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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

RETROFITTING THE CHINA CABINET DOORS


Yesterday I showed you my current project, the china cabinet for the dining room.  


The outside doors had a wire screen rather than glass.  I like the charm and texture of the wire, but it was not in good shape (surprise!) and I decided that I wanted the clean look of glass all the was across the doors.

I was hoping for a simple trip to the glass shop for a few rectangular panes of glass, but upon examining the backs of the doors I discovered the door frame around the glass was cut in the same curved shape as the front of the door.  Boo.  A much more difficult cut for the glass and much more $$$ to replace it.


However, the doors were nice and thick and I thought it would be fairly easy to notch out the corners of that curve to make the back into a rectangular frame for the glass.  So, I called my handy-dandy dad for some help.  We decided this would be a fairly easy project with the router.

First, we marked the section that we wanted to cut out,


and then he routed out most of the unwanted section.


There was a small section left in the corners where the router couldn't make a sharp cut,


so using a chisel he squared up the corners.  


That's it!  A little sanding and paint and no one will ever know.  I left the doors at the glass shop so they could get a good fit, and it will only cost about $10 per door for the glass.
  

By the way, if you ever need to clean up spilled, ancient, dried wood glue, a chisel turned upside down is a great tool!  Ask me, I know.  :)  Apparently this cabinet was also the tool storage unit for the previous owners.


Most of you don't know my dad, but these photos from his garage will tell you a lot...











He's organized, disciplined, consistent, resourceful, creative, and a super-hard worker.
Dad, thanks so much for your help yesterday!  I know you had a long list of other things to be doing, and I love how you're always willing to drop all of your projects when someone need your help.  I hope that I am that willing to help others, also.

Wish me luck, I'm off to sand a little more and start priming!

Linking up with
 

Would you like to comment?

  1. Wow - your dad is so organized!! That motivates me so much to clean out my garage and label everything!!!! And - he makes routering and chiseling all look so easy. I need your dad's skills!

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  2. So glad you are showing this! I've been searching craigslist for a while and didn't know you could take out the wire...so clever!

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  3. Love this!! Reminds me of my Dad. I can remember borrowed his tools, and having to make sure I wiped then off after using. He said, You never return dirty tools to a man."

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  4. What ingenuity...I hope I would be that smart in the same situation :) Your dad is an inspiration!

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  5. Your Dad might have himself a little side business from this post ;). Love his organized garage!!

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  6. He's a great helper isn't he? Wish I lived closer...perhaps I could hire him as a handy helper at times. :) So glad you have him near to help do things like this. Great idea, by the way! Can't wait to see how it looks finished. More of your talent ~

    xo
    Pat

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  7. Genius idea ~ I would have guessed more than $10 each! I was wondering what he paints? Our dads could be two peas in a pod, too! :)

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  8. How wonderful that your Dad can help you out - I love the pic of him working! Aren't Dads so special :)

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  9. I totally "pinned" your Dad's spray paint color wheel thingy! That is a great idea. I want to come live in your Dad's garage! What a fun place!

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  10. Your adjectives describing your dad are loving and wonderful...but they just touch the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. He is an outstanding man with a beautiful heart for God. He blesses many lives. Suellen Allen

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  11. That's brilliant! So glad you dont have to get the glass cut to fit.

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  12. Love your Dads garage, if my Hubby would let me organize his it would look like your Dads. I am gonna show him this :) oh and your china cabinet is gonna be really pretty, its a nice shape :)

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  13. I just found this! Your Dad and my Dad should be neighbors; I think they're cosmic twins, actually.

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