Do it yourself home improvements - Making a kitchen cabinet

The general design of these two parts is shown in Fig. 1. The base contains a large bin for bread-flour on the right, a compartment for cooking dishes and pans on the left, two large drawers on the right end for sugar and flour, and a large front drawer for knives, spoons, etc. At the right, even with the top, a bread or meat board, in the form of a drop leaf, gives additional space.

The upper part, or cupboard, has a molding-board which drops down and exposes three shelves for spices and other supplies. Over this is another compartment with two doors. In the upper right corner is a closet with a door, and below this two or three drawers, as preferred,- the design showing three,- in which articles in bulk may be stored. The wood used for the outside work may be oak, cypress or whitewood. Unless an experienced woodworker, either of the two latter kinds had best be used, only be sure to get thoroughly dried stock for this do it yourself home improvements plan.

The first work in the construction of the do it yourself home improvements cabinet base is the frame shown in Fig. 2. This requires four corner posts, A, 30" long and 2" square; four cross-pieces, B, 27" long and 2" square; two crosspieces, C, 36" long, 2" wide and 7/8" thick; three pieces, D, 251/4" long, 2" wide and 7/8" thick; matched boards to cover floor, E, 30" long, 27" wide and 7/8" thick, and additional matched boards for partition, F, 21" high and 27" deep; also, for an additional partition not shown, between the drawers and the flour-bin, which is 21" high and 17" deep. The frame may be made of any suitable wood other than pine, which is too soft for this do it yourself home improvements plan.

For the flooring and partitions of this do it yourself home improvements project, whitewood or pine may be used. The construction of the frame is clearly shown in Fig. 2, so no detail directions are necessary. The top of crosspiece C is 4" below the top of posts A. The piece D, over the partition F, is centered, and simply nailed through pieces C. The outer pieces D are nailed snug up against the posts A, and form the ledges for the drawer for this do it yourself home improvements plan.

The floor E is nailed to the bottom piece B, and the partition F is nailed at the top through the piece D and at the bottom through the floor. The joints for posts A and pieces B are "halved," and pieces C are mortised into posts A. These joints should all be well made, and care used to erect the frame perfectly square, that the drawers and doors will open easily. Strips of wood 1" square and 25" long should be nailed to the end pieces D, about 307/8" apart, to hold the drawer in position when closing it.

The frame being completed the casing will be considered, - that for the right end varying a little from the left. The method of joining is shown in Fig. 3. The pieces G are 30" long, 21/2" wide and 7/8" thick, the left one being grooved on the inside the whole length; the right one having a mortise 51/2" long at the top, 31/2" long at the bottom, and another 2" long, centered between those on the ends for this do it yourself home improvements plan.

The piece J is 2" wide and 20" long, not including the tenons at top and bottom, which are each 1/2" long, making the length of this piece 21" over all. The left side has a groove running the whole length; the right side has a mortise corresponding to the one in G. A second piece of the same dimension as J, with grooving on both sides, is also required, as will be seen from Fig. 1 for this do it yourself home improvements plan.

Two panels of 1/4" stock are required for the right end and three for the left end. They are 21" long and 61/2" wide for right end, and 65/8" wide for left end. The piece H is 6" wide and 221/2" long, with 1/2" tenons on each end, and grooved on the under side. The piece I is 4" wide and 221/2" long, with 1/2" tenons on each, and grooved on the upper side.

The grooving can all be done at the lumber mill at little expense if, when the order for the lumber is given, the pieces to be grooved are specified. When all the pieces are cut out and accurately fitted they are put together, being firmly glued, and held tight with clamps while the glue dries. If no regular clamps are available, temporary ones may be made by screwing two blocks of wood to a strong, level board, far enough apart to allow a wedge to be driven in between one block and the frame.

When completed the size should be such that, with the left side even with the front of piece A of the frame, the inside of the right piece G should be even with the inside of the post A of that corner, thus allowing the drawers to be easily fitted. The left end is made the same as the right, with the exception that a panel takes the place of the drawers, and the pieces G and J are grooved for the extra panel. Additional drawers may be made on the left end if desired, but the capacity of the cupboard in front will be just that much less of this do it yourself home improvements project.

The front is easily made. The two upright pieces on the ends are 30" long and 31/2" wide, with mortises, 4" from the top, 2" long for the tenons on the crosspiece under the drawer. (See Fig. 1.) At the bottom ends 4" mortises are made. The crosspiece under the drawer is 2" wide and 303/4 "long, not including the tenons on each end, §" long, making 321/4" over all.

The bottom crosspiece of this do it yourself home improvements project, is the same length and 4" wide, with tenons. In the center of each cross-piece make 23/4" mortises for the upright center-piece between the cupboard and flour-bin, which is 23/4" wide. The ends and front being completed, they are fastened to the frame with some 2" wire nails of small gauge.

Nail and glue the ends to the frame, and then the front, strongly gluing and nailing the joints between the front and ends. Any roughness of the joints should be carefully removed with a plane. This done, make the door of the cupboard and front of the flour-bin, the two being alike and are 20" high and 14" wide.

With the experience already gained in framing, these will be easily made. The upright pieces are 20" long and 21/2" wide; the crosspieces 9" long, with 1/2" tenons on each end, making them 10" over all. Both upright and cross pieces are grooved on the inside edge for the panel pieces, which are of 1/4" stock, 141/4" long and 93/4|" wide. They should be well glued together, using clamps as previously directed for all glued work whenever possible to do so.

