How do you strengthen an existing cabinet?

[Ryan]

I was planning to strengthen up my Asteroids Deluxe cabinet up because it is a little wobbley.  Was just planning on using 2x4s and L brackets with small screws (not to penetrate the exterior side art)  Carpentry is not really something I have been good at and am not sure if this is the best way to do this.  Anyone have any suggestions? screw sizes they used? similar problems? solutions?

[Sasquatch!]

I'd also glue the 2x4s to the cabinet.

[nullb0y]

try using 2x4s on all the edges to hold the corners together also

[Analog-X]

It depends if are as anal as I am, and which direction the Cabinet is wobbling.

I would Use Wood Glue and make a Frame Inside the entire cabinet, bottom, top, sides, front, back.  Kinda like an Skeleton.

Small Nails would probably losen eventualy if nailed to particle board.

Screws can Crack the wood, unless you make pilot holes.

Using Wood glue would do the trick in this case.

Unless you want to use the ancient Egyptian mortise-and-tenon technique.

[hyiu]

yeah... adding a frame inside will definitely help....

as Analog-x said...  use screws and drill tiny holes first...
and use glue also.....

as for those L brackets.... I saw in home depot last time... there are ones that are particularly for the corners.... not just L shape, but will screw in 3 directions.... its from stanley.... but I forgot the name..... corner brakcets or something.... I think that will make it much stronger if you can use those in addition to some L brackets.....

good luck....    

[1UP]

Yeah, Simpson Strong-Ties.  Look in the construction materials section of Home Depot.  There's all types of heavy-gauge corner braces meant for building construction.  I would think that a continuous frame of 2x4s (or even 2x2s) in all the corners would be plenty.  Drill, glue and screw.  Get a good polyurethane wood glue, not elmers.  Also, use a drill depth stop or a piece of tape on the drill bit referenced to the length of screw you'll be using, so you don't end up drilling thru the side art!

[Ryan]

Cool, thanks for the helpful tips!

[CD_Vision]

What all is wobbly? Maybe you just need some leg levelers.

[Ryan]

I definitely am getting wheels in the back and leg levelers, but my "wobbly" problem is that it has no back door and bottom piece that helped in making it sturdy.  I need to add some wood.  I have seen the corner pieces they are talking about on Home Depot's web site.  I will be using some of those, some wood, and glue.

[JustMichael]

A cabinet should be "sturdy" without the backdoor in place.

[Ryan]

The back door is not the only thing missing, it also is missing the bottom piece just below the door that connected to both sides and the base.  There was a little water damage to one corner also, nothing too noticable.