After finishing my first set of shop cabinets I ended up with a lot of scrap and still more stuff to organize, so I built this simple saw accessories cabinet. It's actually two separate cabinets, I figured if I ever want to rearrange things that could be useful.
This was the first project where I got to use my new Jessem doweling jig. Dowels work really well with finished plywood, since you don't have to cut rabbets or dadoes to make the glue work. Both carcasses are built using dowels, 5 per joint. The joints are spot on, the jig is extremely accurate. As long as you remember to reference off the correct face, it's pretty much fool proof. With 3/4" material, you're limited to just a 1/2" deep hole for each dowel, but that's plenty strong for a cabinet this size.
The face frames were built using pocket screws. It's very quick, but with narrow face frames there is only room for one pocket screw, which means the rails can twist out of alignment. Since you only have to drill one side of the joint, it's a very easy way of joining things, except that you need to cramp-clamp everything in place to avoid movement. I think that with a clamp table where you can secure each member things would go a lot smoother. I might integrate something like that in my assembly table (probably in 2014 or so, at my rate...)
The face frames were attached with face frame biscuits. This is also extremely quick, the hardest part is adjusting the fence on the biscuit joiner so that face frame and carcass line up. Since the face frame has an overhang, you can't reference the same side, so a little trial and error is involved.
All three methods have their pros and cons, so I don't think I'll be listing any "superfluous" tools in the Classifieds anytime soon. Now, about that Domino and Multi-router.... :gar-La;
This was the first project where I got to use my new Jessem doweling jig. Dowels work really well with finished plywood, since you don't have to cut rabbets or dadoes to make the glue work. Both carcasses are built using dowels, 5 per joint. The joints are spot on, the jig is extremely accurate. As long as you remember to reference off the correct face, it's pretty much fool proof. With 3/4" material, you're limited to just a 1/2" deep hole for each dowel, but that's plenty strong for a cabinet this size.
The face frames were built using pocket screws. It's very quick, but with narrow face frames there is only room for one pocket screw, which means the rails can twist out of alignment. Since you only have to drill one side of the joint, it's a very easy way of joining things, except that you need to cramp-clamp everything in place to avoid movement. I think that with a clamp table where you can secure each member things would go a lot smoother. I might integrate something like that in my assembly table (probably in 2014 or so, at my rate...)
The face frames were attached with face frame biscuits. This is also extremely quick, the hardest part is adjusting the fence on the biscuit joiner so that face frame and carcass line up. Since the face frame has an overhang, you can't reference the same side, so a little trial and error is involved.
All three methods have their pros and cons, so I don't think I'll be listing any "superfluous" tools in the Classifieds anytime soon. Now, about that Domino and Multi-router.... :gar-La;
