Replies

1. 
   chauncey | May 15, 2006 04:22pm | #1

   Are your backs square, because generally that's what pulls the cabinet into square.  Also there are numerous jigs and fixtures that maintain squareness (is that a word) during a glue-up.  If your using a crosscut sled, it should be dead bang perfect.

1. 
   scott57 | May 15, 2006 04:29pm | #2

   So are you saying you go ahead and cut the back and attach it to the cabinet before you clamp the cabinet together?

   Thanks

   Scott

2. 
   ring | May 15, 2006 04:41pm | #3

   Scott,

   First of all check your tablesaw with a good machinist's square to be sure it's cutting 90° exactly.  If it's slightly off then the cabinets will skew when you clamp them up.

   Secondly, you can use your bar clamps to apply pressure as needed to keep the carcase square during glue-up.  Check for square while the glue has not yet set, and skew a clamp or two on purpose to counteract any off-square tendency.

   If the first 2 are OK, any minor problem will be fixed by attaching the back afterwards.

   DR

3. 
   BG | May 15, 2006 05:20pm | #4

   Scott57,

   I like to eliminate risk of being out of square and also being cockeyed. I use the cross cut sled, fense and table saw...with the carcas upside down on the table saw. Clamping the work to the fenses of the cross cut and the table saw..its gotta be square(assuming the corss cut sled is square to the TS fense) and because its on your most reliable flat surface( the TS) it can't be cockeyed either.  

   Also, I'll tack the back in place for glue up and then remove for finishing.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/15/2006 10:23 am ET by BG

1. 
   scott57 | May 16, 2006 12:53am | #5

   Thanks for the suggestions guys.  I guess I need to double check my cabinet pieces first and make sure they are square and use these other tips for the glue-up and go from there.

   Thanks,

   Scott

    

    

1. 
   DougU | May 16, 2006 01:21am | #6

   Scott

   Just to add a few more tips to make sure everything stays square.

   While I'm cutting out my parts, especially duplicate parts, turn one 180° and check to see that they match up.

   Its a simple thing to do as you progress along.

   When I cut my backs out I make sure to check each one for square, if that's off then its difficult for the box to be right.

   Doug

    

4. 
   SoarThumb | May 16, 2006 10:24pm | #7

   To add to the above and assuming your pieces are square, once you have all sides glued up, measure the length of both diagonals to make sure they are equal.

   If not the carcass is out of square and you can remedy by putting a clamp on the longest diagonal, pulling the case back into square.

    

    

    

1. 
   scott57 | May 16, 2006 10:36pm | #8

   That's a good thought.  Someone else had told me to skew the clamps to bring it to square, but I was not sure which way or where to clamp it.

   Thanks

   Scott

5. 
   PeteBradley | May 17, 2006 02:52am | #9

   I glue up table frames (legs and aprons) on a very simple jig. I screw an "L" shape made of two straight 1X4s down to a flat MDF sheet. The L is set perfectly square. This allows you to set 3 corners perfectly flat and square, so the 4th should fall into line. You might be able to adapt this approach for your cabinets.

   Pete

6. 
   hammer1 | May 17, 2006 05:41am | #10

   If all of your parts are straight and square, they usually go together square. If you are assembling the ends and partitions to the bottoms, corner brackets make it much easier. I see where they are selling manufactured ones in plastic or metal. I made a bunch years ago out of plywood. A couple of C or F clamps hold your pieces temporarily. I have a picture of a couple along with some other shop made jigs. They are behind the laminate roller. I wouldn't want to be without them. Also. make sure the square or squares you are using to check your stock are actually square and you are indexing them correctly. Overall dimensions on the cabinet should be the same top and bottom, front and back.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

   
1. 
   scott57 | May 17, 2006 03:33pm | #11

   Great tips guys.

   Thanks