Building Cabinets

PA woodbutcher

Have a set of cabinets to build (if I choose to accept this mission). Getting busy and don't want to give my time away, but also don't want to pass up the opportunity since this one will be my first set.

How long would it take you to build 24' of base cabinets with 2 corner cabinets with lazy susans. 1 of the corners is like has a 43 degree angle in the wall to accommodate pipes for the upstairs. This box may or may not be a pain in the.....Doors will be done in oak with raised panel doors in a cathedral style door.

Will be doing the counter tops and setting them also. This will be a chore in itself. Original house was built I think in 1939 with a set of plans from Sears & Roebuck. Nothing is level and nothing is even close to square.

The job is all cost plus, so no pricing is needed. I can get the cabinets built for me, but would like the experience as am working towards the finish side of carpentry as Bass says "I am getting long in the tooth"

Having seen your work and pics of your shops, I can get an idea of what kind of time I will have in them and can get a better idea of rather it will be worth it for me to build or buy them. Don't think that I can pass on all my costs on this one as someone has to pay for my experience and don't think that it should all come at this customers expense.

This project has taken me through almost a month and a half....took 1 1/2" sag out of 1 floor and layed 400 square foot of subfloor and 980 square foot of 2 1/4" oak flooring (value grade ). Closed in 2 doors and opened up 2 more. 1,100 square ft of drywalled ceiling and other miscellaneous projects. I still have the baseboards, doors to hang and case and have other spring commitments to get to.....

I should have pics of the finished project when done. I've seen the HO with a camera a few times. I'm sure she'll come off a few.

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Gus Dering

It's all in the system and the equipment.
I assume you have the basics like a cabinet saw and a good chop saw.
Then you'll need a cross cut sled for the table saw.
I built cabinets this way for quite a while. It can be done and I think you should give it a go as you seem to have the interest.

Order your doors and drawer boxes. Don't listen to Leo on this one
Find a good finisher too.

Then all you have to do is come up with a good system that works for you.

I can help you if you want. I can do the drawings, 3d renderings and give you the cutlist, door sizes, drawer box sizes, Optimize the sheet goods, assembly sheets. The works.

This stuff is fun, don't give it to someone else if you have the space and some basic tools.

PM me and we can talk on the phone if you want all the help I can offer.

strathd

That's good of you Gus.

neolitic

Not being tooled-up like Leo,
I'm with Gus on this one.
I'll build one or two doors,
more than that, order out.
Boxes and face frames can be
done in pretty primitive shops.

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Meetre

Planning is the most important part, get your drawings and cut lists. Check them over! Then go at it. Drawers and doors can be a pain if you don't have the right gear, so that's your call.

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Gus Dering

You make it sound like that is a rare occurrence.
And I thought we were friends

neolitic

It's 'cause I'm so rarely
on the side of the angels.

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Gus Dering

Angles huh? You got me mixed up with someone else here.

Have you seen me as a kid? Here is my family photo from way back.
can you guess which one is me?

KMac

You're a hell of a guy Gus - seriously - that's an awesome gesture.

Gus Dering

You saw that family photo right?

I don't remember saying I would do all of that without beer money either.

Bass has a project that he is trying to set the hook on and he took me up on the offer. I think he is happy with the info I gave him. But him and I have an agreement that I don't think I will throw out there on an ongoing basis.
We agreed that if he lands the job and my efforts proved to be of value he will throw some crumbs my way.

I have not done this service before so price tagging it is a bit hard but it is worth something.

I like to help where I can and I have alot of the bugs worked out with the cabinet end of things, so if any of you see value in a good rendering and all the shop bells and whistles hit me up. I'm sure we can come to terms that work for you.

Leo G

What !?! Am I a door and drawer God or what???

Not set up per say. Just can't count on the reliability of others to keep my schedule on time.


For me I figure on a day a cabinet. 2 doors, 1 drawer, 1 shelf, face frame, finished inside and out, doors hung, drawers sliding.

Just remember, don't listen to that Leo character.

