Stereo cabinet door

[dnoyeB]

Let me start out by saying I don't know WTH I'm doing. That being said, I'm not stopping now.

Still building my in-wall stereo cabinet. It seems a mix between cabinetry and carpentry. I can't quite find out how to make this thing. I created a box, then mounted into a hole in the wall.

I dont know if I should have put a "stile" on it before I put it into the hole, or if I should put a frame around it covering the hole and mount the door to the frame. I just confused myself. I started mimicking a door by undersizing the box and using shims to put it into place. making the box edges flush with the drywall cutout. the cutout is framed in 2x4s. But then I wanted the glass door and am not sure what to do.

I guess I should continue down the door-style path. That means Ill mount a frame/border around the perimeter of the box. Then Ill put a door into the front of the box that will be flush with the frame like a door, instead of on top of the frame like a cabinet.

But what about the 2 drawers on the bottom?? How can I have flush-with-frame drawers? The box has a partition in it that seperates the top part from the part that will house 2 drawers. But there is nothing between each drawer space. if the door is within the frame, then the drawers will have to be also. But I cant see how that will work. Do I mount a cross piece within the box, or on the surface of the box butting against the frame?

OMG what have I done? I have 3 books been reading over the last month but just couldn't find anything detailing exactly what I'm doing here. Im painting myself into a corner appearantly.

Did I mention I forgot to mount the back of the box before I put it into the hole, and there is only 2" clearance between back of box and wall. :(

It does not have to be a pristine thing of beauty. It just has to not bring down the things around it. Honestly, I need some tips because none of the books I read are giving me clues as to an in-wall cabinet and drawers.

[Josh]

How about if you build a faceframe that goes over the whole thing which includes a stile between the two drawers?

Then you can mount your door right to the face frame (fit it BEFORE you attach the faceframe to the cabinet), and the frame will cover up the junction between carcase and drywall. Then you'll have to figure out how to mount drawer slides.

In case the obvious hasn't dawned on you already: on projects such as these you really ought to do all the doors, drawers, hinges, slides, etc. before installing the cabinet in the wall.

If you have some way of taking a picture of your "dilemma" we might be able to provide more guidance.

Josh

[dnoyeB]

Hmm. That does not sound too bad. So just make a faceframe like so

_______ | | | | | | | | |_______| | | |_______| | | |_______|

That seems doable. Something was confusing me, I can't seem to understand what I was confused about.

yea I know. Ill have to sit down and plan it all out next time. I can see a simple job like this taking about 2 hours of planning. but I had better do it.

Well I spent my camera money on a 10" Dewalt Miter. Its all I can do to hold back from the Amazon clamp deal. And Rocker has a deal on 4 clamps too.

Thanks a lot. I was panicking a bit. Maybe I needed to eat as I can't see why this simple idea didnt hit me.

[Mike O.]

Have you considered using just a glass door above with no wood frame around the glass? That way you don't have to match your drawers to the look you have in the opening above. You could still put your wood frame around the box but your drawers could be either overlay or flush or whatever is easier for you to do.

We built a similar cabinet with rails and stiles. The upper opening had a glass door (no wood around the glass) then one overlay drawer below and then an overlay door below that. We actually duplicated this cabinet on either side of the TV opening. If I can get my mail reader to do it, I'll try to post a picture of it over in ABPW.

Mike O.

[dnoyeB]

I considered simple glass door. but Since I didnt see any examples of it being done this way, i strayed away from it. I dont know enough to strike out on my own like that. Scared there may be something unforseen. Of course at this point...

Thanks, Ill take a look over there.

[Mike O.]

If you want an overlay door (or flush door) to match your drawers below, either type could be used on the upper opening of that unit.

Mike O.