First time post, first time building cabinets

[csparks75]

Howdy all, I've been lurking here for a little bit and like what I see. Good advice all around. Love to share my first attempts at making some extension cabinets after almost dying of sticker shock for a 2X12 Mesa cab to go with my Rect-o-verb.


The first picture shows my first attempt at box/finger joints. Pretty rough as my partner didn't take much time in making the cuts. But it holds....so far.

Second is attempt number 2, which worked much better...except that in picture 3, you can see it's not a box, it's a parallellagram (sp?) DAMN!

Last pic is my first cab loaded with some cheapo 12s, while it awaits a new load of 1 Celestion V30 and one G12H-30 and some grill cloth that are sitting on the workbench.

So, I think I'm on the right track...next cabinet gets built from pine or some other wood.

[David Schwab]

Originally Posted by csparks75

The first picture shows my first attempt at box/finger joints. Pretty rough as my partner didn't take much time in making the cuts. But it holds....so far.

Looks good. They just need some sanding. Get s random orbit sander and sand them flush and smooth. Everything made from wood needs sanding.

Originally Posted by csparks75

Second is attempt number 2, which worked much better...except that in picture 3, you can see it's not a box, it's a parallellagram (sp?) DAMN!

Did you ever watch New Yankee Workshop? Norm's always showing the standard way you take care of that. You diagonally measure from one corner to the opposite corner, and then repeat that for the other two. Then make them match!

Originally Posted by csparks75

So, I think I'm on the right track...next cabinet gets built from pine or some other wood.

Looks like a great start. I've been meaning to make myself a 2 X 12 bass cab.

[csparks75]

I love new yankee workshop! I want to hear Norm say: "Always wear your safety glasses, because my tools are so bad-ass and I'll make it look so easy that you need something to keep the eyes inside your head" LOL

Yeah, thought I did that but I have had problems in the past with a measuring tape. I still have a ways to go, like applying a finish, adding handles, feet, etc. to the first one. I think when it gets warmer, I may have to rip the new one apart and start over. It's driving me crazy.

Thanks!

[Paul P]

Originally Posted by csparks75

Yeah, thought I did that but I have had problems in the past with a measuring tape.

It's not easy to measure the inside diagonal of a box with a measuring tape.

One trick is to use two sticks, each of which has one end cut to a bit of a
point so it'll reach into a corner. You hold... oh wait a second, a picture will
be a lot easier than trying to explain with words...

Here :



So you jam them into the corners and hold them together while you check
them against the other diagonal. You don't care what the length is, just
that the two diagonals be equal.

If you have a long bar clamp you can put it across the longest diagonal
and squeeze those corners together until the box is square.

I'd still use a builder's square on the inside for good measure.

Paul P

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