Some Tips For Easier Cabinet Making
Many DIY homeowners find themselves planning a project that involves cabinet making. As well as storage, cabinets are used to house items such as the television or music centre, and a great looking cabinet can really add a stylish touch to the room. If you are planning on building a row of cabinets in your main room, for the television, DVD storage and so on, this article looks at some tips for making the overall process easier.
Create A Cabinet Platform
While the majority of regular cabinets are made with toe-kicks (or a base) so that the cabinets are slightly raised, try a different method altogether; build a small, extended platform for the cabinets to sit on. The platform will act as a base for the cabinets, fully supporting any weight placed on it. Build the platform the length of the cabinets and this will provide two other great benefits; faster installation of the cabinets is possible, as you don't need to level every individual cabinet. You just have to level the platform. The other benefit is that the overall construction process is much easier, as no toe-kick cuts or other adjustments need to be made, the platform is just a simple box base. Build the platform around a quarter of an inch away from a wall to allow for any unevenness in the wall.
Back Bevel The Stiles
The wall stiles are the places that the actual cabinet meets the wall. It can be a tricky job trying to sand down these stiles so that the cabinet is sitting flush with the wall. A good tip to make things easier is to back bevel the stiles. Bevel the stile at a backwards angle of around 45 degrees; when the time comes to sand the wood to get an exact fit to the wall, you will only have to shave a little off. Not making this bevel will give you more work when fitting the cabinet to the wall.
Use Slightly Thicker Wood For The Backing
While most cabinet manufacturers use plywood that is around a quarter of an inch thick for the backing to the cabinets, try using a slightly thicker piece. Using plywood that is around half an inch thick will eliminate the need to use a nailer (or hanging strip) at the back of the cabinet, saving time and giving a better overall look. Additionally, you can secure a nail in the back anywhere using thicker wood, not just at designated places.
Using thicker plywood backing will only add a few extra dollars onto the overall cost of the cabinets.
When thinking of building your own cabinets for a kitchen (or other similar space), it's probably best to leave that process to professionals as it's much more labour-intensive. Work with a contractor from a business like Cabinetry Solutions to design the perfect kitchen cabinets to suit your specific needs at home.