All right, so they want a face frame vanity. Haven’t built anything with face frames before, just frameless.
So, for joining the frame stock, I do NOT have:
– Kreg jig
– Dowel jig
– Mini biscuit joiner
– Any setup for making mortises and tenons.
You’re all going to tell me to buy a Kreg jig, aren’t you.
Replies
No problem. I did my kitchen before I had any of that. Just careful fitting, use those flat-under-head Kreg-like screws; screw it together, countersink the holes first with a 3/8" Forstner bit, and make some plugs out of your scrap that matches the grain wherever you put a screw.
Or you could do that whole mortise and tenon Japanese Woodworker thing, if you've got the time.
I still contend that the whole Japanese tradition of intricate joinery would never have happened if they had discovered drywall screws.
Forrest
3/8" or 8mm dowel center-marker plugs, a bit, your corded or cordless drill, a little glue, some dowels, and you are in bid'ness.
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Your face registration might not be as good as it could be with a nice biscuit or pocketscrew setup, but what the heck, sandpaper is cheap.
You do have a nice little RO sander for leveling up and prepping for the finish, right?
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"A stripe is just as real as a goddamn flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Edited 2/20/2008 8:23 pm ET by Gene_Davis
ROS? That I have.That method is tight. Really, that's awesome. . . sometimes I have an irrational bias against having unnecessary steel inside wood. But I can't be bothered with fancy joinery. That's the ticket.
Edited 2/20/2008 8:26 pm ET by Biff_Loman
Steel inside wood?
Only for the marking. Drill two holes in part A, insert marking dowel pins, index piece A to mating piece B, press together, and voila! You have successfully marked for where to drill into piece B.
Pull those two marking dowel pins and re-use them to mark all your holes.
These spiral-grooved preglued dowels work pretty neat, but most of the places that sell them, want to sell you a few thou at a time.
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"A stripe is just as real as a goddamn flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Hmm, I didn't put that right. I got it. . . I was just trying to say how much I liked your idea BETTER than using pocket screws.I don't like fancy joinery, so I like the idea of dowels. I'll probably do exactly as you suggest.
Edited 2/20/2008 9:30 pm ET by Biff_Loman
Edited 2/20/2008 9:31 pm ET by Biff_Loman
Biff,Dowels will work fine. They did it for years and years. As usual I agree with Jim, no carpenter will regret buying a Kreg jig. You don't have to get the whole $150 setup. Start with the little single hole jig and a bit. You're only out $20 if you decide you never want to use it again. But I'd bet against it. Really, dude, buy it.http://www.amazon.com/Kreg-MKJKIT-Mini-Jig-Kit/dp/B00065WPP2/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1203561345&sr=1-15- KitTechnique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
Consider me convinced. I will swing by Art's Tools tomorrow morning prior to the job site.
If your going to use dowels spend a few bucks for a jig. Accuracy in drilling perpendicular is everything.
Buy a "spur" bit as well, drills clean and straight .
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
If you're a carpenter buy a Kreg jig. You won't regret it.
I'll eat your peaches, mam. I LOVE peaches!
Carpenter? No.
I'm not going to tell you to get the Kreg Jig but suggest that you think about buying the Kreg mini jig. I think you can pick up the single jig, bit and stop collar for about $20. It will do everything the bigger jig will do only not quite as fast.
I'll bet that if you get it, you'll find all sorts of other uses for it and then you'll break down and buy the whole K-3 kit or whatever they call it.
$20? Geez. No question - I will buy one of those, for the hell of it.
The Kregg mini jig is great. Cheap (even here in Canada) and small too. I keep mine in a zip lock sandich bag. My only beef is that the instructions are such tiny print I haven't been able to read them since I was 40.
did a lot of face frame, back in the day...
glue & pre-drilled finish nails
but i'd still buy the kreg.. you won't regret it
This just might be one of those times that a Harbor Freight tool could be useful. They have a biscuit joiner for $60 that works pretty well and you'll find many other uses for it.
1 1/2" stock?
like Mike said ... drill and use 2.5 or 3" screws.
or ... like Gene said ... dowels are cheap and easy.
or ... U got a table saw?
half lap joints
access to a radial arm saw ... half laps are even easier.
and strong as hell.
cut them tight and clamp ... no steel.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Half lap, eh? Niiiiiiice. That's a great idea.
Got a RAS or a TS? Router table. M&T is easy, and I've got a system that's fool proof, and you don't have to buy anything else...
You're all going to tell me to buy a Kreg jig, aren't you.
You psychic or somethin' ? I bought the $20 mini version a few months ago, after reading the raves about it here.
The only other tool required is a small bar clamp, unless you wanna go for the special visegrip, which is no big advantage, IMO.
I use a small bar clamp with rubber/whatever covered jaws which squeeze down very nicely to align the pieces being joined.
Once you've used the Kreg, it's pretty obvious how superior the joint is and how simple it is to get everything perfectly aligned.
Edited 2/23/2008 6:47 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Kreg.
You can buy the little one for 25$
I use it for lots of other things too...
"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
If your time is worth anything more than $5 an hour get a kreg jig. I shake my head watching a finish carp or cab. maker trying to use other methods, "because that's the way I've always done it."
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
A trick I've used is to cut slots in the joinery area with a table saw and then insert plywood spines for biscuits. This may or may not work for you but it is worth considering.
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic