Step one. Bought the van.
Hello Everybody, First post. I camp a lot in tents but after spending three days straight in a tent in the rain at Dolly Sods I swore I'd make a change. Here it is. Bought it Wednesday. Dro...
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Building the third drawer for the fridge cabinet.
Now that I have a drawer locking mechanism designed and tested I can finish off this cabinet. Start by getting the dimensions from the bottom space of the cabinet. Drawer sliders had already been installed in the cabinet. Cut the wood for the drawer.
I used 1/2" thick plywood. Here are the pieces just standing in position.
This is a biscuit cutter. It's how I assemble the drawer pieces.
It cuts out half-moon slots which you insert wood biscuits into.
Brush on glue to the biscuits and along the mating edges then clamp firmly.
Once everything has had plenty of time to set up, do a test fit in the van.
Perfect fit. Such a tight fit the drawer sliders on the sides are gripping without screws.
Prime and paint the drawer. I'm not painting the front since it will get covered with Formica. Used interior trim paint. I like the look of the paint but it has one problem in that anything left laying on it will tend to stick over time. On walls this isn't a problem but quite noticeable when used for shelving and drawers.
To get around that problem I give it a coat of clear polyurethane after it dries. This prevents the sticking.
Find the centerline for the front of the drawer and use that to determine the handle placement.
Drill and mill the slots for the handle then get to work on the latching mechanism. This is the third one of these I've made so continue to refine the design. Cut a section off of the metal slide.
Make the spring adjuster out of the cut off metal piece. Drill the hole for the 3/16" rod.
Add holes for the wood screws then trim the metal piece. It's easier to drill holes while the piece is larger since there is more to grip.
Make a compression spring. Got this one right on the first try.
Add Formica to the front of the drawer and then trim it. You can see Fox in the lower right corner of the photo keeping an eye on things.
Mill out the Formica slots. Used the aluminium U channel as a guide.
Add the handle then the latching mechanism and adjust spring compression.
Screw the part of the drawer slider that detaches to the side of the drawer then install in the van.
Fits and moves nice. Latch works like a champ.
Fridge cabinet is finally finished. And it only took me two years.
Think I'll mess with the fridge next.
Building the third drawer for the fridge cabinet.
Now that I have a drawer locking mechanism designed and tested I can finish off this cabinet. Start by getting the dimensions from the bottom space of the cabinet. Drawer sliders had already been installed in the cabinet. Cut the wood for the drawer.
I used 1/2" thick plywood. Here are the pieces just standing in position.
This is a biscuit cutter. It's how I assemble the drawer pieces.
It cuts out half-moon slots which you insert wood biscuits into.
Brush on glue to the biscuits and along the mating edges then clamp firmly.
Once everything has had plenty of time to set up, do a test fit in the van.
Perfect fit. Such a tight fit the drawer sliders on the sides are gripping without screws.
Prime and paint the drawer. I'm not painting the front since it will get covered with Formica. Used interior trim paint. I like the look of the paint but it has one problem in that anything left laying on it will tend to stick over time. On walls this isn't a problem but quite noticeable when used for shelving and drawers.
To get around that problem I give it a coat of clear polyurethane after it dries. This prevents the sticking.
Find the centerline for the front of the drawer and use that to determine the handle placement.
Drill and mill the slots for the handle then get to work on the latching mechanism. This is the third one of these I've made so continue to refine the design. Cut a section off of the metal slide.
Make the spring adjuster out of the cut off metal piece. Drill the hole for the 3/16" rod.
Add holes for the wood screws then trim the metal piece. It's easier to drill holes while the piece is larger since there is more to grip.
Make a compression spring. Got this one right on the first try.
Add Formica to the front of the drawer and then trim it. You can see Fox in the lower right corner of the photo keeping an eye on things.
Mill out the Formica slots. Used the aluminium U channel as a guide.
Add the handle then the latching mechanism and adjust spring compression.
Screw the part of the drawer slider that detaches to the side of the drawer then install in the van.
Fits and moves nice. Latch works like a champ.
Fridge cabinet is finally finished. And it only took me two years.
Think I'll mess with the fridge next.
