The weather has been kind to me again today and I was able to get outside and do some more work on the cabinets for my shop and kitchen.
Today I built and fitted the face frames to both kitchen cabinets.
Here are some construction details for those interested.
The cabinets sides and bottoms are 3/4” Thai plywood, the backs are 8mm ply (the wood here is mainly in metric sizes).
I used my router to cut dados in the sides for the bottom which was then fixed in place with glue and screws. The back sits in a rabbet and is secured with glue and small nails.
The face frames are made from rubber wood and I used my new Kreg pocket hole jig to make them, I am finding the Kreg jig perfect for things like this that I want to get built a bit quicker than if I used more traditional joinery.
I fixed the face frames to the cabinets with glue and counter bored and plugged screws. I don’t have a biscuit joiner or nail gun and my hand nailing technique needs a lot more practise so I decided to use the screws.
Things I learnt today:
- I’m really glad I didn’t try to build these as one cabinet, I would not be able to move it my own.
- Getting a large cabinet and face frame all square and flush fitting is hard! Mine are not perfect but I think a bit of shimming and trimming on installation will get everything lined up nicely.
- Don’t leave a silver coloured metal tape measure under the Bangkok sun for an hour. Remember that scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where the bad guy picks the pendant thing out of the fire? I’m sure I have ‘Stanley’ burnt on my palm now.
I’m delaying the moment of truth for another day, will the oven actually fit into the cabinet?
I’m starting to run out of wood and hardware now so progress is going to be slow for a few days, a family illness means I don’t have access to our truck at the moment.
8 comments so far
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
20703 posts in 717 days
posted 185 days ago
Mark, those look pretty good. Good idea with the screws. They have a lot more holding power than nails.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
woodworm
home | projects | blog
8255 posts in 486 days
posted 185 days ago
For a self-taught wworker like you, these cabinets proved that you’ve learnt alot, by your self.
Great job!
Isn’t there any ACE hardware store in Bankok?
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
Mark Gipson
home | projects | blog
63 posts in 276 days
posted 185 days ago
Thanks woodworm. We don’t have ACE hardware here but we do have True Value which I think is the best hardware store in Bangkok. They stock a lot of imported goods, mainly from the US. It’s not cheap but sometimes I like to pay extra to get something that actually works unlike a lot of the local made hardware!
Dick, & Barb Cain
home | projects | blog
7037 posts in 1195 days
posted 185 days ago
Looking good, you’re off to a great start.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
a1Jim
home | projects | blog
16852 posts in 473 days
posted 185 days ago
Hey Mark
Are trying to make us guys that have been doing this for a while look bad? LOL Very nice cabinets now for the install.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
cabinetmaster
home | projects | blog
8590 posts in 454 days
posted 185 days ago
Great job Mark. They are starting to look fantastic. Keep up the good work.
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
HarleySoftailDeuce
home | projects | blog
154 posts in 315 days
posted 48 days ago
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your sill sharing! I’m a new woodworker, and building kitchen cabinets as my first project. I’m a tool maker, so the same rules apply in wood working as building tools; start and stay square throughout! Check my site, and you can see some of my progress. I’m busy with 2 jobs, so my progress is s l o w…but I’ll be retiring in December 09’.
I’m about to build the face frames, and wanted to see how others do this. I did buy a Kreg pocket hole system, so that should help. Heck, if it’s good enough for Norm Abrams, then I’m sold! Sometime I also want to try mortise & tennon joinery.
Again, thanks for sharing, and soon hopefully, I’ll to post my work.
-- Paul, Bristol,Rhode Island
Mark Gipson
home | projects | blog
63 posts in 276 days
posted 38 days ago
Hi Paul. I used a Kreg jig to build the face frames and then screwed them onto the frames. I used screws simply because my hand nailing skills are dreadful and I don’t have access to a nail gun or biscuit cutter.
My cabinets are getting a lot of use now but I still haven’t finished the door for them! It’s coming towards the end of the rainy season here now so I will be able to get back into the shop soon and work on some projects.