Cabinet out of square...suggestions pls.

[Scoly2803]

Almost scrapped it when I found the problem.
I'm over 1/2 way through the entertainment center project and have just found that the front is out of square. Don't know how it happened but now I have to deal with it. It is less than .5" out over a 60" width and is strange that the top stretcher seems to be square to the sides but the bottom is not..
There are 3 doors across the front. 2 are ~13.5" wide and the other is ~20". The doors are square and as a result the gap for top and bottom of doors is off. It seems that I could cut the bottom rail end at the angel (determined by measure) and make the cope cut along this angle.
Does that make sense? I there a better way without tearing the cabinet apart and starting over? Just don't think I can go there mentally.
Thanks
Steve

[cabinetman]

Check the sides and the top and bottom stretcher to see if the sides are the same length, and the stretchers are the same length (where connected). This will tell you that the carcass is a rectangle with opposing sides equal.

Then measure corner to corner (on a diagonal) to see if both dimensions are the same. Between these two tests, out of square would mean one of the sides are different, or one of the stretchers are different, or that the cabinet is just racked (pushed out of square). If you can push on one corner and get it square, that would be a start.

If the cabinet has a loose back and it's cut square and fits tight, racking the cabinet back to square and holding that position while fastening the back may put the cabinet square. Try the tests first to see what's going on. Do these tests for front and rear.
.

[Scoly2803]

Thanks!!!
Will check as soon as I get home and let you know.
I'll also try racking it back to square. What a blessing that would be.
Thanks again
Steve

[Mr__Bill]

Assuming that you tried everything Cman suggested and you can do nothing short of starting over....

Just make everything fit the new shape, if the doors and drawer fronts are out of square the same as the face then it will not be noticed. Trying to do a hack job to get the face to hold the doors will always look odd.



Bill, making really pain in the ars things sound easy....

[Scoly2803]

Just made it home and gave it a try. Was easily able to rack the cabinet back into square.
You have no idea how delighted and thankful I am.
Steve

[Mr__Bill]

Just made it home and gave it a try. Was easily able to rack the cabinet back into square.
You have no idea how delighted and thankful I am.
Steve

Drats! and I was looking forward to pictures the perfectly out of square cabinet with doors and drawers.

Glad it worked for you

Bill, over on the sunny side

[Scoly2803]

Well Bill, you may get your wish afterall. Pulled it square and put the back on last night. Only got rid of about 1/2 of the problem. When I checked the doors I was able to get them near perfect.

Since the doors stiles are just a tad long I'll be able to make the adjustment there.

Thanks again for the suggestion. Really did help a lot.
Steve