Why do we put back panels in base cabinets anyway?

[rmwarren]

Aside from the urge to make an enclosed box, what other purpose does the back panel serve? I don't think I ever see the rear of a base cabinet, 90% of ours have drawers or pull-outs anyway. To see the rear panel I have to be on my knees.

I don't see any structural reason to have the rear panel since the cabinets are fastened to the wall anyway. I guess they may prevent/reduce accumulation of inside the cabinet.

Am I missing something?

RMW

 

[erock]

I did not install back panels on the base cabinets I build for my house.

I felt it was a waist of material.  I used stretchers on the top and bottoms to keep the box square. 

It's a personal preference. 

I've built cabinets for paying friends and family.  I installed back panels in those cabinets.    I felt it gave the cabinet the finish look.

Eric 

 

[tjbnwi]

To create and enclosed space. The back panel is also more durable than drywall.

Tom

 

[rmwarren]

I did not install back panels on the base cabinets I build for my house.

I felt it was a waist of material.  I used stretchers on the top and bottoms to keep the box square. 

It's a personal preference. 

I've built cabinets for paying friends and family.  I installed back panels in those cabinets.    I felt it gave the cabinet the finish look.

Eric

I feel pretty much the same way, but was struggling with wanting everything to be "the best".

BTW - I have been watching your cabinet video series recently, partly to help decide if I want to take the plunge and build or be lazy (as my wife advocates) and have someone else do them. It's a 19 cabinet utility area visible from the kitchen/entertaining area so we want them to be nice but a step below the cabinets in the kitchen, i.e. frameless with flat panel doors/drawer fronts.

I can also justify plywood drawer boxes, so I am considering using the exposed domino method.

Your use of screws to hold the boxes together helped me overcome the feeling that I needed to pocket screw them (and buy the foreman) or use Confirmat.

Thanks for making the videos, I know they are a lot of work in themselves.

RMW 

 

[erock]

I have a hard time paying someone for something I could do.  That's why I built my cabinets.

I paid a company to install my fence, concrete drive way and re-side the house.....because they are equipped to do the work.

I'm equipped to cut wood and make things.  [wink]

Here is a pic of the domidrawers I made for my kitchen....

[attachimg=1]

I used under mount drawer guides.  And I also used pocket screws in the front and back of the drawer box.  So I didn't have to use a bunch of clamps.  Plus, I think having the dominos and pocket screws together makes for a very strong joint.
The drawer boxes have 1/2" plywood sides and 3/4" plywood fronts and backs.  With 1/2" plywood bottoms. 

Each guy on here will have his own method to build a cabinet.  Each guy will be correct.  It comes down to what you feel comfortable with and what you want your cabinets to look like for your house.

Eric

 

[Paul G]

To create and enclosed space. The back panel is also more durable than drywall.

Tom

Agreed. With our ant problems here it would be even worse if they had easy access via the back of the cabinets.

 

[wow]

I always assumed it was a quick and easy way to keep the cabinet from racking, i.e. keep it square? I realize that you can use the stretchers for that to some degree, but you're talking about dealing with two pieces instead of one.

 

[Cheese]

About a year ago I pulled the original site-built oak ply cabinets out of the kitchen. The house was built in 1952 so the cabinets had seen over 60 years of constant use. Neither the uppers nor the base cabinets had backs. They all had 6" stretchers on the top of the cabinets only, to keep them from racking and also for mounting.

 

[Cheese]

[member=8352]erock[/member]
Like the Domi-drawer. What wood is the drawer front made of?

Just curious, why you chose to use the spacing of the dominoes that you did?

 

[AlexThePalex]

Generally a nicely laminated or painted back panel looks a lot better than the wall behind it. The previous owner of my house built some fixed cabinets against the wall without a back panel. The walls are bricks, plastered and covered with wallpaper. Now, 30 years later, the originally white wallpaper has turned almost orange and looks very ugly. If I want to make this better I have some serious remodeling to do. 

 

[Doug S]

If the cabinets don't have backs and walls are not straight you will have some nice little gaps inside to lose things down.

 

[SMJoinery]

Rigidity of the carcass.
Aesthetically it's nicer to look at matching cabinet interiors.
Some kitchens here have services face fixed to walls and it's ugly to open a cabinet to see the runs of pipes etc.
Vermin, mice etc getting into base cabinets.
Every manufactured kitchen I've ever fitted came with a back. Some covered all of the above but some cheaper ranges made from hardboard couldn't possible help with rigidity!
I always put bases in my drawers even if there is a shelf underneath! [tongue]

 

[John Beauchamp]

All the reasons given are valid.  Sometimes it's just perception on your customers part. If they think it's necessary then it is.  I have always put backs on but I have had several customers comment on it as being very necessary to keep the mice out. I don't think it works but it may slow them down a little. 

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

As said by others it keeps the boxes square,  adds rigidity and looks better.  I would never build a cabinet with out a back panel.  Even if a clinet requested it, i would tell them im not the right person for the job if thats the quality of cabinet they want. 

 

[gkaiseril]

A cabinet back adds rigidity to the cabinet during transportation and make instillation easier. It might even keep stray dust, dirt, etc form entering the cabinet in large amounts. It probably adds the cleanliness of the inside of the cabinet. One could use a much thinner material than what is used for the bottom and sides.

 

[erock]

[member=8352]erock[/member]
Like the Domi-drawer. What wood is the drawer front made of?

Just curious, why you chose to use the spacing of the dominoes that you did?

Cheese,
The drawer fronts are made of 3/4" maple plywood.  Edge band all 4 sides. 

The spacing was based off the under mount drawer guides,  and the  location of the pocket screws. 
A pocket screw located above the top domino and between the two dominos is a pocket screw. 

Eric

 

[Wooden Skye]

In my opinion, if it is shop furniture a full back is optional, in the kitchen or other situations, I would put a back.

 

[tjbnwi]

I believe a cabinet must have a back to be AIA and NKBA compliant.

Tom

 

[Cheese]

[member=8352]erock[/member]

Cheese,
The drawer fronts are made of 3/4" maple plywood.  Edge band all 4 sides. 

The spacing was based off the under mount drawer guides, and the location of the pocket screws. 
A pocket screw located above the top domino and between the two dominos is a pocket screw. 

Eric

Thanks, gotcha...the top domino is lower because of the pocket screw and the lower domino is higher because of the under mount slides, that answers my question.
Never would have known the drawer front was ply & edge banded. Looks like solid stock. Very nice.

 

[socaljohn]

Hey Eric,

Is the drawer front painted black or is that an Ebony stain?
Are the sides solid wood or ply?
If ply, was the top edge banded or just polyed?

On another front, how bout them Buckeyes?