Making Bedside cabinets

[EvianBaby]

Baring in mind I haven't built anything since I did woodwork at school, how hard would it be for a novice to try and knock together a couple of bedside cabinets?

Would it be much cheaper (assuming they turned out ok) to buy the wood (oak) to make them rather than just buying some?

[marden40]

spotted these on e-bay.....they look ok and to be honest you couldn't buy the oak and make your own cheaper than this....

http://www.ebay.co.uk...93e1da#ht_1208wt_1037

[EvianBaby]

Thanks Marden, they are a lot cheaper than similar items I've seen and around the right budget too. Don't know why I didn't think to look on Ebay.

[carrust]

The Mrs is doing a furniture making class at the moment. She's making a CD cabinet that's about a metre high. The oak she is using came to about £85-00 and that's the cheap American stuff. So, I'd go down the E-bay route.

[jno]

drawers and hinges are fiddly; but if you just want open shelves, probably not too difficult. All the same, you can probably buy just as cheap and a lot quicker.

[EvianBaby]

Wooo! That's a lot of money. Esepcially when there's a good chance I'd stuff it up. Think you're right.

I got an oak bed for a really good price and wanted to the side tables to match but it is sooooo expensive.

[ummmm]

Use cheaper wood and stain it.

[carrust]

The course has cost £220-00 for 2 terms...They're going to be expensive CD racks :-(

[rowanwitch]

buy some..... unless you are really confident of your skills or try in a cheaper wood first and stain them

[B00]

no disrespect to marden- but that Ebay link is for one cabinet. You want two, so that takes the total for them to £120.00, which in my mind isn't cheap!

[The Builder]

I know you mention oak, but it's quite difficult to work with if you're not very experienced. It's rather more like engineering than joinery. Would you consider trying MDF first? It's very forgiving, and easy to glue and screw. Any mistakes can be filled, then the whole lot painted with anything you like.
You could compromise by having a hardwood top.
Traditional drawers are difficult. You'd really need a router and dovetail jig. Again, you could compromise by using off the shelf kitchen drawers and runners.......... then add you own oak front and posh handles.

[EvianBaby]

I think if I made one with cheaper wood and tried to stain it I'd probably make a hash of that too. Thinking about it with these answers it's probably more cost effective in the long run just to look out for a bargain.

I hope your wife doesn't decide to replace all the CD's for an MP3 player Carrust :)

[carrust]

Hope not evian, I've got more than a 1,000 of 'em.

[Old_Geezer]

Probably more cost effective to look out for a bargain, maybe second hand. But so satisfying if you pull off a great creation and know you did it.

[bednobs]

personally i'd get some from ikea

[EcclesCake]

Unless you are competent, have a full set of tools and have a favourable wood yard nearby I'd suggest it is a false economy to make your own.

There are quite a few discount oak furniture stores about and I'm sure you'll get a better deal from buying off the peg.

[EvianBaby]

I looked in Ikea on Monday but I didn't like any of the ones they had.

I'd love to make my own but I'm picturing what a disaster it would be and I'd probaby have to have an ambulance on stand by.

[vulcan]

The Builder mentioned a router and dovetail jig and it is quite amazing how many tools you need for a project like this. Good tools are expensive so if you have to buy them for this one project, it will make the cabinets very dear.