Construction Complete
Kitchen cabinets require a proven method for constructing them correctly. Knowing a little about the different parts of kitchen cabinets that make the whole---including toe-kicks, face frames, end panels and doors and drawers---is a good place to start. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Wall Cabinets
1. Place the 11-by-30-by-¾-inch wall cabinet end panels on a worktable. Measure up from one end and make marks at 1½-inch, 10½ inches and 19¼ inches. Place the framing square on the marks and draw lines across the width of the end panels.
The bottom of the cabinet will be at the 1½-inch line, the next two shelves will sit above the middle two lines, and the last shelf will be flush with the top of the end panels.
2. Place the four 11-by-28½-by-¾-inch kitchen wall cabinet shelves on the worktable. Apply glue to the ends, place them in their respective places per Step 1, and secure them with the finish nails.
3. Apply glue to the ¾-inch edges of the cabinet and place the 30-by30-¼-inch back on the cabinet. Secure it with the box nails and turn the wall cabinet over.
4. Place the 2-by-30-by-¾-inch frame ends on a worktable along with the 2-by-26-by-¾-inch piece and the 1½-by-26-by-¾-piece. Place the 26-inch pieces between the two 30-inch pieces, one at either end and secure them with the corrugated fasteners.
5. Apply glue to the ¾-edges of the kitchen wall cabinet, place the frame on it and secure it with the finish nails. This is a constructed wall cabinet that will take two 13½-inch doors that meet in the center without a stile. Placing a stile in the center of the frame during the frame construction will reduce the open space of the cabinet to two 12-inch openings instead of one 26-inch opening.
Base Cabinets
6. Place the 23-by-34½-by-¾-inch kitchen base cabinet end panels on a worktable. Measure up from one close to a corner and make a mark at 4 inches. Next, measure over from the perpendicular edge on the same corner and make a mark at 4 inches. Place the carpenter's square on the marks and draw lines creating a 4-by-4-inch square. Cut this out with the jigsaw. Do this on both end panels.
7. Measure up from the bottom edge of the end panels and make a mark at 15 ¾ inches. Place the framing square on the mark and draw a line across the width of the end panels. The middle shelf will be secured above this line. Apply glue to area behind the 4-by-4 cutout, place the 4-by-19-by-¾-inch pieces on the glue and secure them to the end panels with the box nails. This is the cleat for the bottom shelf. Apply glue just above the cleat and stand them on their back edge. Place one of the 23-by-28½-by-¾-inch shelves on the cleat and secure the end to the shelf through the end panel with the finish nails. Repeat this for the center shelf.
8. Place the 4-by-30-by-¾-inch piece on the cutouts and secure it with the finish nails. Turn the cabinet over. Apply glue to the ends of the 4-by-28½-by-¾-inch piece and secure it to the end panels at the top. Next, apply glue to the ¾-inch edges of the cabinet, place the 30-by-30-by-¼-inch piece on the cabinet and secure it with the box screws. Be certain it is flush with the bottom shelf. Turn the cabinet over.
9. Place the 2-by-32-by-¾-inch pieces on the worktable. Measure down from the top and make a mark at 6 inches. Place the carpenter's square on the mark and draw a line across both pieces.
Next, place the two pieces that are 2-by-26-by-¾-inch and the one that is 1½-by-26-by-¾-inch pieces between the two 32-inch pieces. The 1 ½-inch piece goes on the bottom and one of the 2-inch pieces goes on top while the second 2-inch piece goes on the line. Secure these with the corrugated fasteners, apply glue to the edges of the end panels and the bottom shelf and secure the frame to the cabinet with the finish nails.
10. Build the drawer boxes according to the manufacturer of the drawer slide's instructions. Install hinges on the doors and then secure them to the base cabinet with the screws provided.
Tags: finish nails, -inch piece, wall cabinet, with finish, with finish nails