Replies

1. 
   Sgian_Dubh | Nov 04, 2000 03:55am | #1

   *
   Unusual question. Not because of the joinery you ask about, for that is one of a number of standard procedures to join timber at a corner, which suggests it's more than strong enough. What's intriguing is the form of the 'cabinet,' for the grain orientation you describe suggests something typical for a column type structure. Most cabinets have the long grain following the perimeter length, not running front to back as you describe, and boxes are usually similarly constructed- with the long grain following the perimeter length. A cabinet made as you propose will experience shrinkage and expansion side to side in the top and bottom, and shrinkage top to bottom in the sides, and insignificant movement front to back. This might make fitting doors, drawers, tambours, etc., er,......interesting shall we say. Sliante.

1. 
   DONALD_ | Nov 05, 2000 03:10am | #2

   *sorry....I meant to write END grain, not edge grain, so this cabinet would have the grain running in the usual way. Is a simple dado joint good enough here or does it need dovetailing of some kind ?

1. 
   Sgian_Dubh | Nov 05, 2000 03:46am | #3

   *Well, I have my main tool box made exactly as you describe with a glued tongue and groove in the corner. I'm sure you're describing a tongue and groove, but us Brits do sometimes use different terminology to Americans, which I assume you to be. My toolbox is still going strong after 20 years, and that thing gets wheeled all over the workshop- full of tools, thrown in the back of the van, moved from continent to continent, and so on. I think your proposed joinery technique should be adequate as long as the joints fit snugly. We can all get a bit precious about doing it 'right' sometimes, and I'm as guilty as the next in that department, but often doing it right is not necessary if you get my drift. In my case the tool box was a quickly thrown together thing; as I recall, about a day, or 1.5 days work with drawers, shelves, and doors out of pine and some 6 mm ply, plus wheels, some hardware, and a lock. I was tired of carrying my junk around in an an assortment of joiners bag for all to see, and help themselves to, and a quick box seemed to fit the bill. Sliante.