Author Topic: Wife Wants a Sideboard  (Read 10450 times)

adam

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Wife Wants a Sideboard
« on: January 10, 2014, 09:13:22 AM »
The wife has always wanted a sideboard in my house since we moved back because she had a built in one in her house and she likes dishes.

So my next project is to build one because it's cheaper than buying one and I think it will be fun, basically.

The inspiration: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20310641,00.html

She wants that, and then an attachment on top with probably 4 more shelves that will have glass doors.  I haven't found plans for that part yet.

I believe I have all the necessary tools for this, but I have to admit, the desire to use any excuse to buy a new toy will be strong.

Elaine

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2014, 09:26:31 AM »
I love that! Lucky lady! You should burn an inscription for her on the inside, that would be super romantic.

Greg

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2014, 09:48:03 AM »
I'm planning something similar myself, but will use 12" deep upper cabinets instead of 24" deep lower cabinets.  The trick with my plan is finding uppers that are the height I need.  I need them to be about 30" so I can have 4" feet and 1.5" of counter.  I'm also considering just open shelves under a countertop.  It's a bit unfinished in my head.

Cromacster

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2014, 09:56:31 AM »
http://ana-white.com/plancatalog?keys=&term_node_tid_depth=148&collections=All&findplansbyroom=All&findplansbyskilllevel=All&estimated_lumber_cost=All&style=All

Always a good place to find plans on how to build furniture if you want to look at any other options.

And if you must buy new toys, always look to craigslist.

adam

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2014, 10:48:09 AM »
http://ana-white.com/plancatalog?keys=&term_node_tid_depth=148&collections=All&findplansbyroom=All&findplansbyskilllevel=All&estimated_lumber_cost=All&style=All

Always a good place to find plans on how to build furniture if you want to look at any other options.

And if you must buy new toys, always look to craigslist.
My "I built a table" thread came from an ana white design.

ArcticaMT6

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2014, 01:28:10 PM »
The wife has always wanted a sideboard in my house since we moved back because she had a built in one in her house and she likes dishes.

So my next project is to build one because it's cheaper than buying one and I think it will be fun, basically.

The inspiration: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20310641,00.html

She wants that, and then an attachment on top with probably 4 more shelves that will have glass doors.  I haven't found plans for that part yet.

I believe I have all the necessary tools for this, but I have to admit, the desire to use any excuse to buy a new toy will be strong.

What tools do you have? Are you going to be using plywood for the top or joining solid wood together?

The upper portion is called a hutch. You can do something similar for the upper portion using upper cabinets, but you will need to add some ply or solid wood that will come down vertically to hold it off the sideboard top. You can buy upper cabs with glass doors on them, screw them together, and add some ply the same width to come down and attach to the sideboard. I would also probably add some 1/4" ply backing board (or beadboard) to the back of the hutch which will provide a bit of additional rigidity to racking, and it will look better than it being open to the back.

You will want to think of an attachment system that you can use to attach the hutch to the sideboard so that they cannot come apart. What tools you have will determine what type of attachment you can do.

adam

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2014, 02:17:33 PM »
What tools do you think I'll need?

I have:
Table Saw
Circular Saw
Cordless Drill
HD Kregg Jig (Probably too big for this project, I got the Heavy Duty one that's compatible with the 2.5" screws for the table)
Various hand tools (hammers/screwdrivers/pliers/vice grips/crowbar/level/etc)

I can borrow a jig saw and a miter saw if I need to, but at this point I've needed the miter saw for almost every project and it might be worth looking for one to buy.  Oh and I borrowed a nail gun when I did my flooring, not sure if I can do that again or not. (if necessary)


I imagine she wants the hutch to have one piece shelves, if I used two upper cabinets I'd have to pop the sides off where they meet and get longer shelves.  I thought that bit would end up being easier to build myself.
« Last Edit: January 10, 2014, 02:19:08 PM by adam »

ArcticaMT6

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2014, 02:36:53 PM »
Ok. That helps a bunch.

For the top case, How long of a span are you looking to do with the shelf? A long span like that will need something like a 1x2 or 1x3 piece of edging on the front in order to resist the bending.

Building the case should be pretty easy. You can use your kreg jig if you prefer, or you can use a plywood rabbet joint which would be stronger.



To do that, you will need a dado blade for your table saw, or make 3 passes which requires moving the fence exactly 1/8" 3 times. A dado blade stack is very useful to have, though it's not cheap.

For the glass doors, my advice would be to make it so that you can replace glass panes. Shit happens and sometimes they break. I made some big shadow boxes 2 years ago that the glass broke on when we moved, and I didn't make it user replaceable. That was a mistake and a waste of nice mahogany. Maybe just nail some retainer strips in with light finish nails instead of gluing it in.
« Last Edit: January 10, 2014, 02:39:29 PM by ArcticaMT6 »

greenmimama

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2014, 12:49:40 PM »
That is beautiful, can't wait to see how it turns out.

I have seen those made from upper cabinets that you could pick up from habitat restore for cheap and then you just add pieces to it, paint it all the same color and you have a gorgeous finished project.

adam

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #9 on: January 12, 2014, 07:39:10 PM »
Checked prices on unfinished cabinets for the lower piece at Lowes yesterday. Looks like that is going to run me between $140-$200. I haven't shopped around yet, just trying to get a feeling for a ballpark cost.

ArcticaMT6

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2014, 09:48:58 AM »
If you have one nearby, check the Habitat for Humanity Restores. They always have tons of cabinets for real cheap. Additionally,  you can probably pick some up for free off of craigslist.

adam

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2014, 11:24:48 AM »
If you have one nearby, check the Habitat for Humanity Restores. They always have tons of cabinets for real cheap. Additionally,  you can probably pick some up for free off of craigslist.

