Mark Morris
Mark Morris started writing professionally in 1995. He has published a novel and stage plays with SEEDS studio. Morris specializes in many topics and has 15 years of professional carpentry experience. He is a voice, acting and film teacher. He also teaches stage craft and lectures on playwriting for Oklahoma Christian University.
By Mark Morris, eHow Contributor
Building cabinets without a plan is just another day at the office for most cabinet builders. For beginners, not so much. A well laid-out blueprint is a must for do-it- yourselfers. In addition to giving detailed scale drawings of the construction, a good set of designs will provide you with a list of parts to cut, a shopping list and assembly instructions. If you are choosing your own blueprint, look for one that is easy to understand and provides all of the features you want in your cabinets.
Things You'll Need
Drill
4-foot drywall square
Instructions
Floor Plan
- 1
Layout the dimensions from the floorplan in the space intended for the cabinets. Use the legend, usually located in one corner, to translate the scale. Typically it will be listed as 1to or 1:_ (for example 1 inch to 1 foot, or 1:12) Any scale ratio with a colon should be read as a fraction (1:12=1/12 ,or 1 inch scale to 12 inches actual).
- 2
Mark lower cabinet height on walls and check for conflicts with electrical outlets, plumbing and the like.
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- 3
Mark individual cabinets to check for sink, refrigerator and dishwasher placement. Check garbage compactor and other appliances and specialty cabinets. Make any adjustments needed.
- 1
Study the elevation drawings carefully. Elevations show the faces of the cabinets as seen from the front of that face. These drawings are a good way to get an idea of what your cabinets will look like when finished.
- 2
Make a note of number and size of doors and drawer fronts. Determine which direction doors open. Check to make sure that there is plenty of space in your intended installation space for doors and drawers to open easily.
- 3
Double check heights for all upper unit installation. Pay close attention to tall sections such as refrigerators and the like. Make a note of any conflicts with existing construction including moldings.
Construction and Perspective Drawings
- 1
Use the perspective drawings to make a list of all pieces to cut. Check it against the plan's parts list to make sure that your cut ticket will be complete. Make a note of any machining such as holes to be bored, notches and dadoes (grooves for pieces to fit into).
- 2
Make a note of any construction elements you do not understand or find confusing. Check the plan's assembly instructions for clarification.
- 3
Make a list of hardware. Most major hardware companies will have websites with additional information. Visit the manufacturer of your hardware's website and study the installation procedure to get at least a rough idea of what steps are involved. More specific instruction is generally included with the hardware.
Cutout and Assembly
- 1
Layout and mark all pieces on your material beginning with largest pieces first. Place identical pieces side by side to minimize cuts. Use a four-foot drywall square to mark the pieces.
- 2
Use a table saw with a sharp plywood blade for all panel cuts. Cut hardwood for faceframe, if included in your blueprints, with a hardwood blade. Complete all of your panel cuts before trading blades to minimize time. Start cutting with largest pieces first.
- 3
Bore any hardware holes before assembly. Consult blueprint for dimension and design. Also machine dadoes for backs, drawer bottoms and the like with a table saw and dado blade or router and fence jig. Complete each function with every necessary part before changing setups.
- 4
Assemble your cabinet in the order recommended on the blueprint to avoid difficulties. Each blueprint will have slight variations in instructions. Assemble smaller pieces, such as bases, separately before attaching for simplicity. Complete the main structure and installation before adding doors and drawers.
- 1
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