Jeff Wright
07-22-2011, 8:49 AM
I recently completed a bathroom vanity consisting of granite top and painted poplar cabinet with 8 drawers and a set of small doors with cane instead of the more traditional wood panels. It was my first attempt at installing cane. I cut 7/32 wide grooves around the perimeter of the inside face of each door, and then used 5/32 wide spline material. I also used hide glue which will make the task of replacing damaged cane easier if repairs become necessary. The cane should give the added benefit of providing ventilation under the sink cabinet section. While the pictures don't show it, the vanity base is made of resawn cherry for the toe kicks and cherry bun feet at three exposed corners. The end of the cabinet features panel construction rather than simply a plain flat surface design. The 8 drawers use Blumotion slides and handcut dovetail joints using the sawcut-to-sawcut technique where the joints are cut but NOT test-fitted prior to gluing. Making handcut dovetail joints in these 8 drawers plus another 13 drawers in our new kitchen has given me the practice needed to become proficient in making handcut dovetails in place of using my expensive jigs or router table. Plus, it's a lot more satisfying!