CC's Book Case #6: Face Frame

It’s been such a beautiful summer that I haven’t spent any time in the shop, and the project has suffered. My wife reminded me this present is way overdue (graduation was in June). That lit a little fire and I got back to work over this long Labor Day weekend. It really felt good to get back in the shop and start building again – really cleared my mind of life’s clutter.

So, I put on some feet…

Then, I built the face frame. I started with just the four exterior pieces of the frame; glued and pocket screwed them. It’s good and square…

I clamped the frame to the face of the carcass (You don’t see those clamps in this picture). I cut the mid rails to length and clamped them into place within the frame. I marked the location of the mid rails, so they go back in the exact same spot during glue up. (In hind sight, I should have marked it differently because the mark is right in the inside corner and is going to be a pain to sand off.)

Then some pocket hole production…

Once the frame was all assembled, I glued it to the carcass. I clamped the stiles, and finish nailed the rails to the plywood shelves to line things up and to hold while the glue dried. (I don’t have a biscuit joiner.) I screwed through the top into the frame.

Looks good, if I do say so myself.

I didn’t really keep track, but I estimate about 8 more hours invested.

-- It's all in a day's work...