Question
For those of you who construct with butt joints and screws, how do you keep your decks and shelves aligned and square while you insert screws? I construct the case first and then attach the frame, but I was thinking of using a framing square to pencil some marks in place and then shooting a few staples in before the screws. I was wondering if there was a quicker way, or maybe one with no pencil.
Forum Responses
(Cabinetmaking Forum)
From contributor A:
Rip a couple of spacers and set the shelf on it, then shoot screws. I usually just hold the decks flush, but you can use a clamp to hold it there till you get a couple of screws in.
I also build frameless cabinets without toekicks attached. If you have your sides notched for toes then I might rip a bunch of strips the proper height and nail the strip to the bottom of the side before assembly so that there is no mismatch side-to-side. I also butt joint and conformat screw my 3/4 backs on the cabinets. Total time per box assembly with hardware is about 8-15 minutes, depending on person building boxes.
A typical base cabinet has the following: 2 sides, bottom, back, 3 stretchers, 4 hingeplates, drawer runners, hardware and spacers for 2 roll out trays, and 4 skid blocks underneath cabinet.
