Homemade kitchen cabinets for under $1,000 !

[pigman]

Thanks s.b. , I had to show this kitchen thing to force myself to push the project along hoping forestry forum folks would bug me to keep after it.

Keep a plugging Uncle Buck.  Don't like to bug you but you asked. ;)
The only advice I can give you is finish as much as you can before you move in. I moved in my house I built 27 years ago before a few small things were finished. They still are not finished. :(

[UNCLEBUCK]

I just wanted to show the euro hinges I installed today . It has to be the best and simplest hinge ever invented. All my cabinet doors went on a bit crooked and these hinges have racking adjustments like a 1/4 inch in or out, left or right and with just a little tweaking they are all level and exact spacing . The type I installed is half overlay and also a few full overlay . Anyone with access to a sawmill could make cabinets all day long for next to nothing with dry lumber. I made the grand mistake of using up all my dry lumber last year and wishin I had it now but with cheap counter tops I have hit the $ 999.99 bell . I could have done it even over half this price if I didnt have to buy cedar. Grizzly sells the hinges for under 2 bucks a pair and are just as solid as a 10$ pair . I am new at this but wanted to show how slick euro hinges are .

[UNCLEBUCK]

[UNCLEBUCK]

[UNCLEBUCK]

[UNCLEBUCK]

Well I going to let this thread fade off into the sunset but I just had to show that it doesnt cost a second mortgage or 15 or 20 grand for a kitchen atleast not my kind of kitchen . I hope somebody will give this a try with boards covering up the frameless cabinetry like I did. I guess my tips are use a good plywood for the base cabinets but this melamine particle board works ok. Get your sawn lumber drying and save the good stuff for your project , dont regret it later by using it for something else and above all else have fun and plan your corners better than I did , this was a rush job but just about everything I try is a rush job ! Happy Cabinet Making ! 

[sprucebunny]

Your kitchen looks GREAT, UNCLEBUCK  8) 8) 8)
I'm impressed with your workmanship and that you finished so quick ;D ;D

[UNCLEBUCK]

Oh thanks sprucebunny but now I am out of the kitchen cabinet hotseat and someone else is next ! Right !  Who"s next ? Who needs to finish a project ?  ???  Thanks for all the uplifting support which kept me a going !  ;D

[Paschale]

Hey Uncle Buck,

Looking good!  Those kitchen cabinets will make your fiance proud!   ;)

When's the wedding?  That "shack's" coming along just fine now!   8)

BTW, it seems to me you did those kitchen cabinets in record time.  How long did it take you from start to finish?  Pretty inspiring!   8)

[Rockn H]

Those cabinets do look pretty good Uncle Buck. 8)

[asy]

Gee! you sure are a speedy bear!

Bet you want to move that wedding along. Best incentive ever ;)

Looking FANTASTIC!

asy :D

[UNCLEBUCK]

Thanks asy, Thanks Paschale ! Wedding is going to be in Michigan after I finish the shack but I cant believe how long it takes for finishing , might be this fall? I think it took 9 days to bang the cabinets out . Now I get my knee pads on and lay heavy tile down with the book in front of me trying to figure out how . I just had to show these euro hinges , must be like the metric system , so simple it makes one wonder why it isnt used more often .Thanks RocknH and I gotta say thanks to F.D . for the melamine tips but I know he gone down to a foreign country somewhere

[Norm]

Looks great UB!  8)

[Mrs._Stump_Jumper]

fine job on them cabnets ub

a friend of mine is putting down ceramic tile in the bathroom floor but under it he is putting electric heating element that will be thermastat controled .

      oops posted under my wifes signature

    stump jumper

[tnlogger]

 UB great looking cabinets a man on a mission can do wounders.

That said geterdone and carry the bride over the theshhold.  ;D

[Fla._Deadheader]

  UB, I may be gone, but not out of range.   ;D :D

  That's a great looking job.

  Ceramic Tile is EZ. Lay one run each way, centered in the room, either with the seam, OR with a whole tile. Try to get the edge all the way around, even. Strike yer center lines after scraping the high spots down, or sanding  the high spots if it's a wood floor.  We always used a latex additive, just to be sure no tiles got loose later on.

  Get a STRAIGHT edge 2 X 4 or whatever, about 8 feet long, to find any high spots before and after setting the tiles. Makes the tile edges real level.

  I prefer laying on the diamond look. Makes the room "appear" larger.

  We cut the base molding from the same tile. There is a plastic top strip to cover the cut edge. Any problems just ask.

  Ed " Swampy" (my diver-son) is the Tile specialist. Wish I could make the wedding.  :(  We always used 10% over when buying tile. They will try to sell 15%, but, if yer careful, you will still have a few extra at 10%.  ;) ;)

[Patty]

Wow, UB, I am truley impressed. The kitchen looks GREAT!  8) The floor tiles aren't so bad, we have done it a few times. You just gotta have a plan BEFORE you start laying them, like FDH said. Get you a good tile cutter, if you don't already have one. We finally bought a water cutter (better known as a wet saw)  and it has been the best investment ever. Those handheld cutters always gave me problems. Personally I like the tiles flush up against eachother, but if you space them a little, a good way to get the grout in easy is to use a cake decorating tool, like they use for frosting. You can just squeeze the grout right between the tiles, it works pretty slick.
Keep up the good work, it is a pleasure to watch your progress.  ;)

[Ernie]

Hey UB looks like you have a new career if you want it.

[ScottAR]

Dandy cabinets! Great job...  That White board will be easy to clean, makes for a happy lady... 

Tile is easy.  Buy, borrow, or rent a wet saw.  I will never lay tile again without one.  Post any questions and I'll do my best to answer them. 

[UNCLEBUCK]

Thanks again everyone ! I am officially done and going to clean up the mess now , got the broom closet and bottom drawer faces done so I just want to say thanks Norm & Patty ,F.D.,ScottAR for the tiling pointers,thanks ernie,tnlogger and stump jumper ! Me tired !

[asy]

So what's left to do on the house before we see the wedding photos???

asy :D

[Teri]

Looks very nice. Great job.  8)