interesting problem coming apart.

[Beretta]

ok so the cab im working on seems to have a problem.

while inspecting the rear door (which needs replaced) i was taking measurements.. thats when i noticed the cab is 1/2 inch wider in the middle then it is at the top and bottom.

after scratching my head a few i noticed the left side of the cab is separating from the cross beams connecting the cab.

mainly the monitor shelf and speaker area.

pushing on it did'nt seem to budge.. so im looking for fixes here.. now it seems like a clamp would work.. but who has 27 inch clamps? i dont..

so my only other though is to lay it on it's side and then lay on it and hope my weight can push it back together.

the cab does'nt seem to be wobbly or anything so i dont think it's structural problem but it means when i replace the rear door if i dont fix this i'd have to cut it crooked and that would just be sloppy.


so i need ideas on how to fix this.. i assume once i get it pushed back together some wood glue will keep it that way.

has anyone had this problem before? it's a joust cab if that matters any.

[Kman-Sweden]

You could try using something like these...

[Octo]

.. but who has 27 inch clamps? i dont..

I do, they're called bar clamps...   And those ratchet straps might work as well.

Are the screws holding the shelf backing out, forcing the side to bow? Could just be that you need to remove them, put a nailer strip on the shelf, then screw the side to the strip.

EDIT: Here's some cheap 36" bar clamps from good ol' Harbor Frieght...

[Hoopz]

+1 for bar clamps.  Mine go up to 48" and come in handy for various projects.

[BobA]

Bar clamps are probably the best way to go.   The straps have give and may not be able to force the wood back into place enough.

You might be able to use the straps if you can put a 2x4 across the area on both sides and then strap the 2x4 so there is a hard bearing surface on the cab but the clamps are still be surest way.

[Beretta]

.. but who has 27 inch clamps? i dont..

I do, they're called bar clamps...   And those ratchet straps might work as well.

Are the screws holding the shelf backing out, forcing the side to bow? Could just be that you need to remove them, put a nailer strip on the shelf, then screw the side to the strip.

EDIT: Here's some cheap 36" bar clamps from good ol' Harbor Frieght...

hmm dunno i did'nt see any screws but im gonna take a closer look today.. i was just getting ready to quit for the day when i noticed it separating so i did'nt spend a great deal inspecting i got disgusted.

those clamps look like they might work.. although the "lip" dont look very big so i suspect i'd have to put a 2x4 across the top first to keep it from damaging the edges of teh cab, and i suspect i'd need a couple of them.

i will keep that in mind though, thanks for suggesting..

i think i may try the cargo strap idea.. i believe i have one or two of them laying around, already.

i also think after i get it back together im gonna cut a 2x4 for extra support so this never happens again.

[bkenobi]

Big hammer!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=33907

Warning:  If you do go with a hammer of some kind, make sure to use a blocking material.  It would be a harder fix if you have a large circular penetration.   

[Beretta]

hmm.. i do have a rubber mallet, and that would probably work actually, i'll put that as plan B.

[bkenobi]

I would go with the clamps first, but carefully placed mallet blows (especially from a dead blow) can work fine too.  Like I said before, just be careful about hitting a non-structural part too hard!

[EightBySix]

A cheaper alternative to bar clamps is to use a piece of 2x4 (or whatever you have around) screw blocks at either end just shy of the cab width. Then make some wedges to drive in next to the blocks. You can use a smaller clamp to force the wedges together.

[saint]

Be wary of straps. They'll grab at the corner edges of the cabinet and might do damage as you attempt to use them. I wouldn't use them personally at all. If you must protect the edges with cardboard or something. Did I mention I wouldn't use them at all?

[Turnarcades]

I do, they're called bar clamps...   And those ratchet straps might work as well.

I would actually say +1 for this, as they are softer than the hard faces of a clamp and may actually be less harsh on the cabinet edges.

If this has happened it could be due to a number of reasons - was the shelf that's wedged in a little too wide in the first place? has the shelf sagged off it's screws or brackets and the flexed back out pushing them back and widening the sides? has the cabinet had a lot of weight placed on top? has it been stored in a damp area at any time (moisture absorbed into the wood would reduce it's particle integrity)?

