Problems with cam holes on 36" sink base

jenplocher · Oct 18th, 06, 8:48 pm

Let me explain this problem and if anyone around here has had the same problem and figured out a solution I would appreciate it!

OK. On the sink base. We are to the point of putting on the two smaller pieces that go across the top. You know there are those screw-like thingies that screw into the sides and then the bigger hole on the tops and bottoms where the bigger round thing goes in and tightens on. (Forgive the lack of technical terms. I want to say this is a cam but I'm not sure if that term applies to the whole assembly or just one of the two doo-hickeys.)

Anyway. It appears like the bigger round holes for the tightening thingamabob are 1" to from edge of hole to edge of piece on one end, and 7/8" from edge of hole to edge of piece on the other. Thus, on the edge where the hole is slightly closer, when we try to put the top piece onto the side piece and tighten the cam (?) it locks it into place about 1/8" away from touching.

Gah. Any ideas on how to fix short of ordering a new cabinet? (Please God no.)

**DesignDiva** · Oct 18th, 06, 11:07 pm

Is it possible you have the piece in backwards or upside down? I usually do that at least once.

GardenOfDarwin · Oct 19th, 06, 8:18 am

The other thought that I had was that you could have the front one on the back and the back one on the front. I think they're slightly different? It's been a long time since I put one together and since I had my full dose of caffiene.

Susan

Oh, btw...thanks for the giggle. It's not easy to do that before I've had my coffee.

jenplocher · Oct 19th, 06, 9:12 am

Thanks - I will try again to move around the pieces, though last night we were farily certain they were the correct orientation.

If all else fails, I guess maybe I will try to drive some screws from the outside of the cabinet into thetop pieceto hold it in place? Since this is the wider base, those two narrow top pieces are not particleboard but rather that more dense stuff.

archie · Oct 19th, 06, 12:45 pm

Both of those piece are exactly the same. The reason that one sits further in is that it accommodate the back panel.

As long as you have the birch veneer showing to the outsides of the cabinets all will be good.

Good Luck!

GardenOfDarwin · Oct 19th, 06, 12:51 pm

Thanks archie! It has been so long since we did our install that noone really should trust anything I say.

I try to be honest when I think I might be wrong, so it's best to double check me if I say that I'm not even sure!

Susan

jenplocher · Oct 20th, 06, 8:48 am

Well, we attacked this problem again last night - we made sure the pieces were oriented correctly and tried again, still no dice. We ended up using just the wooden dowels to get the pieces aligned and then pre-drilling a small hole for a particle board screw. Even with pre-drilling, that dense fiberboard stuff of the two top pieces SPLIT. Lots of glue and lots of clamping later I think we are OK. Thanks for the advice.