[Sams stock van]

Some progress on drawer boxes. The local wood warehouse had soft maple drawer material in stock, a big time saver! No planing, or routing, just straight to the chop saw for sizing pieces. Then I cut finger joints for the front end of the boxes using a simple homemade jig and dado blade on a table saw.

Not as nice looking as a dovetail joint but very strong and much easier and faster to setup and cut. It's prevented me from needing to buy a dovetail jig and I generally don't hesitate to buy a new tool for a project.

I dry fitted all 4 boxes and now need to sand, glue up, sand and finish them. I really don't enjoy the finishing thing...well the sanding part.

One more cup of coffee and the sanding fun begins.

 

[Sams stock van]

We now have functioning drawers. So nice to not be rummaging in cardboard boxes. I plan to cut cherry slab fronts for the drawers.

The pullout idea for the third seat appears to work. I'll need to do some trim work to reduce bulk but I'm happy with the outcome.

I cut hard maple glides and glued them under the base. Then I tilted the slides ever so slightly on install, so the glides make contact with the floor when fully extended. The drawer slides have almost no weight on them when in use. A piece of 1/4" flat stock across the front in the 8020 slots will keep it in place when closed.

 

[Sams stock van]

After I attached the cherry drawer fronts, the seat and back rest that I made with African Mahogany (post#80) just didn't cut it. So I redid the seat base and back in cherry.

I was not looking forward to installing the seat and base in the van due to the need to drill about 18 holes in 8020 and the mess of metal chips. Then I realized I was only three fasteners away from removing the 8020 piece. Drilled it and mounted hinges with pop rivets on a bench top. No mess in the van.

I've also made some progress closing in cabinets with end panels. After looking through many different mounting options, I tried inserting panels in the t-slots. This was a lot of work disassembling the frames. Scrapped that idea. Added up the type and number of 8020 "parts" to do it and scrapped that idea. So I cut wood slats the thickness of the slot and glued one to each panel. I cut a piece for the bottom that would drop into the slot and fasten the panel bottom with screws.

Tall panels needed a extra support in the middle, so I cut a few stretchers that rotate into the opposing slots. One end is cut to allow easy install. I'll add a panel pic or two shortly.

 

[Sams stock van]

Here's a couple of recessed panel pics.

 

[MsNomer]

Beautiful work, especially the finger joints. I like the slats, too. Not many would go that extra mile.

But Good Golly, put a throat plate in that saw while you are still alive to do it. My stomach lurched at the sight of that open maw.

 

[Sams stock van]

Beautiful work, especially the finger joints. I like the slats, too. Not many would go that extra mile.

But Good Golly, put a throat plate in that saw while you are still alive to do it. My stomach lurched at the sight of that open maw.

I should have put it back in place before taking any pictures!

 

[Sams stock van]

The sink cabinet has been enclosed with full height doors facing in and a swing out door and drop down table on the outside. The table is too flimsy and will be replaced at some point with a thicker piece.

Having good access into this area was a main goal. Installing water heater is a future project.

I wanted the panels and doors slightly recessed in the 8020 frame, so I used 2 1/2" wide (1 1/4" leaf) aluminum hinges attached to the slots. A strip of wood was glued on the backside of the doors to increase the edge thickness to match the hinge width.

The hinges are from McMaster Carr and have 3/16" hinge pins to provide space for the bolt and screw heads.

 

[NealCarney]

Nice work! Love the back access panel.

 

[bdosborn]

Then I cut finger joints for the front end of the boxes using a simple homemade jig and dado blade on a table saw.

I'm definitely going this route for my drawers. Looking good!
Bruce

 

[Sams stock van]

Big jump in van convenience today. Refrigeration! I still need to shim it on the sides and secure it, but it's running and keeping beer cold.

It's an Isotherm 115 Freeline. The cooling fan for the compressor is in the lower left side, which lines up with ventilation across my electrical panel.

I'll add a drawer or cabinet space on top of the fridge to use the extra space.

 

[bdosborn]

Throw some insulation in the sides of your cabinet, every little bit helps. I put 2" around mine and it made a big difference in how long the compressor ran.

,
Bruce

 

[Sams stock van]

Throw some insulation in the sides of your cabinet, every little bit helps. I put 2" around mine and it made a big difference in how long the compressor ran.

Nicely done. Did you use an adhesive on the sides. I should have room for two inches on the sides and top.

 

[bdosborn]

Nicely done. Did you use an adhesive on the sides. I should have room for two inches on the sides and top.

Nope, I just cut the insulation so it fit together well and used two cargo straps to hold the insulation tight to the fridge. The top was bowed out and the flat insulation didn't fit very well so I used leftover thinsulate on the top.
Bruce

 

[njvagabond]

Nope, I just cut the insulation so it fit together well and used two cargo straps to hold the insulation tight to the fridge. The top was bowed out and the flat insulation didn't fit very well so I used leftover thinsulate on the top.
Bruce

That's great. I was hoping to use the 1.5" of dead spacing between my 8020 struts for insulation, but gluing it on after the fridge in place would make removal of the fridge a major disassembly project. Any squeeks?

 

[bdosborn]

That's great. I was hoping to use the 1.5" of dead spacing between my 8020 struts for insulation, but gluing it on after the fridge in place would make removal of the fridge a major disassembly project. Any squeeks?

I was really worried about that as squeaks and rattles drive me crazy but so far none at all.
Bruce