[Beretta]

ok i looked a bit closer today, well i dont see any nails, staples, or screws..

it looks like the shelf has rabbit joints and they slide into a slit routed into the side panels.. the right side is very solid i think it was glued in, the left side is mostly out of the slot dont see any signs it was ever glued.

so i guess if i can just get it back into it's slot some glue will take care of it, the problem it's not just the monitor shelf.. you can see a few gaps on both the left and right side of the cab.. im not sure how to approach this.. my first thought is to slap some glue on all the joints,, and then HOPE i can get all of them back together and lined up..

if i try to do it one at a time i might have more trouble lining them up later since the previous joints will have dried by then.

i can't just "squeeze" the two sides back together with my hands, so it's not like i can do a dry run.. im afraid if i DO get the joints back in place i wont be able to separate them again to slap some glue in them.

today i just put the cab on it's side and started looking at the base.. really the first time i had since i got it.

i do not know what kinda life it lead.. i know it had to be abused though.. it has no legs of any kind.. they tried to attach some 2x4's for legs but even those was mostly gone.

it looks like it has seen some water.. the top has a bit of bubbling.. nothing serious though i think sanding it down it will be ok, it's still sold.. does MDF take to being sanded?

anyway back to the base it too has seen some water.. i'd say maybe 1, 1 1/2 inchs looks like is has some water stains.. but since it also had no legs it looks like it suffered some damage from being moved around.. the side panels are made of plywood so the layers have started to seperate..

nothing serious i think i can fix this with some carefully placed slivers of wood, generous amount of glue and lots of clamping.

im planing on adding casters for legs.

over all the cabinet is sold except for this separation problem.. perhaps it was roughly transported or something.. the separation issue is'nt water or damage related but perhaps mechanical stress.

[bkenobi]

The manufacturer probably used glue and possibly staples/brads.  In all the cabinets I have messed with (3, so not that many) they used corner bracing (1x1's glued and stapled in the corners).

[Beretta]

ok well i gave it a shot today.. i started on the monitor shelf.. i noticed the shelf was not only coming out of it's joint but also further back in the cab then the right hand side which seemed to be sold still.

i tried tapping it forward towards the front of the cab.. this had limited success.. it went about half way and then refused to close the gap.. it could be pushed but it would'nt stay..

so enter cargo strap #1, the good news is this worked just fine to close the gap forward.. now i just had to get it back in it's joint.

trying the rubber mallet again same problem it helped somewhat but then refused to stay in it's joint.. enter strap #2.

the problem is i only have 2 straps and this 2nd one decides it wants to quit working today
it kept slipping but eventually i got it.. i had already applied some glue into the joint i  did'nt get as much in it as i would have liked because it was a very weird angle to get at. by the time i had gotten this far a good 20-30mins had past. in my panic i forgot to put a scrap piece on teh side panels to protect the edges.. it looks to me like the straps are causing some depression on the wood.. although it does'nt appear to be serious.. i wont know until tomorrow.. it may not be permanent, if it is i'll just fill it in and sand it down.. the side panels look pretty bad so they need filled and sanded before painting anyway.

there are some other areas that need to be fixed as well.. i thought this would be easier to do on it's side but i was wrong.. it actually made it more difficult.

so my plan is to finish repairing the base, add some casters and get her upright again before trying to fix any more problems.



i did some measurements while it was strapped down and i still get some variation but the numbers are getting closer together.. probably to a point i can live with.

but im not sure what the actual proper width of teh cab is suppose to be.. i get various measurements around 26  - 26 1/4 (most are 26 - 26 1/8) which is better then the 26 - 26 1/2 measurements i was getting.

it would be nice to know the EXACT correct width if anyone knows.

also the side panels measured 7/8's of a inch thick

it has the original CP so i measured it and it came out to 24 1/2.. so if my measurements are right i would expect the cab to be

7/8 (side panel) - 24 1/2 (cp) - 7/8 (side panel)

for a total of 26 1/8      (7/8 + 7/8 = 1 3/4 + 24 1/2)

but it would be nice if someone else with a joust cab could verify

[Octo]

Something must be torqued or very warped if it's springing back like that. You might consider just making a new shelf.

[SavannahLion]

+1 for bar clamps.  Mine go up to 48" and come in handy for various projects.

I would've opted and suggested the so-called Pony Clamps instead of the anemic clamps. (I've always called them Pipe Clamps, but I guess that's something else). I didn't even own any bar clamps until I met my fiance and she integrated her tools into mine

 I've always felt the er... Pony clamps are a much better deal and far more flexible in size. Get a set of 4 to 8 clamps and some pipe to go along and you're pretty much set for nearly any oversized project.

[Beretta]

Something must be torqued or very warped if it's springing back like that. You might consider just making a new shelf.

ya, shelf it self looks liek it's in good shape. thick, sturdy..

there are a few other spots where there are gaps.. that was one of my concerns.. trying to get all of them together with wet glue and beat the clock..

the other spots im gonna fix when i get it back up right.. they're closer to the top, sot hats probably what it was.

i've kinda shifted my focus on the base.. since i had the cab on it's side.. i thought it would be easier to fix this problem with it on it's side but it was actually more difficult.

anyway the base is way chewed up.. i just found out yesterday that there is actual wood missing from teh right side panel, i made a post about it in wood working about trying to fix it with bondo.

once i get the  base fixed and get the caster wheels mounted then i'll worry about fixing the other parts that are separating form their joints.

anyone know the exact correct width of the cab? i know it's 26 but dont know if it's 26 even or 26 and some change..