T-Molding- How do I install around the entire side? (including the bottom piece)

[sofakng]

I'm using the project arcade book to build my first cabinet.  It uses a version of LuSiD's plans.

I've purchased 60 feet of blue t-molding along with my 1/16 slot cutter bit so I'm getting ready to route the slot around my side panels.

My question is this--  It is very easy to route along the three sides of the side panel.  However, the bottom of the side panel is attached to the bottom piece of the cabinet.  In order to have t-molding along the ENTIRE side, I would need to route the side panel slot and then continue along the bottom piece.

Understand what I mean?

Is this what I should do?

Also, anybody have any tips for getting a perfectly centered t-molding slot?

[pocketbikez]

usually people route the tmolding slot right after the side pieces are cut and before constructing the cabinet. if you cant take the side pieces off and route them you might have a problem with the router bit hanging down and bumping into the bottom cabinet piece.

adjust your router and cut a small slot in a scrap piece of mdf. install a piece of your tmolding and examine how it fits. adjust your router until you get a perfect center slot.

[sofakng]

Ok, don't I also want to route a slot on the bottom piece since my side piece will sit on top of it?  Otherwise I can't wrap the t-molding around the entire side (it will only be able to go around 3 "sides" of the side panel)

[OSCAR]

I don't think I've seen a cab where the t-molding goes all the way around the bottom of the side panels.  Typically the slot just goes a couple inches in so the t-molding wraps around the bottom and gives the t-molding enough "grip" to hold it there.

You shouldn't have your cab sitting directly on the sides of the panels either.  That is what leg levelers are for.  Ideally, your cab should be sitting an inch or so off the floor, that is what protects the bottom edges of your cab from getting screwed up from moving it around.  Below are a couple pics from one of the cabs I built, you can see how the cab sits up on the leg levelers to keep the cab up off the floor and how the t-molding goes just under the edges, not the whole way.

[maraxle]

I don't think I've seen a cab where the t-molding goes all the way around the bottom of the side panels.  Typically the slot just goes a couple inches in so the t-molding wraps around the bottom and gives the t-molding enough "grip" to hold it there.

Mine's pretty close.  My Aqua Jack cabinet that I MAMEd has the slots go all the way around.  That's how it was when I got it.  My molding goes all the way around except about half an inch, which I left so it would be easier for me to remove it if necessary.