Making a cupboard/bookcase

[jsb]

Hi,

I've done a bit of woodwork in the past and now need to make a built-in bookcase/cupboard with some drawers. I don't have a huge amount of spare time/patience/skill/tools so was hoping to buy in some parts, e.g. ready made dovetailed wooden drawer boxes, and perhaps have the raised and fielded panels made too (solid American white oak). I've tried to find sources of these but can only find US suppliers of drawer boxes, can anyone suggest any UK sources?

Also, I'm looking at using butt hinges into veneered MDF for some parts of the project, how can I secure the hinges to the MDF properly? "Normal" screws tend to work loose or pull out in my attempts in the past?

Thank you

Jonathan

 

[MikeG.]

Jonathon,

I suspect you are on a bit of a loser here.......

Most members of the forum would be making their own drawers and doors. The only pre-made raised-panel doors I know of are either pine from B&Q, or kitchen doors from specialist kitchen suppliers. I have never heard of pre-made drawers. Even if someone else has, they are going to need an idea of sizes from you.

Finally, you will never successfully screw into the end-grain of MDF. The normal approach would be to put a lipping or frame around the whole thing in solid timber, and screw your hinges to that.

Sorry I can't help more

Mike

 

[Wanlock Dod]

I have a feeling that woodfit do drawers

 

[DaveL]

Hi Jonathan,

Welcome to the forum.

As Mike said most of us would make our own, you may be able to tap in to this :-k update your profile with an idea of where you are and then see if there is anyone who is close who has a bit of 'spare' time and a short 'tuit' list who could help you out.

Well it could be worth a try. :roll:

 

[krismusic]

Regarding the hinges into MDF, I have had good results putting dowels in where the screws are going to go. Spax do screws specifically for MDF that do not split the material but I have never used them for hinges. Could be worth an experiment though.

 

[hpl]

Hi Jonathan
PWS sell oak dovetailed draw boxes in appropriate standard sizes for kitchen cupboards. This company www.chimerakitchens.co.uk sell their products but I can't see the oak drawers on there. Could be worth a phone call though. Other thing is to try a local kitchen company who buys from PWS, or ring PWS www.PWS.co.uk and ask for a local supplier.

Can't help on the Butt Hinges issue

Johnny B

 

[big soft moose]

depemding on how large you need you can get small dovetailed pine boxes in B&Q et al - these arent intended specfically for drawers but could be adapted. - another thought is whether you really need drawers - would cubby holes fit the bill instead.

re the butt hinge issue i tend to agree with mike - lipping the mdf with hard wood and screwing the hinges to that seems like the best way to go.

 

[jsb]

Thanks for all the advice.

I intend for some of the drawers to be used as filing drawers so will be quite large. I did find a website months ago called cantydesigns that did drawer boxes but the website seems to have gone now.

Does the lipping for the mdf need to be the same depth as the screws used? If so, is 1" sufficient?

I've updated my profile so show we're in South Bucks near the M40/M25 interchange, so if anyone's interested in making some drawer boxes and raised and fielded doors let me know! Alternatively making the whole thing if my wife gets her way!

Thanks

Jonathan