David's Kitchen part four... (w/pics)

Nice work and nice documentation as always David. One question though. Why do you use lock rabbet joints (my new favorite joint) for the drawer front, but not the back? Is it simply because you want the front at the end of the box and the back can be inset?

SteveP.

Very nice Dave. When do you plan to move the kitchen out of the living room and back into the kitchen? I remember redoing our kitchen years ago. I was still working my regular job and only worked on the new kitchen cabinets on weekends. 18 months later the task was completed. We ended up with a kitchen twice as big and it was well worth the time involved.

Typically the front of a drawer carries the load and has more stress from being opened and shut. A better joint is call for. The back only has to keep the contents from sliding out of the back of the drawer. Additionally you seldom see the joint on the back side so a fancy joint would be wasted for appearance sake.

Additionally

My recently deceased BIL left SWMBO what is apparently an older Drexel chest of drawers and bedside table. While carting them up the spare bedroom last weekend I noticed that all the drawers had through dovetails on all four corners ... machined, but still not all that bad.

While the quality was not up to what even a newbie wooddorker would produce, I was a teensy bit impressed by the thought, if not the execution.

Betcha they don't do that anymore?

Typically I see sliding dove tails on the front and stapled dado's on the back and the silly drawers are only about 12-14 inches deep. I usually DT both ends as I am set up for the operation anyway and it is a prize for those that discover and appreciat that kind of detail. What eats me is seeing drawers on Blind DT's and the manufacturer does not even bother to sand the joint smooth. A DT does more than add strength, it should show the pride you take in you work.

Really well done, David. Where do you buy melamine paint? What brand is it? (Nice machining on those drawers, BTW.)

Bob the Tomato

No, idea really. Lock front and back would have been easier, one less set up. I guess I like the look?

David.

Any paint store should have it. It is supposed to be the most durable oil paint.

David.

I hope to move the cabinets from my folks living room to our place in a week or two. Shop elf is off to see family in Croatia for Christmas and I hope to have it done by the time she gets back. Likely wishful thinking....

My folks kitchen took over two years. Only the best materials and joinery were used. My house is a tad more modest. I am just tuning it up for sale in the spring.

David.

David, this all looks real nice. Questions for you about the paint. What is the exact brand that you used? What resemblance does it bear to the standard laminate white cabinets that one would get from a cabinet shop? Thanks.