Band saw cabinet build

I’m going to try to document this build a bit more thoroughly than I did with the drill press cabinet.

Step one is to cut the main pieces out. I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid enough to try to wrangle a sheet of 3/4” plywood onto my portable table saw.

I use a circular saw to cut the pieces slightly oversized out of the 4×8 sheet. Then over to the table saw to cut them to the exact size.

This one is just right.

Make sure you keep track of which parts are which.

The two sides need a 3/4” dado for the bottom.

The bottom, sides, and one of the stretchers need a 1/4” dado for the back panel.

Tape labels because they look the same, but need holes in different places

The stretchers need pocket holes drilled, two per edge.

A bit of glue in the 3/4” dados and clamp the sides together.

Slide the back panel in and then attach the four stretchers.

There’s your cabinet carcass.

Cabinet pieces waiting for glue up
This hatch will give me access to the electrical compartment.

Now for the fun part – drawers 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

I didn’t like the one deep drawer on the drill press cabinet, so I decided on two shallow drawers for this one.

I also didn’t like the pocket hole screw construction on the drawers so I decided to up my game with box joints.

Cutting box joints with my jig

Always dry fit your drawers into your cabinet before glue up. This will prevent you from having to build your next cabinet around the drawer box that’s too big to fit into this cabinet (foreshadowing). Luckily I had only glued one up and was able to trim the other drawer down to the correct size.

Making progress. Old metal base in the background.

I used a combination square to center the saw on top of the cabinet & bolted it down. Then I used a plumb bob to size up the hole for the drive belt.

I drilled a hole for each side of the belt, then connected the two holes with the jig saw.

Once the radial arm saw is up and running, I’ll make an upper belt guard, which will also reduce the amount of sawdust that gets into the electrical compartment.

Front side

Because the front panel has to come off for blade changes, the work light got mounted in the back.

Back side

A coat of boiled linseed oil to protect the wood.

The top drawer holds my finger joint jig, dado set, throat plate, and circle cutting jig.

The bottom drawer is currently empty but I’m sure that’s a temporary condition.

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Author: rexplex

With a bachelors degree in history, I turn wrenches for a living. I’m most at peace when I hear the wind in the trees or the gurgle of a brook. I’m a believer in the Renaissance Man, as epitomized by DaVinci engineer, artist, soldier, statesman. As Heinlein said, “A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

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