Carlneedshelp
Member
Hi guys
I've been doing some research on building wardrobes and google led me to this forum where I've seen lots of knowledgable people providing good advice and I'm hoping I can tap into it.
Long story short, expecting a baby in a couple of months and need to get organised. I wanted to get someone in but the wife overruled me when we got the quotes in. So, I'm now stuck with the job. Anyway, I've cracked on and when not doing it I've read the forum and discovered that I am doing it differently.
What I have done is used 34mmx34mm to build a frame 2 sides and a back. I've fitted this to the wall and checked that it is straight using wedges in parts where the wall isn't straight. I've then built a base that fits snugly in the space between the frame and ensured this is level using feet when necessary and screwed this to the skirting board on all 3 sides. So far everything seems good except one side of the frame narrows from 118cm at the bottom to 117.5cm at the top but I'm not worried about that as there is enough flexibility in the frame for the carcass to correct that when I put it in. Am I correct in thinking this is okay, or am I in for a shock later?
My next step is to do the carcass and I don't want to cock it up because the wood is going to cost about £500 to have cut. The wardrobes will have 3 sections, shelving to the right, double hanging on the left and a box on top for extra storage. I plan to make each section separately and then put them on the base inside the frame and attach them to the sides. I'm going to be using Egger MFC for the carcass and as I don't have any fancy carpentry skills I am planning to use dowels and some knock down cams like most flat packs use. I'm hoping this will provide a nice neat tight fit. However, what should I use for fitting the cams, is it a normal drill bit or is there a special thing that I should be using. Also, do any of you have any special techniques for ensuring dowel holes match perfectly on each piece of wood, especially the ones that have to meet the knockdown cam perfectly?
The face I plan to do in 22mm MDF. The alcoves are 21cm deep so the frame sticks out an extra 36.8cm. The carcass will line up with the frame and I plan to have the mdf cut 36.8cm so that the sides also line up. I'm lucky that the walls either side of the alcove are straight so any gap will be minor and decorators caulk will sort that. The front face will have 4 doors but I'd like a frame around these so that there is frame at the top, bottom and in between the bottom and top doors and on each side. I had planned to get side pieces cut at 74mm so that they covered the 22mm mdf side panel, the 34mm frame and the 18mm carcass. Is this right, or should I leave a few mm of carcass exposed for the door to sit against to avoid a visible gap into the wardrobe?
How would you guys fit the face on? Would you do it piece by piece, or build it first and then fix it in place? I want to keep any evidence of the joins on the face frame at a minimum.
Sorry for all the questions but I'd really like to do a nice job on this rather than an expensive bodge.
Cheers
I've been doing some research on building wardrobes and google led me to this forum where I've seen lots of knowledgable people providing good advice and I'm hoping I can tap into it.
Long story short, expecting a baby in a couple of months and need to get organised. I wanted to get someone in but the wife overruled me when we got the quotes in. So, I'm now stuck with the job. Anyway, I've cracked on and when not doing it I've read the forum and discovered that I am doing it differently.
What I have done is used 34mmx34mm to build a frame 2 sides and a back. I've fitted this to the wall and checked that it is straight using wedges in parts where the wall isn't straight. I've then built a base that fits snugly in the space between the frame and ensured this is level using feet when necessary and screwed this to the skirting board on all 3 sides. So far everything seems good except one side of the frame narrows from 118cm at the bottom to 117.5cm at the top but I'm not worried about that as there is enough flexibility in the frame for the carcass to correct that when I put it in. Am I correct in thinking this is okay, or am I in for a shock later?
My next step is to do the carcass and I don't want to cock it up because the wood is going to cost about £500 to have cut. The wardrobes will have 3 sections, shelving to the right, double hanging on the left and a box on top for extra storage. I plan to make each section separately and then put them on the base inside the frame and attach them to the sides. I'm going to be using Egger MFC for the carcass and as I don't have any fancy carpentry skills I am planning to use dowels and some knock down cams like most flat packs use. I'm hoping this will provide a nice neat tight fit. However, what should I use for fitting the cams, is it a normal drill bit or is there a special thing that I should be using. Also, do any of you have any special techniques for ensuring dowel holes match perfectly on each piece of wood, especially the ones that have to meet the knockdown cam perfectly?
The face I plan to do in 22mm MDF. The alcoves are 21cm deep so the frame sticks out an extra 36.8cm. The carcass will line up with the frame and I plan to have the mdf cut 36.8cm so that the sides also line up. I'm lucky that the walls either side of the alcove are straight so any gap will be minor and decorators caulk will sort that. The front face will have 4 doors but I'd like a frame around these so that there is frame at the top, bottom and in between the bottom and top doors and on each side. I had planned to get side pieces cut at 74mm so that they covered the 22mm mdf side panel, the 34mm frame and the 18mm carcass. Is this right, or should I leave a few mm of carcass exposed for the door to sit against to avoid a visible gap into the wardrobe?
How would you guys fit the face on? Would you do it piece by piece, or build it first and then fix it in place? I want to keep any evidence of the joins on the face frame at a minimum.
Sorry for all the questions but I'd really like to do a nice job on this rather than an expensive bodge.
Cheers