Lex Boegen
02-10-2010, 4:48 PM
I am in the planning and design phase of new cabinets for my kitchen. I am considering tambour doors because I can't hit my head on them, and when more than one cabinet is open, they don't get in my way (flipping doors open and closed). I only know of three basic ways of making tambour doors: a glued canvas backing on the slats, drilled holes in the slats to thread a thin cable through, and a specialty set of router bits that creates a locking joint that is a distant cousing of tounge and groove.
The first two methods don't hold a lot of appeal for me--too much of a PITA. The router bits are expensive though, and I can see that there are a couple of limitations: the finished slat is of a very specific size (no variation permitted) and there is some short grain in the joint, so I am curious about the strength of the slats and their durability. Not much point in doing all that work (and expense) if they split apart after some use. Of course I realize that depends in part on the wood chosen.
Thanks in advance for any help and guidance that you can offer.
The first two methods don't hold a lot of appeal for me--too much of a PITA. The router bits are expensive though, and I can see that there are a couple of limitations: the finished slat is of a very specific size (no variation permitted) and there is some short grain in the joint, so I am curious about the strength of the slats and their durability. Not much point in doing all that work (and expense) if they split apart after some use. Of course I realize that depends in part on the wood chosen.
Thanks in advance for any help and guidance that you can offer.