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Joining Plywood side and bottom of a cabinet

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Forum topic by damnHippie posted 72 days ago 364 views 0 times favorited 12 replies Add to Favorites
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damnHippie

27 posts in 312 days


72 days ago

Topic tags/keywords: question joining

I’m in the process of designing/building a sideboard cabinet. A bit in the craftsman style, and has legs and rails. I’ve run into a design issue: how do I join the side plywood sheet and the bottom plywood sheet where they meet the rail? What do you think?

Classic butt joint with biscuits?
Butt joints, with biscuits

Rabbeted rail with both ply sheets mitered?
Rabbeted rail, mitered ply

Rabbeted rail, with the side ply sheet rabbeted?
Rabbeted rail, rabbeted side ply

Rabbeted rail, with the bottom ply sheet rabbeted?
Rabbeted rail, rabbeted bottom ply

-- 10 fingers, 2 eyes, and healthy lungs. for now. :P

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ajosephg

99 posts in 97 days


72 days ago

I like option 3 or 4. Six of one or a half dozen of the other. They both hide the cut end of the stock, probably stronger and easier to make than 2.

-- Joe

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sIKE

605 posts in 290 days


72 days ago

Sliding Dovetail?

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

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lew

1748 posts in 292 days


72 days ago

I would go with the last option simply because both side and bottom have the full width of the rail rabbet for support

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cmaeda

99 posts in 91 days


72 days ago

The last option looks to be the strongest.

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gusthehonky

118 posts in 278 days


72 days ago

4 looks good for bottom, but side also must be taken into account also. What size ply, is there a face frame, fixed shelfs, or other material, aside from top and back to for support and strength?

-- Ciao, gth.

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roman

475 posts in 430 days


72 days ago

Option 3…............only I wouldnt rabbet the base to the cabinet, rather let the cabinet sit on top. This way transportation and installation is faster, easier and it does not deter the structural integrity of the piece.

2 cents

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

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Joe Lyddon

170 posts in 589 days


58 days ago

With plywwod having grain(s) that go in both directions, alternating sheets, why not the good ole Butt Joint?

I have found it to be very strong and good when gluing pieces of ply together.

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1389"

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BeechPilotBarry

410 posts in 239 days


58 days ago

I’d run the legs all the way up, with hardwood stringers mortised in. Plywood would only be used for the bottom, with a hardwood edge, and notched for the leg clearance.

-- - Real men read directions

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brianinpa

941 posts in 259 days


57 days ago

#4 will be the strongest joint out of all your designs, but I have to agree with Joe’s comment about a simple butt joint.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

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tooldad

192 posts in 251 days


57 days ago

My method is to run the plywood all the way to the floor and use the plywood as part of the leg or side. Then add the solid material as a base trim. I think it would give you the same effect visually, then it is just a simple dado. I will draw it up in sketchup and post again.

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tooldad

192 posts in 251 days


57 days ago

here you go:
dado with trim example

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Bob #2

2081 posts in 558 days


57 days ago

Tooldad:

Your last design depends on a level floor.
Good luck finding one.
Go back and read what Roman tomentioned above.
It’s a shame to have to flip the cabinets over on the jobsite and start trimming plywood to level the boxes.
Cheers

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

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