Face Frame or Frameless?

[dantwomey]

I'm trying to build some drawers for a bathroom vanity and because of lack of experience I'm having difficulty deciding which way to go. I have the basic carcass built (pictured below) and I've decided I'd like to try the Blum Tandem slides TANDEM 562F With BLUMOTION Drawer Slides By Blum | Shop & Save at CabinetParts.com (http://www.cabinetparts.com/g/tandem-562f-with-blumotion-drawer-slides-blum) but I can't decide whether or not to go face frame or inset.

Suggestions?

Regards,
Dan

[gpsmith]

Dan,
It really is personal preference. Why not do 2 drawings of the front and see which you (or the one who must be obeyed) prefer. How are you going to finish the cabinet? From the photo it looks like it is mdf - is it moisture rated?
One suggestion is to built the drawer inserts and then attach drawer fronts but whether they cover the carcass or sit inside the carcass they will need to hide the drawer slides.
Regards,

[GraemeCook]

Good Morning Dan

I have done drawers with Blum Tandem under-drawer runners and love them - they are probably the smoothest in the Blum range - or any other range for that matter. It is far easier to use them in frameless construction rather than faceframe. If you fully design the vanity on Sketchup or other CAD program this will become self evident, and also make it real easy to extract a full cutting list for sheet materials.

As Mr Smith suggests, you photo appears to show standard MDF - water resistant MDF and chipboard (as in melamine sheets) has a greenish tinge to the core. For a wet area like a vanity I think it is really essential that the water resistant product is used. Your workmanship is worth much more than the sheet material cost, so avoid future heart ache.

If that carcase is standard material perhaps it could be diverted to somewhere else. We all need/want another set of drawers in the shed!

Fair Winds

Graeme

[rwbuild]

Good Morning Dan

I have done drawers with Blum Tandem under-drawer runners and love them - they are probably the smoothest in the Blum range - or any other range for that matter. It is far easier to use them in frameless construction rather than faceframe. If you fully design the vanity on Sketchup or other CAD program this will become self evident, and also make it real easy to extract a full cutting list for sheet materials.

As Mr Smith suggests, you photo appears to show standard MDF - water resistant MDF and chipboard (as in melamine sheets) has a greenish tinge to the core. For a wet area like a vanity I think it is really essential that the water resistant product is used. Your workmanship is worth much more than the sheet material cost, so avoid future heart ache.

If that carcase is standard material perhaps it could be diverted to somewhere else. We all need/want another set of drawers in the shed!

Fair Winds

Graeme

:aro-u: What Graeme said. You have wasted your time using standard MDF (MOST DEFINITELY FAILS) refered to in the trade as weet bix or blotting paper, use that one somewhere else where there is no moister or high humidity, make a new carcase out of HMR (High Moister Resistant) melamine with iron on edge strip then fit your drawers, also use HMR for these as well.

[chambezio]

Hey Dan If you are after a "modern" contemporary look, then no frame would do. But if you were after a more "classical" look or "cottage" look then face frame would be the one. No frame means also that you would screw your drawer runners straight on to the sides (gables) of the drawer unit. Face frame method would dictate the runners would have to be packed out to bring the back of the runner in line to the egde of the face frame. What has been mentioned about moisture resistant material is very relevant. The selection of material available to you is not exactly the same as mentioned here. We tend to use a lot of either particle board and MDF with melamine coating where you would have a range of plywood as the substrate more readily available One thing about Blum, they are quality.