NP

Nate Perkins

02/11/2005 6:50 AM

Hardware for joining two-piece cabinets

Hi,

I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
so that it can be transported easier if need be.

I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I suppose
I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect there
is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?

I Googled here and also checked the Lee Valley website, but didn't see what
I was after. Anyone else have a suggestion where to obtain this kind of
thing?

Thanks in advance,
Nate


This topic has 5 replies

NP

Nate Perkins

in reply to Nate Perkins on 02/11/2005 6:50 AM

03/11/2005 2:25 PM

"booger" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> One of the oldest approaches is to leave a rectangular opening in the
> top of the lower cabinet, place the upper half on top of it and get it
> aligned where you want it to sit. Use a pencil/pen to trace the
> opening in the top of the lower cabinet onto the bottom of the upper
> half. Remove the upper half and using plywood/boards, create a
> rectangle inside the lines you just marked. When you place the upper
> part back on, the two pieces will stay aligned. This is where you
> would take a handful of good screws and secure the top half by running
> them through the top of the lower section into the bottom of your
> upper cabinet.
>
> Norm did this, just this past weekend on an Armoir/Entertainment
> center. So you know it has to work. ;-)


Hi folks,

Thanks for all the replies. You've given me some good ideas.

Thanks,
Nate

bc

"booger"

in reply to Nate Perkins on 02/11/2005 6:50 AM

02/11/2005 4:29 PM

One of the oldest approaches is to leave a rectangular opening in the top of
the lower cabinet, place the upper half on top of it and get it aligned
where you want it to sit. Use a pencil/pen to trace the opening in the top
of the lower cabinet onto the bottom of the upper half. Remove the upper
half and using plywood/boards, create a rectangle inside the lines you just
marked. When you place the upper part back on, the two pieces will stay
aligned. This is where you would take a handful of good screws and secure
the top half by running them through the top of the lower section into the
bottom of your upper cabinet.

Norm did this, just this past weekend on an Armoir/Entertainment center. So
you know it has to work. ;-)




"Nate Perkins" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
> bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
> in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
> so that it can be transported easier if need be.
>
> I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I
> suppose
> I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect
> there
> is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
> metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?
>
> I Googled here and also checked the Lee Valley website, but didn't see
> what
> I was after. Anyone else have a suggestion where to obtain this kind of
> thing?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Nate

nn

nospambob

in reply to Nate Perkins on 02/11/2005 6:50 AM

02/11/2005 7:52 AM

Armoire made for daughter is 2.5'X3.5'X7' and held together with
carriage bolts and nuts. Didn't think of knock down hardware at the
time.

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 06:50:42 GMT, Nate Perkins
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
>bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
>in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
>so that it can be transported easier if need be.
>
>I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I suppose
>I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect there
>is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
>metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?
>
>I Googled here and also checked the Lee Valley website, but didn't see what
>I was after. Anyone else have a suggestion where to obtain this kind of
>thing?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Nate

LJ

Larry Jaques

in reply to Nate Perkins on 02/11/2005 6:50 AM

02/11/2005 4:57 AM

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 06:50:42 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Nate
Perkins <[email protected]> quickly quoth:

>Hi,
>
>I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
>bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
>in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
>so that it can be transported easier if need be.
>
>I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I suppose
>I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect there
>is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
>metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?

I've seen pieces simply stacked together, screwed together from the
inside of the bottom piece with inserts in the top, linked via metal
straps on the back, and pinned with rounded dowels. One was glued
together, EEK!

Straps are the easiest. They simply keep the backs aligned and keep
the top piece from sliding to one side or tipping forward. Simple ell
brackets will work.


--
Our ToolyRoo(tm) and Possum(tm) Handy Pouch Samples now available!
Never misplace your portable power tool accessories again!
http://diversify.com/handypouches.html

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Nate Perkins on 02/11/2005 6:50 AM

04/11/2005 8:15 PM

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 06:50:42 GMT, Nate Perkins <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
>bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
>in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
>so that it can be transported easier if need be.
>
>I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I suppose
>I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect there
>is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
>metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?
>
>I Googled here and also checked the Lee Valley website, but didn't see what
>I was after. Anyone else have a suggestion where to obtain this kind of
>thing?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Nate

Saw an article or piece in a book some time back where the cabinet maker
used a sliding dovetail arrangement to hold top and bottom together. The
top of the cabinet had a pair of dovetail pins attached to it, the bottom
base had dove-tail sockets cut in it to receive the top. I've been
keeping this approach in mind for the future china hutch. These were
fairly wide and deep in order to provide good stability and strength.


+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

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