This wardrobe/armoire is only the second time I’ve used nails to attach a frame to a carcase. Interestingly, the other time was also a wardrobe. For years I have resorted to either biscuits or dowels. I hate biscuits (noisy, dusty machine .. yuk!) and dowels are finicky.
So the issues are, who else nails on frames and what spacing for the nails?
I used both nails and glue in attaching the frames for the doors. The nails are 8” apart over a frame of 42”.
Tools of the trade ..
I use a Japanese hammer, which has a flat and a domed end. The flat side is for hammering to the edge of the surface of the wood, and then the domed end is use to tap it gently to the surface without marring the surrounding wood.
The frame was partly pre-drilled for the nails, mainly to prevent splitting and also to ensure that they went where I wanted them to go!
The nails are the thinnest I felt I could use, approximately 1/32” diameter and 1 ¼” long. The frame is a little under ¾” thick.
Frankly, I am not sure if the nails are doing anything structural, or whether it is the glue that holds it all together. I need to know if this area must be beefed up.
A sequence of nailing (self explanatory)..
The nail holes are filed with wax. I mixed up a colour that matched the darker figure.
How well does the wax disguise the holes? Here is a sequence of views …
And here is an update on the WIP: frames-and-doors and base attached .. Total height is 51" ... still to do is the drawer, handles and top.
Regards from Perth
Derek