Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/RTA kitchen cabinets

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Expert: - 10/21/2010


Question
I am replacing kitchen cabinets.  My hubby is quite handy and our budget is limited.  Are RTA cabinets better with camlocks or glue and other fasteners?

Answer
Hi Sue, the camlock construction is very well designed, I have put together several different designs like Ikea's line and found them strong and very well engineered. Having said that I did use glue for every dowel, and installed several screws in strategic places (drilled and countersunk), to give me piece of mind....especially on the upper cabinets, which can be stuffed with a lot of weight. The Ikea track hanger system for the upper cabinets is also a great idea, but it's imperative to make sure the track is lag bolted into studs...I was shocked to see very little information regarding that very important point in their documentation....a full set of upper cabinets could contain several hundred pounds or more of 'stuff'....Hope that helps- post back if need be- regards- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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