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Hello,
I am planning to build a filing cabinet, adapted from the plans provided by 3x3 Custom. While I have a decent assortment of saws and clamps, I do not currently have things like joinery jigs / tools, and wish to avoid purchasing them for the time being. As well, i'm trying to avoid buying 1/4 ply just for drawer bottoms.
Goal is to have 2 drawers which will hold legal sized filing folders using rails (rails made of PVC and have been purchased). I will put this on locking casters.
Carcass is to be paint grade. Currently intended to get Sanded Aspen Plywood, as I am going to be getting materials at the Orange Store. Birch would be nice but $$$ and not at Orange where I am.
Drawer fronts maybe a hardwood, depends on my budget and how spendy i wanna be. Also if I can make it out to a real lumber yard and get better wood cheaper then HD sells it. I'd like to do them in oak with a natural looking finish.
If someone wants to review and poke holes / ask questions / provide betters ways of doing this i would appreciate it!
Thanks in Advance!
My plan is as follows:
Desired interior dimensions
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Height 23 1/4"
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Width 17 1/2"
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Depth 18 1/4"
Carcass will be assembled using rabbets to connect top and bottom to the sides, and rabbet for the back. As such the the top and bottom will be rabbeted on 3 edges, and the side pieces will be rabbeted on the back end. Rabbet depth is to be 3/8". Rabbet width will be 3/4" on the top and bottom "side edges" and all back edges with had a width of 1/2".
Rabbets will be cut on table saw using a normal blade, sneaking up on desired width.
Due to rabbeting Exterior dimensions are as follows:
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Height 24 3/4"
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Width 19"
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Depth 18 3/4"
Assembly of carcass would consist of attaching all sides using rabbets + glue + clamps + brads. Once assembled the true size of the back piece will be measured and then cut to fit. Attached into place using glue and brads.
Carcass will prepared for paint using filled on all exposed ply edges, and sanded smooth. 2 coats primer then paint. Suggestions on a nice, hopefully not too expensive paint to use? I will be applying it by hand, either with a foam roller or a brush. I can get about 20% off Benny Moore paint so that can be nice...
Drawers will be assembled using ... something other then pocket screws (I'd rather not buy the jig right yet). I will use 1/2 ply for the drawers, including the bottoms, as I do not want to purchase 1/4 just to make bottoms. Suggestions on construction? Plenty of Youtube on this subject so i was just going to pick something simple....
The 3x3 custom video has a nice method for installing the drawers which I intend to follow. Spacing will be 1/2" from bottom of carcass to bottom of first drawer, then 1 3/8 spacing between drawers and 1 3/8 between top drawer and top of carcass, to ensure room for files to stick up a bit.
Faces will be cut to fit, need to review spacing between faces and cabinet edges / each other but iirc it was 1/8.
Cutlist
| Material | Description | Dim 1 | Dim 2 | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4 Ply | Carcass Sides | 24" | 18 3/4" | 2 |
| 3/4 Ply | Carcass Top and Bottom | 19" | 18 3/4" | 2 |
| 1/2 Ply | Carcass Back* | 18 1/4" | 23 1/2" | 1 |
| 1/2 Ply | Drawer Sides | 17" | 10" | 2 |
| 1/2 Ply | Drawer Front and Back* | 15 1/2" | 10" | 4 |
| 1/2 Ply | Drawer Bottom* | 16" | 16 1/2" | 4 |
| 3/4 Ply or Hardwood | Drawer Faces* | 17 1/4" | 11 1/2" | 2 |
| * Cut to fit based on real measurements, presumed measurements given |