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How To Build Modern Kitchen Cabinets
Construction of the cabinet is started with the side members (A). A study of the details in Figs. 5 and 9 will show the various cuts that must be made in these two members. First a 1/4" x 3/8" rabbet is cut along the back edge on the inside face of each side member to take the 1/4" back panel. The top rail (L) and drawer runner supports (P) are set into gains rut on the inside face beyond the rabbet. The size and location of these gains can be seen in Fig. 5. The bottom (C) is housed into a dado cut across the inside face of the side members. This dado is 3/4" wide, 3/8" deep and is located 33/4" from the lower end of the side piece. Fig. 9 shows the lower outside corner of side piece (A) along with the bottom rail (B) and the filler (T). The notch cut in the side member to provide toe space is laid out and cut according to dimensions given in this detail. A 3/8" x 3/8" groove is cut on the inside face of the side member into which a tongue cut on the end of the bottom rail is to set. This work completes all cutting of the side members. They should be set aside along with the top rail (L), drawer runner supports (P), bottom (C), back (D) and filler (T). The bottom rail (B) should have a 3/8" x 3/8" tongue cut on each end as shown in Fig. 9 to fit the groove in the side member.
The front frame is made up of two stiles (E), a top rail (F), two intermediate rails (G) and bottom rail (H). All of these rails are joined to the stiles by means of mortise and tenon joints as shown in Fig. 6. All the mortises are 3/8" wide and are cut to a depth of 11/8". The detail sketch shows the length of each mortise as well as its location on the edge of the stile. Use a hollow mortising attachment on the drill press for this work if available. After the mortises have been cut, tenons are cut on the ends of each rail to fit their respective mortises. All of the tenons are 3/8 thick and 1" long. The widths are the only dimensions that vary. Fig. 6 shows the width of each rail.
After the rails have been fitted to the mortises, the front frame is now ready for assembling. Glue is spread over the surfaces of all mortises and tenons and the rails are set into the stiles. The second stile is then placed over the tenons on the other end of the rails. Bar clamps should he applied across the frame at each rail.
