How to restore this cupboard?

DanaS

Hi, I'm doing a restoration of a cupboard we got free online.

It's a bit wobbly so i figuered i'd use a sander to sand down the wooden legs to even level. Please suggest a better way if you know it?

What i'm more stuck on is the doors. They're very uneven, more so then the wobble should allow for so need some advice on straightening them out?

EricL

Hello @DanaS

Thanks for sharing your question about restoring your cupboard. Before you begin sanding the cabinet down, I suggest fixing the cabinet structure first then followed by the door alignment.

I recommend using a Craftright 250mm Try And Mitre Square to determine if the cabinet body is square. I suggest adding a few more screws to the ends of the cabinet to stiffen the structure. When the cabinet is square, the doors in theory should be very close to being lined up. The door hinges do have adjustment points on them, but I suggest starting with the cabinet structure before you adjust the doors.

I recommend checking out the upcycling projects on our Featured Projects section for inspiration, I also suggest having a look at this guide - How to upcycle a bedside cabinet by @MitchellMc. The guide has techniques that you can use on your own cabinet.

Have you thought about what colour you'll be painting the cabinet? Will you be using wallpaper and stencils on the doors? There are quite a few combinations that you can do. Please let us know what you have in mind.

Please remember to use personal protection such as gloves, goggles and a dust mask when working on your cabinet.

Let me call on some of our experienced members @sandy_d, @theDIYedit, and @daniknight4 for their recommendations.

Here are some handy step-by-step guides:

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

DanaS

Thx for the info. What do you mean adding screws to stiffen to structure?

I'm not painting. It's a wonderfull darkwood in good nick. Just repairing first, gotta fix a door latch too. Then change the handles and add lighting strips so it can function as a display cabinet.

But start with repair. So stop the wobble and get the doors back even.

EricL

Hi @DanaS

Sometimes the screws holding the cabinet square become loose and even if you tighten them up the cabinet still tends to lean in one direction or another. In order to fix this, I suggest adding a few screws where the end of the panels meet together to re-enforce the corners of the cabinet. I also suggest having a look at using Zenith 50mm Stainless Steel Angle Bracket inside the cabinet to brace the side panels and prevent the cabinet from leaning.

I've placed a sample sketch below to give you an idea of how to re-enforce the cabinet base.

If you have any other questions, please let us know.

Eric

DanaS

Thanks i'll be giving it a try next month probably.

Finishing off my painting this month n doing early research