Let’s Get Ready To Rumble!!!! (Poly)

Time for the last coat before work. Luckily it goes on smooth.

T – 8 Hours

Mission assemble the cabinets and attach face frames.

We decided to atttach the frame to the cabinet that needed a flush edge first. Then screw the second cabinet to this assembly.

Don’t worry OSHA.. This is a staged shot. Actual brad nailing involved safety glasses

We used basic brads to attach the face frames.

The assembly of the cabinets. Chicago Drill received as a gift. It drills.

T – 5 Hours

Time to install the drawers. Since we are using 32 mm slides on face frames I needed to add spacers to bring the slides out flush/or slightly proud of the face frames.

Dorkin’ out with the planer.. Hey! I was tired.

Attaching the spacers with brads

Attaching the slides along the bottom provides an easy reference point and minimizes the visual impact of the slide

They actually worked. My first time ever installing metal slides. Math.. Who knew?

Proud slide installer. (You would think I launched a rocket or something)

We shimmed the drawer fronts and then used a brad nailer per my instructor. I will go back later with pan head screws. I put a lot of brads in there.

Installing the drawer faces.

We love the grain!

T – 3

!!
Time to install the doors. Face mount hinges simplified installation.

One down.. Two to go…

T – 90 Minutes

Three doors down, and time for the latches and pulls.

Installing brass cupboard catches

We love the self centering drill bits. The hardware went on smoothly.

T – 40 Minutes

Oh. Yeah.. Done..

My friend Marc came in the nick of time to help me carry it to class. He took one final photo.

Teamwork_

Closing time

When we arrived at school they were closing up. We wheeled the cabinet into place.

Next time.. The Contest. (Would we be disqualified for late arrival?)

We were under the gun since our project was due to class by Friday night.

48 Hours to Go

The door is stripped.

One coat of stain on the fresh face

Our tight schedule: glue up bases while the poly dries.

Our first base cabinet assembled and receiving staples for insurance

This only took an hour and a half. I have got to get one of those biscuit slot gluers.

30 Hours to Go

Get a feel for the madness

Final touches to the drawers

With all of the parts stained or restained it was time for the finish. Only time for two coats; We figured it will get banged around on the journey to the contest. We will recoat with a thrid … next week.

The poly coated door fronts.

Time to build the second base cabinet.

Dry fit is critical for me

Flashback: About a month ago I woke up in the middle of the night realizing I had not planned for a drawer divider. Solution:

Staple it in.

24…. 24. Hours to go….

At 11:00 p.m. Thursday we came out to recoat the parts with poly. It was still wet. Aargh.

With only 24 hours till the contest we needed to:

• Add a finish coat.
• Connect the bases
• Attach the Face Frames
• Install the drawer sliders
• Install the drawers and fronts
• Re-attach the z-braces
• Install the doors
• Install all hinges, latches and pulls
• Drive it 30 miles to class.

Crunch time!!!!…