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Thread: I'm sure I'm the only one who's ever done this

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    WNY
    Posts
    9,647

    I'm sure I'm the only one who's ever done this

    I built two cabinets for a built in project in an alcove. Take everything to the site today, get the site prepped and go to lay the base in place and it doesn't quite fit. Hmm, that's strange. OK, I'll take off the 1/2" spacer I had on one end, still wondering why that was necessary. I leveled the base and set the first cabinet in place then measured the remaining gap, then compared that to the second cabinet. Huh? The cabinet was 1" too wide. How the heck? Later, checking my drawings, I found one instance where the total length was 82-3/4" and all the others, including the ones I used to build off of, were 83-3/4". No clue how that happened other than I goofed.

    There wasn't much to be done other than bring one cabinet back to the shop. So I choose the one that's pretty much a simple box with face frame. No way to cut down the other one; that would be a complete rebuild and I didn't want to do that. With some careful work, I was able to cut an inch out of the face frame rails, then the bottom. The top stretchers I did by hand and that freed that side. I removed the cut off stubs of the rails and stretchers from the sides with a handsaw and pared them flush with a chisel. To reattach the face frame rails to the stile I drilled dowels holes then glued and screwed it back together. Nearly perfect.

    I think it will fit OK now.

    John

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    LA & SC neither one is Cali
    Posts
    9,447
    More likely you are just the only one to ever admit it...

    When I come up short it is usually because I cut the "signature" board or veneer 1" short which causes me to have to redesign the whole piece. The last "smart" move I made was cutting 4 panels for an entertainment center with the grain running the opposite way of the matching piece that was already finished. I just finished it as I had cut it, nobody will notice right... first thing my wife said when she saw it finished was why is the grain running the opposite direction.
    Of all the laws Brandolini's may be the most universally true.

    Deep thought for the day:

    Your bandsaw weighs more when you leave the spring compressed instead of relieving the tension.

  3. #3
    Built an 8' X 20' for over an entry walkway in the shop loaded it onto the truck took it to the site and lifted it into place, unfortunately, the measurement was the inside of the posts not the outside for some reason the air turned blue.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    In the foothills of the Sandia Mountains
    Posts
    16,620
    As a one time machinist I've transposed numbers more than once. In my case it was usually to the negative..
    Glad you could save it.
    Please help support the Creek.


    "It's paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone."
    Andy Rooney



  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Lewiston, Idaho
    Posts
    28,504
    Were you talking about today? Today? No I haven't done it today.
    Ken

    So much to learn, so little time.....

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Griswold Connecticut
    Posts
    6,926
    John

    Yep, you're right, I've never done that in my life.
    ( So uhhh, what's the penalty for ah, lying'.
    "The first thing you need to know, will likely be the last thing you learn." (Unknown)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Kapolei Hawaii
    Posts
    3,236
    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Cutler View Post
    John

    Yep, you're right, I've never done that in my life.
    Yep me neither........
    I'm thinking EXACTLY that. So I'm technically not lying.........

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Central Missouri, U.S.
    Posts
    1,263
    Actually, when all of my measurements prove to be correct, I feel like, "Whoa. How did that happen?"

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,685
    Quote Originally Posted by Nick Decker View Post
    Actually, when all of my measurements prove to be correct, I feel like, "Whoa. How did that happen?"
    True dat!

    -----

    I'm guessing that "luck" also makes it that a measurement mistake for a built-in tends to be "too big" just because it makes it harder to, um...adjust...things. Too small would be too easy!
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    3,738
    I’ve done that and made the mistake of measuring a space shaped like a parallelogram as if it were square.
    I also have another confession I bought sandpaper on Saturday
    Aj

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Beantown
    Posts
    2,831
    I built an L-shaped desk out of SA Mahogany many years ago. It had 3 drawer boxes and a top recessed for granite to be inlaid plus a fair amount of decorative molding. Was a real nice piece from an Interior Designer. He happened to come by to see the desk "in progress" and looked at it in a funny way. Then after a minute he asked why was it so high? I pulled the tape out and it was something like 4" taller than it was supposed to be I almost cried right then and there. I told him I'd fix it and have it ready in such and such time and then just walked away for the time being. Next day I looked at it fresh, found my mistake, and set about fixing it. Don't remember exactly what it was but it wasn't nearly as bad as I first thought, only took about an extra day to re-work the parts. Stuff happens, nobody perfect, just got to try and learn from it so you don't make the same mistake twice. Doing that is frustrating.... much more fun making different mistakes

    good luck,
    JeffD

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Caddo Mills, Texas
    Posts
    119
    I made a cabinet to fit over the tolit in our mud room bath and made the cabinet to the correct size but could not get into the hole, had to made in pieces and assemble it a piece at a time ,got it done but a lot of trips to the shop. The garage has nice cabinet now
    Dan

  13. #13
    I heard about a guy that did that.

    At least we can burn our worst mistakes. Doctors have to bury theirs.

    Many of my errors have been due to marking twice then cutting to the one that should have been thoroughly erased. "Measure twice, cut once, but for god's sake obliterate that first mark!"

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Upland CA
    Posts
    5,548
    I am with Andrew. I built a buffet to fit in an alcove perfectly, only to find the front opening was almost an inch wider than the back wall.

    Twice.

    Slow learner.
    Rick Potter

    DIY journeyman,
    FWW wannabe.
    AKA Village Idiot.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    McDonald, PA
    Posts
    178
    Sure glad I'm not the only one. Built a cabinet today that was off an inch each way and considering how many times I measured it, I have no clue how I did it.

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