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How To Build Modern Kitchen Cabinets
If plywood paneling 3/4" thick is obtainable, it can be used to advantage for the various wide panels that are required for the doors, sides, top, bottom and shelves. If plywood cannot be obtained, then solid stock, either pine or poplar, may be used. In this case, the wide panels are made up by gluing together several narrow widths of stock.
Tongue-and-groove joints are suitable for panel construction, or jointed edges produced by special cutters as were shown in the construction sketches which accompanied the sink unit in the first article of this series, may be used when joining together these pieces. Should the panels be of the glued-up type, it is best to make them slightly larger than called for in the bill of materials; after the glue has set and the clamps have been removed, the panels can be squared to the specified sizes. As each piece is cut, the key letter should be written on it for future identification when time comes for assembly.
Side Panels Are the First Members to Be Made. Construction of the cabinet should be started with the two side members (A). The bottom (C) and the partition (B) which separates the upper and lower compartments are set into dadoes cut in the side members. The dadoes are 3/4" wide and 3/8" deep. A dado head of this width set up in the bench saw provides a quick means of cutting these dadoes. The locations of the dadoes are shown in Fig. 5. In order to accommodate the top (U) a rabbet must be cut in the upper end of each side member. This rabbet should be 3/4" wide and 3/8" deep. The back panel (D) will set into a rabbet cut along the back edge of each side member. The rabbet to take this panel should be 1/4" x 3/8''. The shelves for the upper and lower compartments are to be supported by pins that are set into holes bored in the inside face of the side members. Section B-B in Fig. 1 shows the locations of these holes. They should be made 5/16" in diameter and be bored to a depth of 1/2". After the holes have been bored in the side panels, assembly of the carcase can begin. The top (U), bottom (C) and partition (B) can be joined to the side members. Glue should be applied to the dadoes and rabbets as well as to the ends of the cross members that are to be set in the dadoes and rabbets. Clamps should be applied to hold these members together while the glue is given time to set. The back panel is set in place and is then fastened to the side members as well as to the back edges of the top, bottom and partition members with 1" nails.