The drawer of this do it yourself home improvements project, is 303/4" long, 4" deep, and 18" or 20" wide. The front piece is rabbeted on each end to receive the side pieces, only about 1/4" of wood being left on the front side. The side pieces are nailed into this rabbet, the rear ends of side pieces having a \" rabbet for the back piece. A 1/4" rabbet is run around the lower edge of all the pieces, to receive the bottom pieces. This makes a firm drawer, which will retain its shape. Use care to see that, when cutting out and fastening together, the work is square for this do it yourself home improvements plan.

The flour-bin is at the front, the height of the door 20", but at the back only 147/8". The side pieces are 101/4" wide, with curved top, as shown, and the back piece 14" wide, and should be of smooth, clear stock 7/8" thick. The lower end» should have a rabbet 1/4" deep for the bottom board, which is 12£" x 103/4".

The bin should be well glued, and nailed with wire nails, that the weight of the flour when it is full will not force it apart. It swings on two strong brass hinges at the bottom, and is held at the top by a small piece of wood which is screwed to the under side of piece C of the frame, after the hinges are on. The door to the cupboard has two brass hinges at the left side and a catch on the right. Two draw pulls are desirable for the drawer.

The two drawers on the end are 9" high, 61/2" wide and 15" long. They are framed the same as the front drawer, but have, in addition, a face board of 1/2" stock, which is-firmly glued to the front board of the drawer. It overlaps the front board 1/4" on all sides, and the outside edges are made quarter-round, to add to the appearance. Strips 1" square are nailed to the partition on the left and framework on the right, to form ledges for the drawers of this do it yourself home improvements project.

The top of the cabinet is 40" long, 30" wide and 7/8" thick. Clear, well-matched boards should be used, and preferably should be tongued and grooved, but may be simply glued up. Care should be used to see that the joints on the top side are perfectly even, and any projecting edges should be taken off with a plane after the glue is thoroughly dried. The top is nailed and glued to the piece B of the frame, projecting evenly at each end and front.

The drop leaf on the right is 18" long, 12" wide and 7/8" thick. The ends should have cleats with tongued and grooved joint. Two hinges are screwed to the under side, fastening it to the top. It is held up when in use by a strip of wood 10" long, 2" wide and 7/8" thick, with a hinge at the upper end, the lower end resting on a triangular block, as shown in Fig. 1. Each end of this piece is beveled to fit well, the angle of bevel being best determined by trial for this do it yourself home improvements project.

The back is sheathed with 1/2" matched sheathing nailed to the floor and the back piece C. Al" square strip may be nailed to the under side of the top, and the sheathing also nailed to it, making a tight joint between top and back.

With strong castors - preferably the kind having a flat plate, and attach with three screws - the base is complete and ready for the cupboard, although it may be used without the latter for this do it yourself home improvements plan.

The general plan of the upper section, or cupboard, is shown in Fig. 1. The boards for the sides are 33" long, 12" wide and 7/8" thick; for the partition between the drawers and shelves, another piece 7/8" less in length. The top is 40" long, 13" wide and 7/8" thick; the bottom 37" long, 12" wide and 7/8" thick. The piece under the double closet on the upper left side is 26" long, 111/2" wide and 7/8" thick.

The two shelves back of the drop leaf are 26" long, 101/2" wide, and 3/4" or 7/8" thick. The three pieces over the drawers on the lower right side are 9§" long and 111/2" wide. The top, sides and bottom pieces should have 1/2" rabbets on the back to receive the sheathing. Careful nailing with wire nails will answer for this part of the cabinet.

The top projects 1" on each end and in front. The bottom piece of this do it yourself home improvements project, is fitted to |" rabbets in the bottom of the two side pieces. The upright partition is 9|" from the right side piece. The three pieces over the drawers on the right side are 41/2" apart. The crosspiece over the drop leaf is 21" above the bottom piece.

The shelves back of the drop leaf are 7" apart between centers, but may be otherwise spaced if preferred, giving more space to the lower ones. The drop leaf, which forms the molding board, is 26" long and 21" wide. This will probably have to be made up by gluing, with 2" clamps on each end, which should be tongued and grooved. A 2" strip may be nailed on top of the lower edge, that flour will not be spilled into the cupboard back of it. The doors of the upper left cupboard of this do it yourself home improvements project, are each 12" wide and 12|" high, the frame for them being 21/2" wide, with grooving §" deep on the inside for the panels, which are 7f" by 8", and 1/4" thick. This makes the upright pieces 123/8" long, and the crosspieces 73/4 long, allowing §" on each end of the latter for the tenons for this do it yourself home improvements plan.

A piece 2" wide divides the two doors. The door to the cupboard on the upper right side is 19" high and 93/8" wide; the side pieces for the frame being 19" long and 2" wide, and the top and bottom pieces 61/8" long and 21/2" wide, allowing \" on each end for tenons, with grooving 3/8" deep on the inside of each piece for the panel, which is 15f " by 614/8".

The three drawers on the lower right side are 93/8" wide, 41/2" deep and 10" long of this do it yourself home improvements project.

"Do it yourself home improvements - making a kitchen cabinet" Back to Woodworking Projects