How to attach the back of a small wall cabinet
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- This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 7 months ago by kevinjames.
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6 September 2016 at 11:49 pm #139960
I am going to be building a small wall cabinet, and I’m not quite sure how to attach a solid wood back. I don’t want to be able to see the edges, so it’s going to have to be set back in the carcass slightly. Any advice on how to go about that? I was thinking I would have to rebate the back edges of the main carcass to accept the back, but it doesn’t seem like there would be much wood left to nail into. Any advice would be helpful.
Kevin
Kevin,
How thick are the top, sides and bottom of the piece. This will determine the size of the rabbet.
You really only need to leave 1/8″ or so on the outside to cover the back panel. The rest can be part of the rabbet to hold the back in place. If you are using solid wood for the back, remember wood movement will be a crucial consideration when you attach the back.Good luck with your project,
Dan- This reply was modified 7 years, 7 months ago by Dan Roper.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 7 months ago by Dan Roper.
Is it only the end grain you don’t want to see or even long grain?
If you don’t want to see the end grain of the back panel then a mortise and tenon frame would fix that. Just like making a door but instead of plywood put a laminated solid piece in there.
If you dont want to see the end grain nor the long grain, that would indeed be something you need to put in a rebate. Not knowing the sizes and thickness of your material I can’t comment on nailing it in.
7 September 2016 at 1:14 am #139968The main body will be 3/4 inch stock. I think I’d like to make the back 1/2 inch thick. I don’t think it’s probably necessary for it to be thicker, right?
Now that I think about it, there’s really no reason to try and hide the end grain sides of the back. Being at the top and bottom, it will probably not be seen while hanging on the wall.
So I could make the top and bottom of the carcass about a 1/2 inch narrower than the sides, and run the back full length. A rebate along the sides should hide the edges of the back.
Any particular way I should, or should not, attach the back after this is done? I’m thinking screws or nails along the perimeter. Would expansion or contraction hurt the frame if it’s fixed in that manner?
It’s hard to find anything online as a reference that isn’t simply nailing plywood to the back of a cheaply made set of cabinets, so I appreciate all your input.
Thanks again, Kevin.
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