I do kitchen cabinetry, design and assemble and install, but I leave the “build” part to my component suppliers.
I say “components” because rather than buying cabinets complete from a shop or manufacturer, I buy them knocked down. Carcases come as a collection of parts, tops, backs, cleats, etc., and the rest of the parts come with the package. It is like a huge kit.
Here is my Sketchup image of one that shipped today, and will deliver by about Tuesday. Ignore the big two-foot void in the island group of basecabs . . . the hole gets a wine fridge . . . and ignore the missing wainscot back panel. It’ll be there when I’m done.
At 2163 pounds total shipping weight, coming in one skidded crate and three pallets, it will be dropped off at the front door of the condo where I’ll do the work of assembly and installation.
I work with actual room dimensions, plus window sizes and locations, water, gas, and electric stuff, and come up with a “box plan” as shown in the model. It’s enough to give me all the dimensions to give to my supplier.
See the island end panels in the model? That is the topic at hand here that I’ll discuss in the next post.
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This whole kitchen has its fronts done in CVG doug fir, with flat beaded panels for doors and panels. It's part of a seven-unit condo project, and the owner wants the kitchen finishes all the same. Here's the look, as seen on some uppers from the second kitchen, completed a couple months ago.
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The island end panels are made pretty much as can be seen in this SU screen cap pic. Stile and rail delineation in the model is incorrect, but you can get the idea of what is going on.
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Makeup is a stile-and-rail-with-panels outside face, married up with end cap verticals, narrow and wide inside returns, and top and bottom filler/spacers. The whole thing is one big glue-up, and the cabs that adjoin the end panels screw-fix to them through the cab carcase sides.
Here is the issue. I want to switch the source for the end panel, but I cannot find someone to sell them to me, fully assembled and finished. I can, however, buy all the parts (panel, caps, returns, spacers) all precision-made and prefinished.
It is not an issue with this kitchen that's enroute. The end panels are already-made subassemblies. It is future work of which I am thinking, if I switch sources and cannot get the panels fully made.
Other than owning some nice bristle brushes and some dropcloths, I've no capability for finishing, and furthermore, I could not hope to match the quality of the finish I can buy on these, which come from one of the well-known makers of cab doors, drawerfronts, and other components.
The question is about assembly, using the prefinished parts. What would you do to ensure good glueline joinery between the endcap parts and the parts to which they mate?
Edited 7/12/2007 8:18 pm ET by Gene_Davis
Gene, if you don't get help here soon, you might try the Breaktime forum (Fine Homebuilding). Also, it took awhile to realize you had a question, LOL. Neat stuff!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
It sounds like you're the installer, and not the maker. I didn't read it all. I scrolled to the bottom to see if there was an actual question, which there finally was.
Most of the cabinet guys here make and finish their own work, so for us, it's not an issue. Forestgirl mentioned breaktime, and there are quite a few talented kitchen contractor's over there that might be able to help you.
If it were my problem, I'd use System 3 epoxy, and leave it clamped overnight. If speed is of the almighty essence, then that solution won't work.
Hope you get your answer.
Jeff
Jeff, I am the installer. You are correct. But I am also the one driving the boat on these kitchen cabinet projects.
I sell them to the client, then design, source and purchase everything right down to the last shelf pin, install, and collect the final check.
Since I started this thread, I have mulled things over.
Here is how I might solve this issue. My supplier of finished components can furnish the island panel parts with a little 1/16" R. on corners, as shown. They can also mask most all the sides and edges of parts where I specify so enough bare wood is there for glue purchase. I can biscuit as required, join up and clamp with protective cauls, and voila! a totally prefinished island end panel.
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The little edge ease will be barely visible in the much larger pallette of the entire kitchen composition, and will mask whatever minor bit of "non-flushness" there might be in the joints.
For attatching the end panels I would use a Polyurethane construction adhesive. It is tacky and bridges gaps well.Pardon my spelling,
Mike
Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.
Gene
Glad to have you around. You might get more helpful advice over at breaktime, as those fella's are more in line with the work you do. Here at the Knots, most of the time, we're woodworkers discussing the "how to's" of the actual construction of cabinets and furniture, and doing it ourselves. Most guys here don't buy the chair parts from someone else, and then assemble them. We like to construct the pieces. Breaktime may be more suited to your line of work, as far as the Q & A goes, although I'm still not sure if there was any Q in there.
Welcome to the Knots.
Jeff
One word. Robots.
Expert since 10 am.
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