Woodworker's Journal fall-2008, страница 20

Easy-to-Build Storage Cabinets

THESE ADAPTABLE AND MODULAR CABINETS CAN STOW WHATEVER YOU HAPPEN TO HOARD.

by linda haus

Melamine is a slightly less durable version of the standard plastic used in countertop laminates. It is made by impregnating paper with resins, hence there is a wide variety of colors and patterns available. The paper is thermally fused to a core (called a substrate), such as industrial grade particleboard or medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

What makes melamine board such a great choice for utility cabinets is that the panels come with plastic finished faces on both sides. Aside from the obvious aesthetic benefits, this also makes for a very stable product. Melamine panels come in a variety of sizes and substrates. You can order panels from 1/4" to 1)4' thick, in widths of 49" and 61".. They also come in lengths from 73" to 145". Of course, your local lumberyard will probably only stock the standard 49" x 97" panels in 3/4" thickness, which is exactly what you'll need for this project. A cabinet shop can order other dimensions and colors, if you decide to get creative.

My woodworking mentor, Rick White, preaches the old maxim "A place for everything and everything in its place." And while I agree with him in principle, in practice I've always had a bit of a problem with this old saw. Like most folks, whether it was the garage, family room, basement or even the woodshop, I just never seem to have enough space for storage.

A few weeks ago, I decided to do something about the dearth of storage space in my life. I teamed up with art director Jeff Jacobson from Woodworker's Journal, and we came up with a dead-easy cabinet design that's remarkably flexible.

I started with a modular system for building basic melamine cabinets that can be adapted to suit just about any storage need. The melamine panels come finished on both sides with a plastic laminate (see tint box, below), so they're stable, sturdy and easy to clean. Depending on what the cabinets are to be used for, you can build drawers or shelves to fit and cover the opening with doors as required. Use a bit of imagination and you'll have storage even Rick will envy.

Why Melamine?

Handling large sheet goods on a table saw is a lot safer if you enlist a helper. Otherwise, cut the parts a little oversize with a circular saw and use the table saw's built-in accuracy to clean up the cuts.

20 EASY-TO-BUILD STORAGE CABINETS

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