Repairing or rebuilding Tambour cabinets?

[lewishw]

I have a 1978 Sovereign with the vinyl tambour cabinets in it but most of them are pretty rough. They have cracks in them, the ends are ugly and banged up, etc. What are my best options for repairing or replacing them? does someone manufacture replacements? Should I pull them out, strip them and fiberglass over the existing structures? Start from scratch? Please tell me what to do! I would like to replace the doors with the stainless steel material, but I have to revive the cabinets first. What do y'all think?? There may be threads buried in here that cover exactly this topic, but I have been unsuccessful in finding them.

Thanks guys!

Hunter

[perryg114]

Tambour is expensive. If the actually tambour is missing or damaged it will be very expensive to replace them. If you like the tambour you can design new cabinets using the old tambour. You can make new end caps our of wood of the whole thing. Pay attention to weight when you re-design. Solid wood is heavy. Best to have solid wood frames and 1/4 plywood panels.

Perry

[eubank]

I'm kind of glad that the tambours came out in later models. But I have kind of wondered if it wouldn't be possible to replace them with a newer tambour kit. Here's one from Rockler:

Tambour Door Hardware Kits - Rockler Woodworking Tools


Lynn

[larry b]

V-3-MA501 36" W Tambour Door Maple by Omega National Products - up to 29% off - CabinetParts.com

I purchased this for my 1975 and replaced it worked well.

[barts]

We went to sliding doors that webspinner made that fit right into the tambour tracks. Here's an image from our blog:

[Bgreen]

I just took all mine out of a 78 to replace all the cabinets, I own a cabinet shop and want my cabs in mine. Send me Picts of your kitchen and I probably have the tambour you need. If you want the stainless look its not that hard. Rustoleam makes a stainless paint for appliance and cab refinishing. Remove the tambour and place over a round object like a 5 gal bucket to paint. I replace tambour in kitchens all the time. Hope this helps.

[geezernbabe]

My wife came home with 2 Bamboo rugs for our 31' 1970 and as I unrolled them all I saw was lightweight tambour. It cuts good on a table saw and has a strong backing. If you search bamboo rugs on Amazon.com you can get some nice ones at a good price. They are lots lighter so I had to put pins in them when we travel but they are working out great. I used the rest of the "rugs" for the panels in the new refer.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by perryg114

Tambour is expensive. If the actually tambour is missing or damaged it will be very expensive to replace them.

Perry

Buying tambour cut to size is a bit pricy. Buying it by the sheet and cutting it yourself is more reasonable.

There are multiple threads on tambour repair. I used aluminum tape across the tambour glued to ballistic nylon with contact cement. Still working.

If you want your cake and to eat it too, others have glued old tambour to new cabinet door panels.

[perryg114]

I seem to remember is was like $500 for a sheet and that may have been a half sheet and I don't think that was even wood for that price.

Perry

[Lumatic]

Here are 3 tambour suppliers:
Woodworking Supplies - Cabinet Hardware | Woodworkers Hardware ($200- $250 3'x5' sheet)
Tambour panels & doors
www.winonamanufacturing.com

[litlgeezer]

After I finish with a couple of more expensive, higher priority repairs, I am going to have to tackle the Tambour problems in the galley. My first obstacle will be to figure out how to get the new material into the existing tracks? I guess I will have to start by disassembling the cabinet trims?
I like post #4 and will follow up on that location. The cost appears reasonable compared to others - as long as the stock size is large enough for the big run under the sink.

[lewishw]

Bgreen and Geezer,

Would you guys mind either posting or emailing me a couple of photos of your results? I had considered the silver paint route, but I don't know if some of my tambour is in good enough shape to just paint it. The bamboo rug idea is absolutely brilliant. I would love to see how that looks. Also, the ends of my cabinets (where they have vinyl padded caps) have some cracks. Any ideas on how to clean those up? I don't know if I can jus pull the caps off, glass over the ends and cracks with fiberglass resin and then paint the whole bodies, or what to do. Bgreen, you said you are a cabinet builder, I would love your thought on what I should do with the damaged cabinet bodies! Thanks a bunch guys! If its easier to email me the photos, my email is hunterwlewis@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you guys!!

Stream on!

Hunter

[geezernbabe]

Here are a few pics of bamboo tambour I hope it 's been awhile hope it works out. It fits good in the plastic rails.

[Disneysue925]

Originally Posted by geezernbabe

Here are a few pics of bamboo tambour I hope it 's been awhile hope it works out. It fits good in the plastic rails.

Wow, that looks beautiful. What did you use for your backsplash? What a great re-do!!

Sue

[geezernbabe]

I was looking at the metal tiles then we found plastic panels at Lowes. It was scissors or tin snips and the first won out. It just glues on and has stayed on for 3 years now. Dave

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by geezernbabe

Here are a few pics of bamboo tambour I hope it 's been awhile hope it works out. It fits good in the plastic rails.

Two questions:
1. How long have the bamboo rug tambour been in place?
2. Do you think it is rigid and strong enough for under the sink?

[geezernbabe]

It's been in about 3 years and is fine. I have been in a few trailers with the tambour sink front but have never looked that close at them. If you go to a cost-plus or other import type store you can find some to look at and see what you think.

[lewishw]

Dave,

It was a little bit hard to tell exactly what you did to the overhead cabinets. Did you just paint the shells and then cut the bamboo rugs to size for the tambour doors? What about those end caps? Did you just cut pieces of solid wood from a template? Your cabinet bodies look different than mine do. I love the look, just trying to determine exactly what you did.

Hunter

[geezernbabe]

I think they are different. Mine just have an alum. strip across the bottom and I am not sure what yours have. We are going to a rally at Cassini in 2 weeks and I will look at some of your type.

[litlgeezer]

Originally Posted by geezernbabe

I think they are different. Mine just have an alum. strip across the bottom and I am not sure what yours have. We are going to a rally at Cassini in 2 weeks and I will look at some of your type.

Thanks, I believe my AS does have a strip across the bottom. I haven't paid a lot of attention to it, since I've had some many more pressing problems to deal with. I'm trying to consider whether or not buying/replacing axles for it is worth the expense, since I'm probably at market value right now.
So, I've worked on less expensive and labor intensive (my labor) tasks since buying it in October.

Have fun on your trip. My wife and I had planned to attend some show in Denver this summer, I believe it has been canceled.