Over hang or not?

[pitterpat]

I've cut off one door that I'm going to use as the counter top but it hangs over. The doors are 34 1/2" wide, the base cabs are 24 1/4" deep and the foundation sticks out an inch or 2. If I pull out the cabs 3 " or so the door/counter hangs over about 5 3/4".

What do you guys think of the overhang? Keep or not? I really would like to use these doors as the counter because they are heavy and we're free!

Thanks

 

[ProTourCutlass]

I would say leave some overhang. I like having a couple inches incase I want to clamp something to the front of the bench. However, 6 inches seems a bit excessive IMO seeing how you have drawers right below it. If it were mine I would cut 3 3/4" off the back of the door leaving 2" overhang at the front. But it really all boils down to personal preference.

 

[pitterpat]

I would say leave some overhang. I like having a couple inches incase I want to clamp something to the front of the bench. However, 6 inches seems a bit excessive IMO seeing how you have drawers right below it. If it were mine I would cut 3 3/4" off the back of the door leaving 2" overhang at the front. But it really all boils down to personal preference.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Just being lazy and didn't want to make another cut.....because I have to do that to both pieces. Don't know if you could see it but I had to pull the cabs out from the wall to get the overhang to just be 5 3/4". I'll cut probably tomorrow but think I'll leave the cabinets pulled out. I'm going to attach the tops to the cabinet with screws from underneath.

Thanks

 

[marty_p]

I vote 1.5" past your drawer fronts, for clamping as mentioned.

Good luck!

 

[astroracer]

Yup, 1 1/2 to 2" overhang in front, flush on the back side. Use the cutoff pieces to make a back splash so you don't lose stuff over the back. Also gives a nice verticle surface for clamping if needed.
Mark

 

[bczygan]

I like an extra deep work surface and an overhang. But that is wasted space behind the cabinets too.

Also, note that if you cut it all off of the back, that you expose the core of the door. There is only so much you can take off, and still leave a solid wood edge.

Personal preference, but I would try to balance things.

I would leave at least 1 1/2" of solid wood in the front and overhang 2 1/2".

Then I would pull the cabinets out 1 1/2" from the wall. This would leave a small chase for cables, cords or wires.

That leaves 6 1/4" to be removed. Since that will leave a raw edge anyway, I would remove it all from the back.

The top would end up being 28 1/4" deep.

YMMV