Scribing in to an alcove

[matt]

OK, here's the problem... I have a carcass and face frame cabinet that is due to be fitted in an alcove. The face frame extends about 3cm on either side. It will sit on a levelled plinth. For arguments sake lets describe this as fitting in the left alcove next to a fire breast and the face of the cabinet will eventually be recessed back about 1cm from the face of the fire breast.

When it comes to fitting I will scribe the left side by positioning the cabinet as near as possible to final position on that side (but it will stick out by about 2.5cm on the other side (the thickness of the face frame which will not get past the face of the fire breast until trimmed)).

Now... having scribed the left side I need to find a way of scribing the face of the right hand side of the face frame but the fire breast vertical that I need to scribe to is obscured by the cabinet/face frame...

I've started knocking together a perspex and wood scribing tool what will extend round from the back of the face frame, allowing me to track the wall whilst pencilling a mark on the front of the face frame.

Just wondered if I'm being naive and missing a simpler and/or more accurate way of doing this?

 

[trousers]

If the frame is already attached to the carcase then doh.
Make up a dummy frame and scribe that in, then transfer to the real one.

 

[BradNaylor]

Template it.

Buy a sheet of hardboard from B&Q, stiffen it with battens if necessary, and scribe that to the alcove. Have someone hold it while you stand in the alcove and run a pencil line up the edge of the chimney breast onto the hardboard.

Cut with a jigsaw, check and adjust, and then transfer to the cabinet.

Cheers
Dan

 

[JonnyD]

I would do it a similar way to Dan. I usually scribe one side of the alcove onto the hardboard and get this to fit properly. I then get another sheet of hardboard for the other side which overlaps the first template and scribe to the other wall. where the two templates overlap just pop in a few screws to hold them together.

You can now use the template to transfer the alscove shape onto the face frame and then plane or jigsaw the cabinet to fit.

Jon

 

[custard]

I would do it a similar way to Dan. I usually scribe one side of the alcove onto the hardboard and get this to fit properly. I then get another sheet of hardboard for the other side which overlaps the first template and scribe to the other wall. where the two templates overlap just pop in a few screws to hold them together.

You can now use the template to transfer the alscove shape onto the face frame and then plane or jigsaw the cabinet to fit.

Jon

That's basically the way I do it when fitting out a boat, sometimes with a third "depth" template scribed to the hull shape.

 

[trousers]

errrr yes but using my method he doesn't have to spend money getting to b@poo and buying sheets of hardboard. Just use some offcuts from the carcase construction and make a frame, scribe, transfer, done.

 

[matt]

Hmmm... Face frame is fixed to the front of the cabinet but has not been glued yet - just pocket holed.

My only slight concern about using the frame versus a board template is the potential for a frame to be slightly "out" in relation to the carcass. Mine is spot on so not a problem in this instance.

Thanks for the suggestions.