Cabinet Making
By the end of July, 2022, all the Katamavak.com used woodworking equipment will be sent to auction.
What we did with all those tools
The table saw came first, but cutting sheet goods (Plywood, Melamine, MDF) to make cabinets is a real chore with a table saw. To cut those goods on a table saw and not damage them was just too difficult for us. So we progressed to a track saw and bought a Festool TS55 for what seemed like an exorbitant price.
The track saw allowed us to make long clean cuts and break the sheet goods down into manageable pieces for side and bottom pieces.
The track made the cuts clean, accurate and consistent. The plastic edging on the track supports the melamine as the saw cuts through it so that any chipping is minimized.
If you are going to use a track saw a pencil is just too inaccurate so you also need to change your techniques. You use ONE (1) measuring tape -- since they all measure slightly differently. You get an accurate T-Square and you make marks with an XActo Knife -- or similar. You also learn to fill in those fine marks with pencil dust so you can see where to lay the track edge.
The piece to the LEFT of the track is what you are measuring and cutting.
You also learn to use hold down clamps -- so that nothing moves.
If you do make an error in sizing the long cuts -- that's where you use a table saw. You set the fence to the size of the "smallest" piece and trim each piece to a consistent size. Just remeber that every cabinet on a give wall should have exactly the same size of top and bottom pieces so that the installation is consistent.
When cutting with a table saw we made extensive use of "hold-in" and "hold-down" clamps.
I could not find the commercial piece for the Ryobi Table saw -- so I made a piece from maple with track slides (5/8") built in. It worked fine and allowed a much safer experience. In twenty years of using a table saw I only had two kickbacks or ejections -- both time I skipped the use of the hold-in clamps.
The leather apron is the last line of defense -- I recommend the use of leather aprons.
We used vacuum cleaner or dust collectors to attach to the Festool TS55 track saw. A large vacuum cleaner worked best for long runs. We use a HEPA filter AND a fine dust collection bag -- and an industrial dust mask with exhaust port.
I will post more later and cover the use of the plate joiner to assemble cabinets.