Good call, there's a big one within like 5 miles.  Since we started talking about it, she has decided she wants me to put up some cabinets in the laundry room while I'm at it.

There is also a local cabinet place I pass by every day but I get the feeling that it is more upscale.  Still, might be a chance to pick up some cheap leftover stock or something, it looks like more than just a showroom, but I've never been inside.

ArcticaMT6

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2014, 12:43:33 PM »
I would also suggest checking out RTA (Ready-to-assemble) cabinets. Not necessarily Ikea, but the same idea. You can buy them online and they will be shipped to you. Then you may be able to customize them further yourself since they will be apart in pieces. You usually have a bit more customization offered with them from the manufacturers as well.

Rural

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #13 on: January 14, 2014, 05:29:32 AM »
Check out Southeastrn Salvage. There's a store in Columbia, and I can vouch for the high quality of their unfinished wood cabinets (no particle or pressboard, but there is some thin stuff involved).

http://www.2nds.biz/

kolorado

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2014, 12:46:54 PM »
Before you buy a ton of materials to make one yourself, have you considered buying a used hutch cabinet and removing the upper shelving portion? Many times, these upper portions aren't attached in the first place making the upcycle even easier. I bought a gorgeous mid-century hutch from our Salvation Army for a mere $20. Most, even nearly new ones, go for less than $60. Even a complete refinish or paint of a secondhand item wouldn't run more than $100 total.

ritchie70

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #15 on: January 30, 2014, 01:18:12 PM »
Before you buy a ton of materials to make one yourself, have you considered buying a used hutch cabinet and removing the upper shelving portion? Many times, these upper portions aren't attached in the first place making the upcycle even easier. I bought a gorgeous mid-century hutch from our Salvation Army for a mere $20. Most, even nearly new ones, go for less than $60. Even a complete refinish or paint of a secondhand item wouldn't run more than $100 total.

I know the one my grandmother had, the hutch just sat on top and there were a couple little patch plates on the back to hold it to the hutch. Same story on one we got "free" when we bought a condo. (Lady moving out didn't want it, we let her leave it behind.)

That's how a lot of stuff like that gets put together because you want to be able to take it apart easily to move it.

MayDay

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #16 on: February 03, 2014, 11:46:57 AM »
My solid maple hutch was under 100$ at a used furniture store.  It is cabinets and drawers on the bottom (just like the link you posted) and shelves above. 

I used to want to learn how to make furniture to save money and get higher quality stuff.  But I have found that buying used is cheaper and generally extremely high quality. 

pbkmaine

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #17 on: February 03, 2014, 07:36:55 PM »
I see great dining room pieces all the time at Goodwill and on Craigslist.

ArcticaMT6

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #18 on: February 04, 2014, 11:23:02 PM »
Yes, it's cheaper. The difference though is that if you have something particular in mind, especially if it's a non-standard size, it's extremely hard to find new, let alone used.

Hence why people build.

adam

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #19 on: February 07, 2014, 09:22:13 AM »
The cost of the pre-made cabinets has slowed this project to a crawl (technically it never started, so its not even crawling).  We're going to try and hit the Re-Store this weekend.  I'll have to check that store in Columbia out the next time we drive through to see the in laws.

We haven't seen anything used that a) we like, and/or b) we can afford. 

ArcticaMT6

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #20 on: February 07, 2014, 11:32:53 AM »
The cost of the pre-made cabinets has slowed this project to a crawl (technically it never started, so its not even crawling).  We're going to try and hit the Re-Store this weekend.  I'll have to check that store in Columbia out the next time we drive through to see the in laws.

We haven't seen anything used that a) we like, and/or b) we can afford.

Personally, I think you would be better off building the cases yourself out of plywood and either making or buying the doors/drawers. Cheaper, and it's not difficult to make a plywood case. Plus, it'll hold up longer than the typical stock cabinets that are all pressed particleboard nowadays.

You have a Kreg Jig and a tablesaw. As much as I personally don't like them, they can be used pretty successfully in something like this. You will need the 1-1/4" coarse screws and the fill in parts that you can paint over to hide the screw pockets.

I would go to Home Depot and pick up 1 or 2 pieces of their 3/4" Maple ply at @$40 each (USA made, very good quality for the money), some 1/4" for the backing, and some 1x2"s or 1x3"s for the face frame. A drawer is basically a box made up of 4 sides, with a thinner bottom, and a different piece of wood on the front. You make it 1" thinner in width than your case opening, and add drawer slides to take up the room. Then, after you install the drawer box, you can stick on a drawer front with double sided tape to exactly where you want it, and drill holes for your handle through the drawer front and drawer box. When you install the handle, it will keep everything together.

For doors, you can make them however you want, and just use a 1-3/8" forstner bit to drill pockets for the euro style hinges.

If you want to go this route, let me know and I can provide more help.
« Last Edit: February 07, 2014, 11:46:30 AM by ArcticaMT6 »

homehandymum

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #21 on: February 07, 2014, 03:37:17 PM »
If you're looking online for plans, these types of sideboard/hutch things are also called Welsh Dressers in the UK:
http://hobby.uk.com/country-style-welsh-dresser.html

adam

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Re: Wife Wants a Sideboard
« Reply #22 on: February 10, 2014, 07:00:26 AM »
We hit up two different Re-Stores on Saturday.  One was garbage, the other one was halfway decent.  It would seem the hutch priority has been lowered and the laundry room has been raised.  So we got a single narrow cabinet to fit between the washer/dryer for $30:


Just need to go to Lowes for a top and some knobs.  There were three sets of these style double cabinets that might have worked for the hutch ($50 each), but they were still kinda cheap, particle board, no backs, etc.  We decided to wait and keep trying the nice Re-Store.