Tools for making an enclosure?

[Renenet]

Hi,

I'm finding it quite difficult to source an enclosure for my yearling stimmie in Cairns, and sadly, it costs way too much to ship enclosures from elsewhere. So I'm thinking I might need to make one myself.

Frankly, I'm not sure where to start. I have no knowledge of cabinetry (although I believe there are places that will cut the material for you) and have very few tools. Can you DIY experts please tell me what tools I will need to make a robust enclosure? Hopefully without spending a fortune?

And while I'm here, what is rebating and what do I need to do it?

Thanks.

 

[Red-Ink]

A drill, a jig saw and a circular saw... pretty much can build any enclosure with that.

 

[Pilchy]

+ a tape measure and screws

 

[Renenet]

What do you use the jig saw for, Red-Ink? Do you need it if you only want to cut straight edges?

 

[Red-Ink]

What do you use the jig saw for, Red-Ink? Do you need it if you only want to cut straight edges?

Vents... you could get by without one and make circular sink strainer vents instead with a circular cutter. But if you want square vents a jig saw comes in handy.

 

[Trouble]

+ 1 to what those two have said lol. Oh and liquid nails to help with bonding (don't just rely on the screws) and glue staple gun maybe, too!

 

[AirCooled]

If you work out all your measurements,the hardware where you get your timber might cut the correct lengths for a small price

 

[J-A-X]

all of the above power tools

and a tape measure ....... measure twice cut once.

a nice sharp pencil,

and most of all patience

 

[Renenet]

Vents... you could get by without one and make circular sink strainer vents instead with a circular cutter. But if you want square vents a jig saw comes in handy.

I was wondering how you got the vents in the walls.

 

[imported_Varanus]

A drill and drill set with a hole saw attachment; always good to drill holes for your screws (avoids splitting wood) and a hole saw attachment ($25 from Bunnings) for vents as stated above. Bunnings can cut wood to your desired sizes, but a cabinet maker will do a much better job (5mm saws from Bunnings compared to 1mm from a cabinet maker), then just screw and glue. Bunnings will cut for a few bucks, but a good cabinet maker will charge around $50- well worth it in the end though, when all your panels fit precisely!

 

[maddog-1979]

i have a drill and a jigsaw......and crossed fingers that the bunnings guy cuts everything straight.....stoopid bunnings guys

 

[Renenet]

Thanks for everyone's input.

So if I get the cabinet maker to cut the panels, do I need to bother with any of these power tools other than a drill? I'd rather not spend hundreds on tools to begin with, although I might in future.

Living in Cairns, I also need to think about good ventilation. I'm not sure I'll get enough of it with a small circular vent. Can the cabinet maker cut the vents?

Do these tools work equally well on HMR melamine and wood?

 

[Red-Ink]

Bunnings enclosure cuts.... good

Cabinet maker cuts.... perfect

 

[Renenet]

Oh, those cabinet maker ones look good, Red-Ink! I'm definitely going to a cabinet maker.

What material did you use there? And I love the metal frame and the castors.

 

[Just_Plain_Nuts]

It would be cheapest and easiest to buy an old tv cabinet from ebay or a secondhand and put sliding glass on the front, almost no tools at all, just glue and screwdrivers. If you need more specific advice give me a pm

 

[Renenet]

It would be cheapest and easiest to buy an old tv cabinet from ebay or a secondhand and put sliding glass on the front, almost no tools at all, just glue and screwdrivers. If you need more specific advice give me a pm

Thanks, Ben, much appreciated.

I did think about a cabinet, and it's still on the cards, but I'm having trouble finding one. They don't seem to sell TV cabinets on eBay in Cairns, and there wasn't much on Gumtree last time I looked. There's also the Cairns Post Exchange, a printed booklet that has the odd cheap cabinet in it, but there are no pictures.

 

[J-A-X]

*palm slaps forehead*

I almost forgot the most important thing you need when building your own enclosure ! ! !

Bandaids......... ROFL...

 

[Renenet]

I was putting bits back on my bicycle a couple of days ago and gashed my palm on a crappy tool. If I make this enclosure, I will make sure I have an entire box of band-aids handy.

 

[black_headed_mon]

don't forget your hands lol

 

[graffix]

All you need is a case of beer.

Being male I sent my better half down to the kitchen makers just before quitting time with a slab and get her to ask if she can go through their off cuts to make a cage for her (imaginary) son. It also helps that she is blonde. She aced it by asking how you cut this stuff and the classic "how do you make it all stick together?" The guys actually cut it to size for her.

I knew I kept her around for something