Among several other projects that I have slotted for this winter this one is a priority. I threw this together in 2011 when the previous metal medicine cabinet I had was too wide and not deep enough to store soap and paper towels. At the time I used some scrap MDF from cabinets I got from a closed Hollywood Video store. Yeah MNDF and water don't play well together. Nor did my doors do well, already had to fix twice so I have had enough screwing around.

 

Here is old cabinet:

 

 

Now we are using some plywood, nothing fancy just some scrap from the deck closet build. I edge banded the center piece because it will show. The rest is covered by the face frame so no need. The back is ¼ plywood also left over from another project. Once I had the cabinet assembled I dry fitted it to the back and routed around the unit to get a exact cut. Fits perfect, good just like it is supposed to. Laid out screw holes and dry fitted it again. Nice fit, all is good gave it a coat of poly last night before I closed shop for the night.  Did use my new Wood River block plane to chamfer the outer edges.  And my new to me Craftsmen Plane to do the face frame up nice.  

 

 

This evening I started in the doors. Friend gave me two pieces of nice 1x6x8 premium pine and they match well so I used them. Not sure what type of joint this is called, maybe lap joint? Either way I rarely use this type of joint and after watching @steven newman do all these dovetail joints, by hand. I decided I needed to up my game.  Did NOT do them by hand.  Broke out my tenon jig and got to work. Progress was slow, took my time and endeavored to get it spot on. It's okay, they fit tight enough I had to push them together with some effort. Plus they were square when I dry fitted. Will glue them up tomorrow and see how it works out. I graded the joint fit as a solid “B”, improvement can be made but for this shop project let's go with good enough.

 

 

Bridle Joint.....think as a horse's bridle....

 

very good, Grasshopper, we'll make a cabinet-maker out of you, yet.....

I love follow-alongs!

Nice joint work, Mom would be proud! . It's interesting to see the double tenon layout...hadn't actually seen that before.

Looks like a great start to me Gunny.

Turning out nice. The closest I can get to cabinets today is using Murphy oil soap on the cabinets. The 2 year olds finger prints are everywhere....

 

Samuari house ninja. ..." leave nothing untouched"

 

Edited January 11, 20206 yr by BillyJack

You don't see many...(if any!)...sturdier built cabinet door frames, Gunny. Great job!!!

28 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

You don't see many...(if any!)...sturdier built cabinet door frames, Gunny. Great job!!!

Yeah this was overkill. Even so I wanted to give it a try.  Think I am going to make a couple of deep throat clamps and use this joint. Who knows next I might give dovetails a whirl.

A single dovetail at the frame corners would be sweet.  

 You've developed into quite the craftsman for a woodbutcher.

12 hours ago, BillyJack said:

Turning out nice. The closest I can get to cabinets today is using Murphy oil soap on the cabinets. The 2 year olds finger prints are everywhere....

 

Samuari house ninja. ..." leave nothing untouched"

 

I married one about 47 years ago.  And, she still has to touch everything.  Yep, follow along behind her to watch what all those hands touch and wipe with a wet sponge and dry with a towel.  

This evening I managed to get the two door frames glued up.  Took quite some time and had to break out the 3/4 pipe clamps to get a couple of joints to cooperate.  After many trials and some sweating I got them glued up and square.  Then went on to put a coat of finish on what I have so far.  Had some nice grain on this side verses the other side which was much darker.  Went with the lighter to match the rest of the cabinet.  

 

 

I forgot to mention in my original write up that in preparing my measurements this time I went and checked the wall for level.  It was not, I should not be surprised whoever built this shop must have been drunk or had a bent level and  square, or maybe forgot them an eyeballed it.  To counter the level issues I angled the back of my cabinet to match the wall.  This is p[roper orientation top to bottom, and yes it is about 3/4 inch off.  

 

 

Another issue I have suffered with from time to time is the paper towel roll getting wet from some mishap with the water.  To counter that, and the cats playing with the thing I am making an enclosed cabinet to mount under this one.  The front door will drop down to change the roll.  A slit in the front will allow me to pull out towels as needed.  This should keep the roll of towels dry for those moments when water gets sloshed around.  

 

Started @steven newman style, a glue up in progress.  Edge banding the plywood top, bottom and sides.

 

 

 

 

I am off tomorrow so I expect to get a lot more done and move the chains forward some.  

Maybe the 3/4 inch out of level was a poor mans automatic door closer? Just thinking LOL.

First thing I did today was take the clamps off and true up everything.  That done it was time to drill out for the hinges.  Finally got to dry fit both doors.  Nice fit, leveled out easy.  Good, next I got started on the inside of the frames.  Rounded over the edge then flipped over and routed out on the back for the mirror on one side and a picture Montague on the other I got to sanding.  Put that aside for finish later.

 

 

 

Now I am back to the paper towel holder that will be mounted to the underside.  Since water gets on the paper towel roll a lot (I am messy) I enclosed the whole deal.  Now I needed a round 1 1/2 inch dowel.  No problem I have a lathe and some pine.  Got two coats of poly on it before calling it a night.

 

 

Had to do some gluing for the box, came up with a unique idea to attach it.  Details tomorrow.

 

 

And finally I gave everything I could a coat of poly.  Tomorrow I can assemble the main cabinet and only have the back to coat with poly.  The doors will be a couple more days.  Have to go to work to pay the bills.

 

 

 

Great progress and, even better work, Gunny.

Looks like it's going to be a nice addition. Love the Overkill on the door joints.

The only walls I ever see plumb and square are the ones I install, lol.

29 minutes ago, DRAGON1 said:

The only walls I ever see plumb and square are the ones I install

So true.  The shop ceiling was set at 7 feet 2 inches, have no idea why.  Had to fix that just to be able to move stuff around.  

 

30 minutes ago, DRAGON1 said:

Love the Overkill on the door joints.

Well I wanted to give type of joint a try.  They won't come apart.....

7 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

So true.  The shop ceiling was set at 7 feet 2 inches, have no idea why.  Had to fix that just to be able to move stuff around.  

 

Well I wanted to give type of joint a try.  They won't come apart.....

A couple of dry wall screws would insure joint integrity. 

11 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

A couple of dry wall screws would insure joint integrity. 

Dry wall screws, that's redneck style.  We go extra fancy with stainless steel screws. 

Continuing progress.  This evening I attached the back to the cabinet.  All is well. The doors are done on the outside, tomorrow I will work on the inserts and finish the inside.

 

 

 

Paper towel dowel is completed and a retainer to keep it in place was fashioned from some aluminum.  Source?  My Dad was an aircraft mechanic for 50+ years, he gave me a large handful of these broken airplane seat brackets.  Curved parts have come in handy over the years.  Have some polish work but the profile is on the money.

 

 

 

Now we have the paper towel box in progress and a coat of finish added this evening.  

 

 

 

Tomorrow I have the door for the holder to continue making.  Did some gluing this evening in preparation for tomorrows fun.  I plan to make a slit in the door for the towels to come through.  About the best protection from water I can make short of a hermetically sealed container.  The towel holder will attach to the cabinet by way of a French cleat.  Still working on the dry fit so no pictures yet.  My idea being I can mount the cabinet without it, and if I change my mind put something else up.  Because, hey I never know.