Thread: Built in Wardrobes

Have you ever done it before? Never underestimate the value of paying someone who knows what they're doing.

If you enjoy it and have the time ….. go for it.

You have a table saw, but what are you going to do about edging? Iron on would work, but not as good as ABS edging.

I did our walk in robe recently. If I had my time again I think I would at a minimum get the panels professionally cut to size and edged, and then just look at doing assembly.

I recently made some speaker cabinets. I couldn’t find the veneered mdf that I wanted locally so I ordered off Plyco. For less that $100 I had them break down the 1200x3000 sheet into the panel sizes I required with mitred edges. This made it so much easier and saved hours of my time - I should have done this with the walk in robe.

Hi thanks for the comments. My experience is limited to renovations and building two cottages from the ground up. I am currently working on a 46 foot cruising yacht preping for sale. No doubt the smart way is with pre cut panels but what will the new table saw with the Incra fence be doing? I have been retired for many years but seemed to be employed full time on projects. The edge banding presents a challenge.

Welcome.

Your logic doesn't add up. Without knowing the size and design of the wardorbes it sounds as thought the $5k would have been the smart way to go.

Harvey TS = $2200-3000
Incra Fence = $1000
Materials
- edge banding
- fixings
- melamine or other base material
- TS blade
- hardware, draw slides, handles etc
This could easily total $1000 or more

The new TS really should have dust extraction attached as well. I can't argue the money spent on tools is potentially an investment into future projects but $5k for 2x wardrobes is pretty good value.

I had one installed 5 years ago that is approx 3.6m wide and it was $3500 or so.

In any event, all the best.

Depends on the logic ….. perhaps the purchase of the table saw is for a love of the hobby, and can be put to good use on the wardrobe project, improving the return on investment of the saw.

I often purchase tools for specific jobs to assist in building up the arsenal for future projects. Yes it skews the costs associated with the first project, but can help with efficiencies on future projects, and open up further opportunities.

On my recent speaker build project I purchased a circle cutting jig. If I was to run the numbers on that project, it wouldn’t be much less than purchasing complete speakers after this new purchase of the jig. After I finished, I then decided to make new rear speakers as well, out comes the circle jig, and that project was well under purchasing ready made.

Then there is also the enjoyment, education and satisfaction of making something yourself, which can be worth more than dollars.

Hi Samo thanks for the the input it is valued. I hear what you’re saying and strictly by the numbers it may not be supported by logic. To reframe it, the wardrobes would be an exercise to improve skills and support a proposal to develop a workshop. I have been on the lookout for a good quality table saw secondhand. A good one came and was immediately sold, the resale for quality tools is strong. Dust extraction $590.
All said and done, I am reviewing and reconsidering and put the plan on the shelf, the current quotes are good for another week.

About 40 years ago when we moved into our inner city "workers cottage" it had ZERO storage and one of the first things I did was built a wall of robes Its 4.8m long x 2.6m high by 600mmm deep.
I did have an Ezecut 8" TS at the time but I built these robes using a cheap handsaw and a single speed B&D corded drill.

To save time, we purchased the doors so all I had to do was make a pine frame, and put a chipboard top and a full width chipboard shelf at the level above the lower set of doors.
In terms of built-in storage, there's a 38 mm dowel that runs the full length of the robe for hanging, and we bought two cheap pine and chip board dressers to put inside the robes.
SWMBO's dresser finally fell apart about 10 years ago - plastic runners wore out , shows you how often in was open and shut, and was replaced it with a system of wire baskets, my dresser is still OK - looks very dated bt I'm too tight arsed to replace it.

Doors look quite dated so have thought of replacing them but there are many other things that need doing on the house first

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Thanks Bobl this a nice simple effective approach that has itself over time.

Originally Posted by BobL

... Doors look quite dated so have thought of replacing them ....

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Or whip out the louvres, bung in some mirror, and the room will look twice as big.

But more seriously, Bob, you have a high quality, well crafted floor, and Indonesian louvre doors from bargain basement ... There is a dicotomy. And I do not think you would have posted unless you were very aware of it ....

I decided to build draws & shelves for our walk in robe. Almost ready to install. Used this to justify purchasing a track saw. Most of my wood working tools were my fathers who was a builder so besides being very old (60s & 70s mostly) have done a lot of hard work. Track saw will be very handy for upcoming projects.

Have probably spent $1500 on melamine, draw slides, screws, handle etc. Could have done it for less using Green shed melamine & draw slides.
Getting the melamine cut & edge banding done at a kitchen place would have saved a huge amount of time but my time costs nothing. Admit the edgebanding they use is much better.

At the end of the day, I work part time so have time not money plus enjoy making things.
If.the draw fronts don’t work out in the long run, can always get some professional made later on.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Or whip out the louvres, bung in some mirror, and the room will look twice as big.

But more seriously, Bob, you have a high quality, well crafted floor, and Indonesian louvre doors from bargain basement ... There is a dicotomy. And I do not think you would have posted unless you were very aware of it ....

The cottage was bought in 1979? and we re still here although we have been away many times for periods of up to 2.5years. When we first moved in the floors were covered in budget lime green shag pile carpet. the doors were painted lime green as were the double brick wall air vents. The lounge walls were puce pink and the fireplace was clad in lime green, neon blue and silver wallpaper, and had a smoked glass lintel - very classy. The lampshades were deep red Tiffany tassled. Previous owner was a "lady of the night" .

To install the robes I removed a strip of the lime green carpet and only then noticed how good the floorboards looked but we had no $$ to do any more for a few years. Eventually all carpets were removed and floors sanded etc.

The doors are indeed made from some asian timber but were custom made in WA and are still solid. However, I don't think they could could support mirrors. Like I said we were desperately in need of storage so I knocked up those robes and similar linen cupboard for the back veranda. For the linen cupboard I bought cheap asian love doors from the then famous "WA salvage" at about half the price of the custom made robe doors. Those doors lasted until the first hot summer about 5 years later when the glue went all soft and they slumped like melted butter.

Yep, Bob, fully agree that those louvre doors are so 1970"s and fully at home with lime green shag pile carpet.

But I am trying to gently question their compatibility with highly polished jarrah flooring.

Originally Posted by BobL

... However, I don't think they (the louvre doors) could could support mirrors. ....

I would be surprised. My sliding wardrobe doors have mirror panels 2400x920mm, stiles are 40x40mm L-shaped pine, and the rails are 75x19mm pine - top & bottom only, no intermediates. No issues after 25 years. The mirror effectively braces the doors!

That word dicotomy is still relevant. Can the Asian frames be made compatible with the jarrah, or is that a lost cause?

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Yep, Bob, fully agree that those louvre doors are so 1970"s and fully at home with lime green shag pile carpet.
But I am trying to gently question their compatibility with highly polished jarrah flooring.

Humm . . . . floor no longer that shiny, several generations of dogs in the house have seen to that.

I would be surprised. My sliding wardrobe doors have mirror panels 2400x920mm, stiles are 40x40mm L-shaped pine, and the rails are 75x19mm pine - top & bottom only, no intermediates. No issues after 25 years. The mirror effectively braces the doors!

That word dicotomy is still relevant. Can the Asian frames be made compatible with the jarrah, or is that a lost cause?

The doors actually already have solid ply backs is they are already well braced. It's the henges I was thinking off - they are definitely under speced - one door that SWMBO hangs stuff of has already come of its hinges.