A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Good post!!!! Thanks!!

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

Rhett, I agree with everything that you have said. To tell the truth from your description I am not sure this piece can be saved. It really sounds like something similar to what is always shown on the show Holmes on Homes where you are looking at a complete tear-out and rebuild of the built-in and your client is going to have to pay for it twice.

That is tough.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Dido!

-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)

By the sound of it, the original installer was probably just a general contractor/framer. I feel bad for the homeowner! Of course they should have asked for photos and references for past projects. I can’t imagine doing poor work like that for even someone I don’t like!

I for one would love to see some before and after photos!

-- If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem. Roanoke, VA

for the record I’ve seen “pros” do work as bad. I’ve seen hobbiests blow the pros out of the water. It all depends really. The homeowners get what they pay for.

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

DIDO…...DIDO…....DIDO. I have to totally agree with this post.

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

Just another horror story out there.

Very sad! TRUE but VERY SADDDDDDDDDD!!!!!

-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!

It sucks repairing other peoples mistakes

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Even pros have difficult days. Novices have to start somewhere and home owners have to beware of who they are dealing with. ...but, When I worked as a handyman fixing everything you could imagine, I thanked all the poor workers before me for doing poor work because their poor work gave me a job. I will gladly still do this sort of work that I am physically able to and still thank those that messed it up before me. With that said, yes, everyone should be as near perfect as they can be with what they do…

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

As long as “cheapest is best” in most people’s minds, this will be a problem. I could go on about electricial work too. I have seen some that borders on arson!! :-(( At least shoddy cabinets won’t kill someone unless the whole thing falls on their head!!

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

“If you think exterior grade plywood is suitable for cabinets, you should not be building cabinets.”

Please forgive my ignorance – I’ve not yet made a cabinet, but some are on the list.
Aside from the potential look of the stuff, what’s fundamentally wrong with exterior grade plywood? It would be OK for an “invisible” back? Drawer bottoms?

-- "Do not speak – unless it improves on silence."

Rhett, it sounds like whoever built the bookcase watches too much diy network. Many of those shows make sub par furniture and pass it off as great stuff while making sure to not show any close ups of the finished work.

-- Julian, Park Forest, IL

Experience is the greatest teacher ever

It gives the test first and the lesson later

I just fixed (removed) a huge deck for one of my brothers. The posts (concrete) were only 3’ into the ground and the frost goes down 5’ causing the deck to heav, almost taking the house walls with it. Parts were canti-levered but nothing holding the deck down by the folcrum…................and the guy who did is a busy contractor (deck was built prior to brother buying the house).........even the unistone around the pool had to be ripped up…..............a freaking nightmare…..............

A lot of kitchen cabinet companies (pros) make crap. Just look at the line up at IKEA, or Wal-Mart. At costco I saw a black lacquered vanity wioth granite counter, undermount sink and taps for 600 bucks and it looked “Pro”............I cant even buy the granite for 600…..............makes me think that the “wannabe woodworker” is the least of your worries?

-- "Good artists borrow, great artists steal”…..Picasso

kolwdwkr: I too have seen “hobby” woodworkers that are masters of the craft. Being a professional is not a title substitute for being a craftsman. Ofcourse if you have unlimited time restraints and find solice in the craft, everything you make can be a masterpiece.
knickknack: You can build cabinets out of anything you like, if that is your price point, so be it. It is a matter of quality. Personally I don’t want any unsander mystery wood plywood in my cabinets. I’m not sheathing a house.
roman: There is no competing with slave labor and I never worry about weekend warriors.

Woodworking is like anything else, the more you do it, the better and more efficient you become. Heck, if someone actually invests the time necessary to become proficent, I would be more surprised if they weren’t good at what they do. I just get irked when people claim skills and abilities they have yet to aquire, and then expect people to spend their hard earned money on it. I have infinate knowledge still to learn and I also know my limits. If someone wanted to commision me to build some of the cabinets I have seen Les make, I am smart enough to tell them no thanks. Yes, you can only learn new skills by doing new skills, but you can’t charge people for work you cannot do. Just because you have an expensive table saw and can impress your wife and family with your woodwork. That is no indication that you should be a professional.

If it costs you money its a hobby, if it pays the bills then its a profession.

-- http://www.niceashplanes.com/ http://www.efcabineture.com/

I agree rhett. You make a great point about charging for what should be a learning hobby. BTKS

-- "Man's ingenuity has outrun his intelligence" (Joseph Wood Krutch)