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PA woodbutcher

Thanks Gus I have a Delta unisaw, tilt right with a 42 inch fence and sled (bought it from a cabinet shop). Will be dropping a couple of router bases into the top before starting this project. Dewalt 12" sliding compound (older style), 13" planer and 7" joiner, Band saw and drill press also. I can see sending out the doors as they can be a real pain, but the drawers and drawer box shouldn't be too bad if I can come up with enouh clamps. I do have access to the router bits for the raised panels that does both sides at the same time also. Have a guy laying the tile sometime next week and will be able to get a final set of measurements and drawings when he's done. I'll drop you a PM when I get more, we can talk beer money also.

You guys all got mad skills that I have yet to learn!

Leo, good info on the timing......don't think I am quite that fast, and not quite as polished as you, but can be quite anal sometimes also. I was thinking 2 boxes finished in 3 days myself.

I am into building these more for the experiance than anything. I have other jobs that I would be able to make more on if I went and did them and sent these to a shop.....but then when do I get to learn? Don't feel like crawling around on ladders and roofs all my life. The other jobs will wait, but these won't.

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KMac

You mean you're not just going to donate your time for free?

I take back my previous comment.

BTW, a while back you gave me a tip about supporting floating shelves using square iron. I just got some brackets made up for some floating shelves I'm installing - square iron welded onto flat steel. Should work out great.

So what do I owe ya?

Gus Dering

Good to see I'm making progress with you in those regards



Sounds like you'll be fine jumping in to the water.
I used to frame, side and trim. All stuff that I'm sure you have developed a system for. Cabinets are no different. Do them a few times and your system will present itself.
I can help you to get started by sharing a few tips and get the cutlisting together for you but you will find your own way in short order.
A powerful design software program like mine (Leo has one too) has the flexibility to go in the direction you you will find yourself going. That is to say that construction techniques can be modified easily to suit your fancy.
This stuff ain't that hard. You just need to give it a whirl. It's nice to be inside not even noticing that it is raining.

Glad to hear that is working out for you.
I had a 1" space between the top and bottom. In between the iron we put a ledger on the wall that sliped in that space. Smeared some white glue on the top of the ledger and slipped the shelf on. Did not even nail them.
Thanks for posting that

cleveman

Once you have your plans drawn up and have generated a cut sheet, I think you should be able to cut up all the plywood and cut your grooves and dadoes in a day.

Day two should be assembly and I always put on the primer for paint. Then you'll need another day to paint the insides.

I build all my boxes out of AC plywood and not maple or red oak ply or whatever.

Leo G

If it was only that simple.

Cut the ply to width, then length, then dadoes, then shelf holes, then sand. I always finish my insides before assy. You forgot to make the stretchers, partitions and backs. Assy with glue and clamps, screws where possible. Cut solid stock for FF, cut to length, pocket hole and then assy. Glue/pocket screw FF to cabinets. Since you are buying doors and drawers then you need to mount the slides to the cabinets using spacers where necessary. Mount slides to drawers. Drill holes for 35 mm hinges, mount hinges, mount hinge plates and mount doors and adjust. Mount drawer fronts. Oh, did I forget to paint the outsides, doors drawer fronts? Lots and lots of work.

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Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

loneframer

That's how I used to do it too, when all I had was a wormdrive, a framing square and a makita 9.6

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Gus Dering

Dude, tell me you are joking around.
I would have a hard time using AC plywood for garage cabinets.

Take a look at this job and tell me if you would use AC plywood and paint in a day.
Maybe you have a different idea about what a good cabinet job looks like. Not sure. Can you clear that up for us. Because your post is not looking good for you as is.

cleveman

I don't do any sanding. I use 3/4" tops, bottoms, sides, shelves, and 1/2" backs.

The shelves are dadoed in and not adjustable. So there are no holes to be drilled.

When I assemble, I just glue and screw.

I do everything on a radial arm saw with a couple of roller assemblies for help. I guess I cut the 1/2" backs with a circular saw because it is faster. I have an adjustable fence on the radial arm saw so I can rip my sides and tops at 22 1/2".

I think I've done about a dozen kitchens over the years and a lot of bathroom and entryway cabinets as well. Once on a small kitchen, I remember the whole deal was done in a week, including the tile countertop. I call that a small kitchen, but there were probably 16' of base cabinets and plenty on the wall.

If you are having the doors and face frames made and also finished, all you have left is making small pieces of plywood out of big pieces.

I think you can even order the boxes knocked down with probably the insides already painted, then all you have to do is assemble them.

Leo G

No sanding? Yer joking, please tell me yer joking.

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Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut