Assembling cabinet furniture with your own hands

Do-it-yourself cabinet furniture is a reality of today. It is enough to have basic work skills and tools, be able to make elementary measurements and have the patience to assemble a wardrobe or chest of drawers with your own hands.

Is it possible to assemble furniture yourself

Buying disassembled furniture has become popular. This is several times cheaper than buying, delivering and loading a piece of furniture pre-assembled in production.

Scheme and drawings

After the parts of the future furniture have been delivered to you, do not rush to unpack everything at once for joy. There is a high degree of probability that the elements can be confused with each other.

It will be difficult to find the necessary one among the pile of furniture parts. In addition, there is a risk of damage to some of the parts while you are assembling other components. Read the instructions carefully before unpacking.

The diagram is structured so that you work in stages. According to the instructions, unpack the boxes one by one and immediately fasten the parts together, as indicated in the drawings. This will help you avoid confusion, especially if you are a beginner master.

Each element and fittings has its own symbol on the diagram. Start assembly from the lower sections, gradually building up the furniture in height. Facades are placed last.

Required tools and fasteners

What is cabinet furniture made of? Usually these are chipboard sheets of various thicknesses. Often you will have to work with an array or MDF.

Despite the fact that the parts and fittings are supplied in the kit, the master needs to have some of his own tools:

• one or more screwdrivers;
• various screwdrivers;
• bits or screwdrivers;
• confirmation drill for connecting fasteners;
• awl with a comfortable handle;
• jigsaw;
• a simple drawing pencil for notes on wood;
• ruler;
• cutter for drilling holes for furniture hinges.

Assembly technology and nuances

It is recommended that you watch a few practical videos before assembling cabinet furniture with your own hands. This will help you quickly navigate the nuances of work. Make the right decision in an ambiguous situation.

Today there are several technologies for furniture assembly:

1. Eccentric coupler. This is a special, right-angle fastening connection where the entire installation is hidden inside the timber. At the same time, there are no parts or fasteners left on the surface. The furniture has a neat appearance without protruding elements.
2. Corner furniture is considered an outdated technology for assembling cabinet furniture. Today, this method is applicable in an economy class headset. On the other hand, this is the simplest and cheapest fastener that even a beginner can master. Professional craftsmen use this technique on inconspicuous areas, for example, when assembling a plinth. This saves on materials.
3. The furniture dowel is used if the set does not provide for disassembly. For this, a hole is made for the dowel and filled with glue.Such an attachment is durable and strong, if a heavy load is not planned on this element. Otherwise, parts of the furniture will soon loosen and have to be reassembled.
4. Confirmation or Euroscrew is a technology that is distinguished by its simplicity and efficiency. It is enough to make holes with a drill and plant the element with a hex wrench. The fasteners are reliable, but the hat is visible. If this is a facade element, the confirmation is hidden by a plug or a sticker under the chipboard.

Assembly features for different types of furniture

There is no single recipe for the design and manufacture of cabinet furniture. There are significant differences between how to assemble a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. A novice master will be faced with seemingly insoluble questions at every step.

But with experience, you gain confidence in your abilities and an understanding of the nuances.

Dresser

In such work, the assembly sequence is important:

• first of all, the frame is assembled;
• the sides of the boxes are fastened to the front and back walls;
• attach the bottom;
• set the guides, having previously made measurements and marks with a pencil;
• then move on to additional elements, if such are present in the dresser model, for example, mirrors or decorative decorations.

Bed

The bed is a base frame, base and headboard. Depending on the product model, the assembly may have features specified in the instructions.

But the basic rules are common to all beds:

• the first step is to mount a base of three frames and a base;
• attach the legs to the frames and check the structure for stability;
• then the corners and shelves are fastened;
• connect the back to the frames;
• lay a bar for a mattress topper;
• tighten in the places indicated in the instructions with self-tapping screws;
• adjust the rigidity of the bed by tightening the screws;
• if necessary, cover the finished product with varnish.

Cupboard

The cabinet is considered the easiest model to assemble.

Here, the assembly technology is common for everyone:

• connect the shelves to the side walls;
• attach the back wall;
• make sure that right angles are observed between the elements of the cabinet;
• install and adjust facades;
• hang the shelves;
• hang up the doors.

Closet

The sliding wardrobe is a little more difficult to assemble compared to the classic one. Here you need to install a sliding door system and monitor the careful execution of each fastener and component.

Otherwise, the entire structure may tilt and the doors will be blocked:

• assemble the base, if any;
• collect the side walls;
• attach the back wall;
• check corners and diagonals;
• attach shelves, rods and drawers;
• install the upper guide rail;
• insert and adjust the door;
• install the bottom guide;
• glue the sealing brushes.

Kitchen set

The kitchen set begins to be assembled from the lower blocks.

This is the basic rule for all models:

• fasten the side parts with euro screws;
• insert the strips to install the countertop;
• attach the back wall;
• install and adjust facades;
• collect the top blocks.

Build errors

Making cabinet furniture with your own hands is a creative and exciting activity. But if you neglect the instructions, diagram and advice of professionals, you can spoil the material and render the finished product unusable.

1. Do not place pencil markings "by eye". This will lead to a mismatch or distortion of entire blocks of cabinet furniture. In this matter, accuracy and accuracy should be in the first place.
2. Match the left and right parts carefully. These are different elements. They must be installed each on its own side.
3. Re-check the numbering of parts, fasteners and fittings before final fixing. Write in pencil if you're not hoping for a keepsake.
4. If the connecting fittings are not fastened to the stop, this eventually leads to loosening of the elements. Fix well and check the block for strength and stability.
5. Learn to make precise and straight holes. Not only the appearance of furniture depends on their quality, but also its strength and durability.
6. Train yourself to fix small fasteners first, and then larger ones.
7. Check the installation by measuring the diagonal of the structure. Otherwise, the furniture will warp and collapse under its own weight.

Everyone can learn how to assemble furniture of high quality. It is enough to acquire quality tools, patience and the habit of checking your measurements several times.

Video: DIY cabinet furniture assembly