Mission Style Medicine Cabinet

This cabinet is best made of quarter-sawed oak, as this wood is the most easily procured and looks well when finished. Order the stock from the mill ready cut to length, squared and sanded. The following pieces will be needed:

4 posts, 1-1/2 by 1-1/2 by 28 in.
4 side rails, 3/4 by 2 by 16 in.
4 end rails, 3/4 by 2 by 7 in.
2 door rails, 3/4 by 2 by 15 in.
2 door rails, 3/4 by 2 by 22-3/4 in.
1 door panel, 1/4 by 11-1/2 by 19-1/4 in.
1 back panel, 1/4 by 15-1/2 by 23-1/4 in.
2 end panels, 1/4 by 6-1/2 by 23-1/4 in.
2 pieces for top and bottom, 1/2 by 6-3/4 by 15-3/4 in.

Square the four posts and bevel the tops as shown on the .pdf drawing.

Cut grooves in them with a plow plane to receive the 1/4-in. panels. The tenons on the rails are cut 1/4 in. wide and fit into the grooves in the posts the same as the panels. The rails have grooves cut at the inside edges for the panels. The front posts do not have grooves on the inside but have two mortises, one at each end for the top and bottom rails. The back has a panel fitted in the same as the ends. See that the pieces fit together perfectly square and tight, then glue them together and give it time to dry.

The top and bottom boards are next put in place. The top is placed in the center of the top rails while the bottom is put even with the lower edge of the bottom rails, as shown in the detail drawing. The door frame is mitered at the corners and rabbeted on the inner edge to take the panel. A mirror can be used in place of the panel if desired. Suitable hinges and a catch, which can be purchased at a hardware store, should be supplied for the door.

The shelves are of soft wood and are to be arranged to suit the maker. Before applying a finish, go over the cabinet with fine sandpaper and remove all the surplus glue about the joints and the rough spots, else the finish will not take evenly. The finish can be any one of the many different kinds supplied by the trade for this purpose.