hello,
recently I’ve build a cabinet in which a fairly large backwall had to be installed. the cabinet back is 54 inches wide and 88 inches high. it is build in a frame of solid wood. the interior dimensions of the backwall are 47,5 wide by 52 high. the idea is to have a solid backwall with about 4 inch wide boards 1/2 inch thick. since there are no fixed shelves in which I could nail the boards I’m afraid that the width and height are that large that the boards wouldn’t be stable enough. could you give me a hand in:
1. how to make the connections between the individual boards and
2. how to install the boards in the back of the cabinet?
thanks a lot for a detailed answer.
Replies
Well I'm not exactly clear on what's going on here. When you say back wall, do you mean the back of the cabinet? Is there something below this back wall making it smaller than the "back". I'm trying to understand this picture.
My guess is that your 4" wide boards will comprise the back of the cabinet. I'd rout a tongue and groove joint between their edges to keep them in line and flat. Attach each board with a single nail or screw at the top and bottom ends of each. This will allow for movement and help keep them flat.
Alternatively, you could rabbet alternating faces of these boards so that any movement is hidden. This is less apt to keep boards flat if they want to move. You could also rout grooves in the edges of all your boards and put in a tongue. Glue it into one edge and let it float in the other. Chamfer the edges slightly and this will disguise any movement over time.
I would install the back boards into a rabbet cut into the back of the cabinet. Then, as I say, use a single centered fastener to hold them in tight. Good luck.
Gary Rogowski
http://www.northwestwoodworking.com
hello gary,
thanks for your answer. I think you've got the picture right. it's just the back of a cabintet in which the 4 inch boards have to fit in a frame. I was afraid due to the dimensions that the boards wouldn't be stable enough since there aren't any fixed shelves in between to nail the boards. and 1/2 inch thick boards are only 1/2 inch thick. I'll have a try, though I'm still in doubt. kind regards.
I think that if you go with a tongue and groove method for holding the boards in place that they should stay good and flat. One screw in the middle and a good sized tongue in between the boards will hold them well. Of course choosing rift or quarter sawn boards will also help the flatness issue over time. Good luck.Gary Rogowski
http://www.northwestwoodworking.com
ok, fine, I'll have a try and let you know in time, thanks again.
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