I'm designing a cabinet for above the sink in the bathroom.

The cabinet part will be either box-joints or dovetails, about 38 " x3
3/4" x 18".

The door will be flush with the walls of the cabinet, ~ 38" x 18", and
will be 1 1/2" rails and stiles, mortise/tenon, with a rabbet cut out
of the back to accept the mirror. Material is 3/4" QSO.

I'll hold the mirror to the rabbet with some small quarter round.

I'm worried about seasonal shrinkage, and I don't know how much of a
gap, if any, to leave between the edge of the mirror and the wood. If I
place the mirror inside the rabbet with 1/16" play, is that enough to
absorb the shrinkage of the wood - is it too much? Do I need to worry
about this at all and just aim for a nice snug fit?

TIA

Tanus

On Jul 18, 5:54*pm, Tanus wrote:
I'm designing a cabinet for above the sink in the bathroom.

The cabinet part will be either box-joints or dovetails, about 38 " x3
3/4" x 18".

The door will be flush with the walls of the cabinet, ~ 38" x 18", and
will be 1 1/2" rails and stiles, *mortise/tenon, with a rabbet cut out
of the back to accept the mirror. Material is 3/4" QSO.

I'll hold the mirror to the rabbet with some small quarter round.

I'm worried about seasonal shrinkage, and I don't know how much of a
gap, if any, to leave between the edge of the mirror and the wood. If I
place the mirror inside the rabbet with 1/16" play, is that enough to
absorb the shrinkage of the wood - is it too much? Do I need to worry
about this at all and just aim for a nice snug fit?

TIA

Tanus

Not too snug. 1/16 all around will be fine. Was in Gatineau two
weekends ago... didn't see you...*S*

Robatoy wrote:
On Jul 18, 5:54 pm, Tanus wrote:
I'm designing a cabinet for above the sink in the bathroom.

The cabinet part will be either box-joints or dovetails, about 38 " x3
3/4" x 18".

The door will be flush with the walls of the cabinet, ~ 38" x 18", and
will be 1 1/2" rails and stiles, mortise/tenon, with a rabbet cut out
of the back to accept the mirror. Material is 3/4" QSO.

I'll hold the mirror to the rabbet with some small quarter round.

I'm worried about seasonal shrinkage, and I don't know how much of a
gap, if any, to leave between the edge of the mirror and the wood. If I
place the mirror inside the rabbet with 1/16" play, is that enough to
absorb the shrinkage of the wood - is it too much? Do I need to worry
about this at all and just aim for a nice snug fit?

TIA

Tanus

Not too snug. 1/16 all around will be fine. Was in Gatineau two
weekends ago... didn't see you...*S*

1/16 it is then. With my accuracy, I'll just shoot for real snug, and
I'll get that 1/16th.

I work in Gatineau. What were you doing there?

Tanus wrote in :

Robatoy wrote:
Not too snug. 1/16 all around will be fine. Was in Gatineau two
weekends ago... didn't see you...*S*

1/16 it is then. With my accuracy, I'll just shoot for real snug, and
I'll get that 1/16th.

I work in Gatineau. What were you doing there?

Avoiding you, perhaps?

Puckdropper
--
"The potential difference between the top and bottom of a tree is the
reason why all trees have to be grounded..." -- Bored Borg on
rec.woodworking

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

"Tanus" wrote in message ...
Not too snug. 1/16 all around will be fine. Was in Gatineau two
weekends ago... didn't see you...*S*



1/16 it is then. With my accuracy, I'll just shoot for real snug, and
I'll get that 1/16th.

I work in Gatineau. What were you doing there?

Remember, Robatoy said 1/16" "all around", 1/8" total side to side and top
to bottom. I agree with that amount of clearnace. IMHO 1/16" total might
be a bit too tight.

On Jul 19, 9:50*am, "Leon" wrote:
"Tanus" wrote in ...
Not too snug. 1/16 all around will be fine. Was in Gatineau two
weekends ago... didn't see you...*S*

*1/16 it is then. With my accuracy, I'll just shoot for real snug, and

I'll get that 1/16th.

I work in Gatineau. What were you doing there?

Remember, Robatoy said 1/16" "all around", 1/8" total side to side and top
to bottom. *I agree with that amount of clearnace. *IMHO 1/16" total might
be a bit too tight.

Indeed. 'all around' is the ticket. Then, I lay a small bead of
silicone in the 1/16" gap, all around, and I mean small. Just to stop
it from sliding around and rattling once installed.

On Jul 18, 6:58*pm, Tanus wrote:
Robatoy wrote:
On Jul 18, 5:54 pm, Tanus wrote:
I'm designing a cabinet for above the sink in the bathroom.

The cabinet part will be either box-joints or dovetails, about 38 " x3
3/4" x 18".

The door will be flush with the walls of the cabinet, ~ 38" x 18", and
will be 1 1/2" rails and stiles, *mortise/tenon, with a rabbet cut out
of the back to accept the mirror. Material is 3/4" QSO.

I'll hold the mirror to the rabbet with some small quarter round.

I'm worried about seasonal shrinkage, and I don't know how much of a
gap, if any, to leave between the edge of the mirror and the wood. If I
place the mirror inside the rabbet with 1/16" play, is that enough to
absorb the shrinkage of the wood - is it too much? Do I need to worry
about this at all and just aim for a nice snug fit?

TIA

Tanus

Not too snug. 1/16 all around will be fine. Was in Gatineau two
weekends ago... didn't see you...*S*

1/16 it is then. With my accuracy, I'll just shoot for real snug, and
I'll get that 1/16th.

I work in Gatineau. What were you doing there?

A good friend of mine lives there. He worked at Canada Post in the
marketing dept... now happily retired at 58. Very creative and
eccentric—he collects and trades Laurel & Hardy memorabilia. He and
his wife always put on a great spread for Angela and I.
I will be coming up more often as Angela really likes the Market in
Ottawa. The people there are still talking about Obama ordering his
driver to turn into the area. Word has it that the Secret Service
justabout blew a gasket and shiat their pants when that happened.
I guess Obama wanted to see hustle and the bustle of The Market up
close..to help him in the socialism experiment. :-^

I'm worried about seasonal shrinkage, and I don't know how much of a
gap, if any, to leave between the edge of the mirror and the wood.

This might be of use:

http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/shrinkulator.htm

-Zz

On Jul 18, 5:54*pm, Tanus wrote:
I'm designing a cabinet for above the sink in the bathroom.
... with a rabbet cut out
of the back to accept the mirror. Material is 3/4" QSO.

Mirror/bathroom = condensing moisture.
Oak (also maple) will support mildew if they get
damp, and that means black stains.

I'd pick another wood, myself. Walnut or
cherry are pretty, selected pine can be quite nice.
Mahogany and teak are excellent in moisture, but
pricey.

whit3rd wrote:
On Jul 18, 5:54 pm, Tanus wrote:
I'm designing a cabinet for above the sink in the bathroom.
... with a rabbet cut out
of the back to accept the mirror. Material is 3/4" QSO.

Mirror/bathroom = condensing moisture.
Oak (also maple) will support mildew if they get
damp, and that means black stains.

I'd pick another wood, myself. Walnut or
cherry are pretty, selected pine can be quite nice.
Mahogany and teak are excellent in moisture, but
pricey.

That was something I'd thought about, but I've seen oak in bathrooms
that didn't mark up. However, now it appears that the oak I've got won't
do this job and SWMBO has been pushing me to get select pine, as you
suggest.

Tanus