Went to Home Depot and got a quote for 6 standard under the counter cabinets by Kraft Made. 6 cabinets... $6,000; and 3 didn't even have drawers.
Are you kidding me? What wooden box costs $1,000. All of these cabinets were standard, meaning nothing special. All of the parts are fabricated with CNC machines.
Anybody know where I can get a good deal on cabinets?
Thanks!!!
Quote from: BlueScarecrow on March 03, 2015, 01:27:50 PM
Went to Home Depot and got a quote for 6 standard under the counter cabinets by Kraft Made. 6 cabinets... $6,000; and 3 didn't even have drawers.
Are you kidding me? What wooden box costs $1,000. All of these cabinets were standard, meaning nothing special. All of the parts are fabricated with CNC machines.
Anybody know where I can get a good deal on cabinets?
Thanks!!!
I would try a cabinet maker in your town, maybe even look for a finish carpenter on craigslist.
I tried the home Depot route as your thinking.Dont wast your time and money,mine fell apart on the way home,made a nice bonfire though.Finally found a guy that made cabinets etc out of his home(no overhead) I framed everything up,he came over and took measurements for the face boards,cabinet doors and drawers.He charged me material x 2 for the job.Im very happy with the job....George
Build your own cabinets and buy the doors. Very few cabinet makers make their own doors anymore. It isn't cost effective. If there is a hardwood lumber wholesaler in your area, they sell drawer stock. Long boards already routed for the bottom board and rounded over on the top edge. Sometimes, it's even prefinished.
You could have a cabinet maker do the cabinet boxes and drawer boxes. You buy the doors, hang them, install the drawer runners and drawers. Don't let anybody talk you into MDF. It's heavy and falls apart.
A good Cabinet person will have a lot better ideas than those one size fits all things. This is one are that will make or break your conversion.
Don and Cary
Thanks all for writing.
Yeah I don't like that MDF.
A guy made me a table out of that stuff... it looks and feels like cardboard.
Thanks again!!!
Mike
My wife took me to IKEA and we found some awesome options there. I know there isn't may of those stores around but I'm sure about 90 percent of the furniture for our bus is coming from IKEA. They have really cool convertible couches, custom and pre-built cabinets, a ton of little storage units, and they also have a large selection of 12v and 24V led lights, some recessed and some under counter lights. The LED lights use a power invertor but it's sold seprately so you don't have to buy it, just buy the light and wire it in :D
Thanks so much... I'll take a look at Ikea.
Another thought , try your local(if you have one) Habitat for Humanity. I donate there often and I buy things there occasionally ann often see good quality cabinets that have been taken out of a perfectly good kitchens and the contractor takes them to habitat and gets a tax deduction slip. I think I have several thousand dollars in tax deductions slips 2014.
Ever come to Austin? I build cabinets, among other things, and would be happy to build what you need. We are in the process of completely rebuilding the interior of our '80 Silver Eagle. I have thought of taking my business on the road while we are out on a "Roadschooling adventure." It would be nice to line up 2 or 3 jobs and hit the road for a few months. Maybe when the time is right. I know it's ridiculously far, but check my website and feel free to contact me. www.danddworkshop.com (http://www.danddworkshop.com)
Thanks,
Dennis
We got our for free. The wife watched CL when people were remodeling the kitchens and baths. We got ones from the 90's with arch top raised panel doors that were close to golden oak. We cut them to fit the bus and sanded and re stained to match what was there. Total cost one can of stain and some clear.
Dave5Cs ;D
All great ideas.
I do have to panel-up the windows on that side of the bus. The passenger side is done, looks great and no leaks!
Then I can finish the inside wall on the drivers side and it's ready for the cabinets.
The Suburban SHD-2542 2-stage furnace is installed on the drivers side (mid-bus) with duct-work to the front and back.
That section of the floor will be on top of the duct-work in the front and back, so there is no need for a "Kick" on the bottom of the cabinets as the depth is 21".
The irritating thing is that the floor of the bus loses 2 3/8" from the front (step/datum) to 24 feet back; and that had to be dealt with. Grrrrrr.
Thanks all for writing!!!
Mike
It's relatively easy to make the framed in cabinets. I made all my cabinets out of 1x2 red oak held together with 1" L brackets. Then, all my kitchen cabinets are pass through for maximum storage area.
