Hi,

I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
so that it can be transported easier if need be.

I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I suppose
I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect there
is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?

I Googled here and also checked the Lee Valley website, but didn't see what
I was after. Anyone else have a suggestion where to obtain this kind of
thing?

Thanks in advance,
Nate

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 06:50:42 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm, Nate
Perkins quickly quoth:

Hi,

I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
so that it can be transported easier if need be.

I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I suppose
I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect there
is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?

I've seen pieces simply stacked together, screwed together from the
inside of the bottom piece with inserts in the top, linked via metal
straps on the back, and pinned with rounded dowels. One was glued
together, EEK!

Straps are the easiest. They simply keep the backs aligned and keep
the top piece from sliding to one side or tipping forward. Simple ell
brackets will work.


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Armoire made for daughter is 2.5'X3.5'X7' and held together with
carriage bolts and nuts. Didn't think of knock down hardware at the
time.

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 06:50:42 GMT, Nate Perkins
wrote:

Hi,

I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
so that it can be transported easier if need be.

I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I suppose
I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect there
is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?

I Googled here and also checked the Lee Valley website, but didn't see what
I was after. Anyone else have a suggestion where to obtain this kind of
thing?

Thanks in advance,
Nate

One of the oldest approaches is to leave a rectangular opening in the top of
the lower cabinet, place the upper half on top of it and get it aligned
where you want it to sit. Use a pencil/pen to trace the opening in the top
of the lower cabinet onto the bottom of the upper half. Remove the upper
half and using plywood/boards, create a rectangle inside the lines you just
marked. When you place the upper part back on, the two pieces will stay
aligned. This is where you would take a handful of good screws and secure
the top half by running them through the top of the lower section into the
bottom of your upper cabinet.

Norm did this, just this past weekend on an Armoir/Entertainment center. So
you know it has to work. ;-)




"Nate Perkins" wrote in message
. 125.201...
Hi,

I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
so that it can be transported easier if need be.

I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I
suppose
I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect
there
is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?

I Googled here and also checked the Lee Valley website, but didn't see
what
I was after. Anyone else have a suggestion where to obtain this kind of
thing?

Thanks in advance,
Nate

"booger" wrote in
:

One of the oldest approaches is to leave a rectangular opening in the
top of the lower cabinet, place the upper half on top of it and get it
aligned where you want it to sit. Use a pencil/pen to trace the
opening in the top of the lower cabinet onto the bottom of the upper
half. Remove the upper half and using plywood/boards, create a
rectangle inside the lines you just marked. When you place the upper
part back on, the two pieces will stay aligned. This is where you
would take a handful of good screws and secure the top half by running
them through the top of the lower section into the bottom of your
upper cabinet.

Norm did this, just this past weekend on an Armoir/Entertainment
center. So you know it has to work. ;-)


Hi folks,

Thanks for all the replies. You've given me some good ideas.

Thanks,
Nate

On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 06:50:42 GMT, Nate Perkins
wrote:

Hi,

I'm working on a china cabinet for the wife. It's a fairly big piece, a
bit over 5' long and will be about 6-1/2 to 7' tall. I'd like to build it
in two sections, where the top half is removable from the bottom half ...
so that it can be transported easier if need be.

I'm looking for hardware to securely join the top to the bottom. I suppose
I could use regular wood inserts and recessed bolts ... but I suspect there
is hardware made for this particular purpose. Something like a mortised
metal slot on the bottom, that accepts a hooked post from the top?

I Googled here and also checked the Lee Valley website, but didn't see what
I was after. Anyone else have a suggestion where to obtain this kind of
thing?

Thanks in advance,
Nate

Saw an article or piece in a book some time back where the cabinet maker
used a sliding dovetail arrangement to hold top and bottom together. The
top of the cabinet had a pair of dovetail pins attached to it, the bottom
base had dove-tail sockets cut in it to receive the top. I've been
keeping this approach in mind for the future china hutch. These were
fairly wide and deep in order to provide good stability and strength.


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If you're gonna be dumb, you better be tough

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