Veritas 32 Cabinetmaking System, Deluxe

With the Veritas 32 system, a person with moderate skills can build a complete set of kitchen cupboards using an electric drill, a table saw, some clamps and basic hand tools. The system can also be used for freestanding wardrobes, entertainment centres, bookcases and a variety of built-ins.

Virtually all good kitchen hardware today is based on European designs developed after WWII, using standard 5 mm and 8 mm drill sizes and standard 32 mm hole spacing for dowels, shelf supports, drawer slides and hinges. With frameless construction, the system is a series of boxes with standard components, where left and right panels are interchangeable, as are tops and bottoms. Because the hole pattern suits various fittings, the unit can be reconfigured at any time, allowing last-minute changes. All holes are measured with consistent 32 mm spacing, referenced from the panel sides and ends. The gauge head has both metric and imperial graduations; Veritas recommends metric for design and construction to reduce rounding errors.

In high-production use, metric is used because only three basic panels are needed, all balanced, that is, symmetrical: they can be flipped end for end or front to back without changing the hole pattern. The instructions detail balanced, half-balanced and standard panels.

After cutting and edging the panels, place the jig on a side panel, set the rail(s) 37 mm in from each edge (the standard inset for European hardware) and clamp. Then drill the system holes (vertical holes for screws, inserts, shelf supports or hinges) and the construction holes (horizontal dowel holes). The bush carrier straddles the rail with the selected bushing in the hole where the first hole is to be drilled. The dowelling jig bases allow dowel holes in the ends of top and bottom panels. The dowels make it easy to keep the case square during assembly.

The Deluxe system includes:
3 rails with fixing screws
2 regular-length rods (for work up to 12" wide)
2 long rods (for work up to 24" wide)
2 clamp heads and 2 tails
Bush carrier with 5, 8 and 10 mm bushings
3/32" soft bushing
Gauge head
Dowelling jig bases
Connector rods and plate
Hex key
2 register pins
Instruction booklet (also available separately)

The booklet covers the system's uses and the basic procedure for making a cabinet from particleboard; the same applies to solid wood and plywood. Made in Canada. Patented.