thank you for that!:)

The Cabinets have a metal frame (could be chrome or stainless steel) so no wood. I have agreed to buy them - I think the glass alone is probably worth the money if used with pallet collars to make cold frames, so if they last a couple of years before they need to be dismantled I shan't be out of pocket. I may put one inside this winter with a cheapo set of LED grow lights from eBay and get an early start with some seeds.

Davesnave

Glass isn't very bendy.

Whenever I've wanted to construct something with similar insulative qualities to glassfor inside a greenhouse, I've used horticultural bubble polythene, which is easily pinned to a wooden frame or held by spring clips.

We have a specially warm 'tent' in our polytunnel made like this by my wife, who covered an old market stall frame with bubble insulation. Unlike glass, it may be rolled-up or panels taken out as and when more ventilation is needed. It's just safer and more convenient than sheets of glass.

Glass comes into its own more outdoors, where it's ability not to flap about can be useful. Old double glazing units can create good makeshift cold frames etc.

Farway

Davesnave wrote: »

Glass comes into its own more outdoors, where it's ability not to flap about can be useful. Old double glazing units can create good makeshift cold frames etc.

In my allotment days I had loads of ex double glazing units for plant protection.
My allotment did look a bit like Steptoe's yard at times:o