For my surface mounted doors (this covers a multitude of sins) I used barkercabinets.com out of Tualitan, Or. I ordered solid red oak shaker doors. You order on line (never talked to anyone), specify how wide the shoulders are, the measurements of each door within 1/16" increment, whether you want it stained, or hinges installed, etc. I ordered my doors unfinished, but sanded ready to finish, no hinges, no latches that I installed myself. They cost on average $35.00 apiece! I couldn't make them for that little. And to top it off, each door had a printed label telling the dimensions so you didn't have to remeasure each door. The doors came out perfect, measured correctly, and the workmanship was top notch. I highly recommend Barker Cabinets. They also make drawers. Look them up. Good Luck, TomC
If you just want excellent dovetailed drawers, with state of the art sliders already installed (cushioned closures). Check out www.barkerdoors.com (http://www.barkerdoors.com) It must be a sister company.
Back in the day (12 years) when I was building my conversion everyone raved about the "Kreg Tool". Available at Lowes if not HD, it is the simple way to make frames and cabinets. You use screws so the cabinets won't fall apart. I used oak frames and oak plywood. Looks good.
--Geoff
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftapatalk.imageshack.com%2Fv2%2F15%2F03%2F05%2Fe0913e26ff8c31d006c58d83b2c2c474.jpg&hash=fe5e9979424bf3b82ac693e5dc6dd0f5fd0b2042)
What's so hard about building cabinets? This is 2x2, a few brackets and some OSB. Not much skill involved unless measuring, marking, cutting, drilling and screwing is beyond you.
Very functional. P
ut a Rubbermaid tote under the sink. You could wash your hands and feet at the same time. ;D
Rick
The Habitat for Humanity off 17 in Phoenix has tons of new cabinets and doors and so does the builders surplus off Grand Ave check those out
At IKEA you can get good ideas but their cabinets and furniture are are not great lol neither are the meat balls
Quote from: luvrbus on March 06, 2015, 05:26:48 AM
At IKEA you can get good ideas but their cabinets and furniture are are not great lol neither are the meat balls
THANK YOU! Finally somebody who shares my opinion of ikea. I know lots of people who love the store, but I really don't care for it. If they want to go in, and I am driving, I will wait in my truck. Seriously do not care for that place. Not to mention, it takes like 45mins of fast walking and short cuts just to get to the checkout.
I have a small cabinet shop and might have time to help you out depending on your timetable.I live in Surprise so not to far away.Give me a call at six 0 two six seven seven eight one four eight if you want.I can send pics of my bus and cabinets in my house. Don
Quote from: Geoff on March 05, 2015, 04:30:58 PM
Back in the day (12 years) when I was building my conversion everyone raved about the "Kreg Tool". Available at Lowes if not HD, it is the simple way to make frames and cabinets. You use screws so the cabinets won't fall apart. I used oak frames and oak plywood. Looks good.
--Geoff
Lots of cabinet ideas and instructionals on their site/utube as well. Tool works great.
I love my Kreg tools. I also use a biscuit cutter but I would think they might snap in a bus that is always shifting.
Dave5Cs
There are Amish furniture makers out in your general area. You might find one that could build what you want.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2479419/please-recommend-an-amish-kitchen-cabinet (http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2479419/please-recommend-an-amish-kitchen-cabinet)
We looked at pre made cabinets but with my bus and its sloped floor that wasn't really a option. I have gotten the cupboard sliding baskets from Ikea as well as window blinds.The rest has been made with what I think are basic wood working tools . Table saw miter saw skil saw jig saw and a biscuit cutter.
It is not high end but those that have seen it so far are impressed with how it looks. Lots of miles walking in and out of bus fitting pieces.As long as the wife likes it it's all good .;)
Chuck
I'll bet you could find one of those Amish craftsman that could build them into the coach for you.
Call this guy Jim @ Last Detail in Glendale 623-877-8133 he may treat you right if he needs a fill in,let him cut what you need on the computerized saw and you install he treats us alright on the restaurants
The problem with IKEA is that all their furniture is chipboard (MDF) which is heavy, flimsy and doesn't last long. I have an IKEA style set of drawers in my bedroom and its already falling apart after just two years. When I move into my bus, I'll take the screws etc out of it and dump the "wood" in the dumpster.
I bought two end tables for the bedroom from Ikea. While I don't like presswood, the end tables don't really have to support anything and I have them screwed to the wall and floor. Otherwise, I've made all my cabinets myself. I figure my cabinets in my bus are still together after 20 years that indicates that they should stay together in the truck also. Good Luck, TomC