Use light and even pressure as you work. Break off and discard any seams in the edge banding roll, as they can be can be difficult to work with when you are glueing. 3 inch is a convenient depth that works for many standard cabinet doors. Building things often requires adding and subtracting complex fractions. Cabinet door styles run the gamut: from the ever-popular shaker style to raised panel, recessed center panel, mullion frame, open frame, and slab. If you didn't have them in there, there's a risk of cracking boards if it's too tight and rattling panels if it's too loose. Try to take this into account when you determine the sizes for your doors. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, http://www.blum.com/us/en/05/31/10/index.php, Wood splits with flush trim bit on router table. Get the latest updates about new courses, special trainings, resources, and more. To apply, start withthe top and bottom, so the sides run long. This is a two-phase task. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building. If you arent sure when to replace it, keep a piece of new sandpaper at your workstation and feel it versus the paper you are using every so often. If you want a sturdier door, you can either glue a panel to the width and length you need or use a solid piece that has been specially milled for you. They are extremely stable, flat, and expensive. Keep the block completely flat and do not rock it over the edges. Cutting the groove from each end will ensure that the groove is perfectly centered. I edge band with solid wood , depending on the particular details will determine the size of band used . Turn the dust collection system to the lowest setting possible. Adjust the depth of cut so that the base of the round over profile is just beneath the surface of the router table. The balls keep it snug but let it move. The mounting plate is screwed to the inside of the cabinet box. Learn how to do construction math quickly and accurately in, MT Copelands online course on construction math, Cut the doors following the same techniques used to, the top and bottom, so the sides run long. References. Of course, the thicker the door, the more material, so the more expensive. MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications, like building cabinets. Would appreciate any suggestions. How to make cabinet doors: Step-by-step guide, Double check the cabinet box measurements, You also need to account for the edge banding in the door panel dimensions. This will vary by manufacturer, so check the packaging for the offset specifications. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If youre sanding wood veneer, pay special attention to the edges and the corners of the workpiece because veneer is thin and easy to accidentally sand completely through, revealing the substrate underneath. The style of panel cabinet door you want can vary from the flat one described here to raised and glass panel doors. The customer is using 2" thick concrete countertops and the weight can cause the carcass to do funny things. Accuracy and consistency of width assures a good fit. Begin by cutting the ends off of the assembly. Make the stiles blanks the length you need and then run the inside edge through a stile router bit mounted on a router table. Can you make cabinet doors out of particle board? Instead of using the pull tab as the edge, place the tape measure so that the one inch line is exactly at the edge of whatever you are measuring. Next, clamp a sacrificial board to your table saw fence. Tighten the clamps enough so that the joints are closed tightly, but not enough to squeeze the glue out of the joints. Theres also the option to add molding, edging, hardware, material, and finish. 12 July 2021. It's sorta fun not having to make rails, stiles, and panels for a change. Ease the edges of the face with a router using the bit of your choice. Cabinet doors can make or break the look of your kitchen or bathroom cabinets - and the longevity of the cabinets. Begin assembly of the door. Shaker doors require that you make a 5-piece door. While slab-style cabinet doors can be built from plywood or melamine (with the edges banded), it is relatively simple to build slab doors from solid wood. Is it OK to copy projects from the magazine? Wear a mask if you do not have a dust collection system or you are going to be sanding for a long time to help keep dust out of your lungs. Thanks. Tip: Wear a mask if you do not have a dust collection system or you are going to be sanding for a long time to help keep dust out of your lungs. Give the corners where the edge banding meets a few light wipes and lightly roll the edges of the panel. For instance, in a cherry panel the inner core is also cherry. Measure the gap in the middle looking for a gap of 5/32nds of an inch. Cut the door panel insert slightly less than the size you need to allow for wood expansion and contraction. Sanding the backs of the cabinet doors first ensures that you are never putting the sanded, finished front face side down. You also need to account for the edge banding in the door panel dimensions. Depending on the style of doors you wish to use, the costs can range from quite expensive to surprisingly inexpensive. Also, take a look at the face of each board and make sure that the color and grain patterns of each corresponding board are similar. include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills. They can be finished with paint, stain followed by polyurethane, or any other finish you deem appropriate. What kind of cabinet door should you use? Repeat for all four mounting plates. The width depends on the project and the look you want for your cabinets. Turn on the saw and run the board through the blade, then, repeat the step on the opposite face. A calculator makes it much easier to do the math on such small factions, especially when it comes to dividing, and will help you get more accurate results. Electric. You can cut off the extra after the assembly is complete. Put on the desired finish, install the hinges and doorknob and you are ready to hang the cabinet door. Well, there's not a lot of design involved, being as they're just rectangular blocks. Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more. Tip: When trimming tongue and groove assemblies to width, it is advisable to take an equal amount of stock from each side of the assembly. "Router bit options and rubber balls (for expansion) were duly noted for my upcoming kitchen remodel.". Wood/paper composites don't expand and contract wildly and will add to the structure of the door. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. Get instant access to over 100 digital plans available only to UNLIMITED members. Building things often requires adding and subtracting complex fractions. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building! "Just so helpful and specifically that you tell the steps.". If you arent confident with knowing when to stop, try making a light pencil line across the wood and sand until the line is gone. But IMHO the only reasonable way to produce slab cabinet doors and sleep well at night. Use a scrap piece of wood and a utility knife to cut the excess overhang from the corners. Click for full details. You also need to consider the offset, which is the distance between the edge of the door and the edge of the hole, for the hinge. Expert Interview. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Probably the most inexpensive (and versatile) style of a cabinet door is the slab. The rubber bumper will also help the doors align with the plane of the cabinet. Because we'll be using tongue and groove joinery to assemble the boards, you'll want to account for the half an inch of width for each joint that will be lost when the boards are joined. It can be! Bath + Kitchen was featured in Best of Houzz 2017-2020. Before beginning to make the tongue and groove joints on your slab-style cabinet doors, it is a good idea to lay out all the boards you are making according to their grain patterns. Subtract the edge banding for the top and bottom (1/64th inches x 2 = 1/32nd inches) for a final length measurement of 30 inches light, or halfway between 29 15/16ths and 30 inches. After that, coat the door with your desired finish to give it a glossy, elegant look. Lay out the dimensions of the door on your choice of sheet material. For example, Blum has an extensive set of documentation that you can access here: http://www.blum.com/us/en/05/31/10/index.php. When all your cuts are complete, lay the doors across the face of the cabinet flush with the outside edge of the cabinet. Growing up in a family of tradesmen, Ken began to develop his carpentry skills from a young age. There are two main parts to the hinge style that Ken uses. Then measure and mark 3 of an inch in from each of the cabinet edges, or wherever the manufacturer suggests. For the first sanding pass, use a random orbit sander with 120 grit paper, or the grit that your finish specifies. A timely question since I'm in the middle of an order for eight contemporary style cabinetswith slab doors and drawer fronts. UNLIMITED membership - Get access to it all. If you are under on the measurements, trim each plywood panel as needed and measure again. When the feel of the paper on your sander is significantly different from the new piece it is time to switch. Dont press too hard into the woodlet the weight of the sander do the work as you move across the panel. Last Updated: August 4, 2021 That additional layer of material (although small) needs to be accounted for when sizing the width of the doors so that they fit the cabinet box accurately and create the gap needed between the two door panels when closed. I use glue and tape and clamps where needed then trim off flush or sand. Then, cut the door out of a sheet of plywood or your chosen material with a circular or table saw. Verify that the straight-edge is square to the jointed ends, and cut off the end of the cabinet door. I'm using beech with a clear finish. With the board cut to length, the next step to building slab-style cabinet doors is to make sure that the edges of the boards are flat, straight and square to the faces of the board. In this manner, if the joints show on the finished product, the joint assembly will look balanced. Cut the stiles and the rails from 4/4 (2.54 cm) material - if you can - and mill or plane down the material to a consistent width of .75 inches (2 cm). You may even wish to spend a few minutes hand sanding for a perfect finish. Tip: A calculator makes it much easier to do the math on such small factions, especially when it comes to dividing, and will help you get more accurate results. Rabbeting a shelf; Strength vs. appearance, Editor's Letter: A new tool with every project. Those materials sound wonderful but in reality may not be readily available or easily obtained by home and smaller shops on a onesy twosy basis simply because of the logistics and minimum order perhaps . Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. After one edge of the board is flat, straight and square to the face of the board, the opposite edge can be trimmed parallel with the first on your table saw. To confirm the correct width of the cabinet doors, use a tape measure to mark the centerpoint on the bottom front edge of the cabinet box. Mark the end of each board so you know the order that the boards should be assembled. I have looked through dozen of cabinet making books at the library, woodworking magazines, and searched online to no avail. Adjust the fence so that you can take off a minimal amount of stock, but enough that none of the factory edge remains. To complete the slab-style cabinet doors, begin with a good sanding. Be sure that the clamps are at least one inch above the table saw surface. If everything went according to plans, you should need to remove a little more material from each side of the tongue, so adjust your table saw blade depth accordingly and cut both sides of the tongue again. Plus tips, advice, and special offers from Fine Woodworking. With the tongue and groove joints cut, the next step is to assemble the boards that will make up the cabinet doors. Use a inch screw to secure the mounting plates to the frame. Repeat the process with the long sides and the second cabinet door. There is often an arrow on the plate to designate the direction the plate should face. Do not attempt to build a flat or raised panel door without a router table. But it's not uncommon for people to use 7/8 inch (2.2225 cm) or even 1 inch (2.54 cm) thick doors. Get complete site access to video workshops, digital plans library, online archive, and more, plus the print magazine. Can you make cabinet doors without special tools? Eric holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College. Run the inside edge through the router using the same bit you used earlier. The best method for laying out your boards is to alternate the grain pattern so that each board's grain is the opposite of the next. Tip: As you work, dont allow the sander cord or exhaust system cord drag over the panel to prevent the cords from causing any scratches. 3/8-inch roundover router bit with bearing tip. If youve already built a cabinet box, building cabinet doors is a similar process. You want it to be snug, but not too tight. Set the entire assembly aside and allow the glue to dry for 24 hours. Over the last ten years he has honed his expertise in high end cabinet making. It'll be a little more expensive, but it'll give you a stronger door. The biggest problem is making everything dead-on square. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 438,844 times. Simply use a square to align the straight-edge so that the circular saw will remove a minimal amount of stock, and clamp the straight edge in place. . Adjust the depth of cut to 1/2 inch, and set the fence 1/4inch away from the right side of the dado blade. The next step is a matter of personal choice. The edge banding Ken uses is 1/64th inch thick. Subtract this from the width of the opening, then cut the rail blanks to length. Since this design includes two door panels, divide the width of the cabinet by 2 to get the door panel width. Adjust the fence so that the sacrificial board is just barely touching your dado blade (but the blade can still turn freely). First double check all of the cabinet box measurements. From traditional to ultra modern, complex curved work to hand stitched veneering, he continues to push the limits of perfection and craftsmanship. 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. In this article, youll learn how to make slab doors that go with a frameless style cabinet box. The edges can be finished with iron-on edge banding. It is much easier to cut a little more off of the tongues to gain a proper fit than it is to cut more out of the grooves. Take the overall cabinet width of 24 inches then divide by 2 and subtract the 3/32nds inch gap and 1/16th inch edge banding. Plus, European style hinges are easy to install and offer a wide range of adjustability so that you can make up for small misalignments with a few turns of a screwdriver. Tip: Keep an eye on the condition of the sandpaper you are using and replace as needed. But with a little bit of basic carpentry skills, you can do it all on your own and save some cash. How do you make homemade shaker cabinet doors? To confirm the correct length of the cabinet doors, measure for 30 inches. Finally, screw the hinges and handle onto the door and install it to the cabinet. If you arent sure when to replace it, keep a piece of new sandpaper at your workstation and feel it versus the paper you are using every so often. The result of that calculation is 11 inches and 59/64ths, which is an overly specific measurement that is tough to work with. Wipe away any leftover pencil marks before you install the mounting plates because they will be difficult to access to erase once the plates are installed. Use a sanding block to render the edge banding completely flush and remove any slight amounts of excess glue. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive into a range of topics that matter. To determine the thickness of your edge banding, you can use a set of calipers or a machinist square which has smaller measurements than a traditional. To determine the thickness of your edge banding, you can use a set of calipers or a machinist square which has smaller measurements than a traditional tape measure. This article was co-authored by Eric Shipe. If there isnt one available for the hinge type you are using, check the manufacturer specifications for how far back from the edge of the cabinet to install the mounting plate. Several high end cabinet makers offer these doors, but I want to make my own. The small gaps (~1/8") in contemporary styling leave very little "wiggle room" if everything isn'tjust aboutperfect. Keep in mind that solid wood tends to move with fluctuations in humidity, so your doors may expand or contract seasonally. Repeat this step for each of the remaining grooves. Because stability is a concern in an unreinforced slab of wood, they're usually made of a stable core (plywood or MDF) veneered on all sides (sometimes with melamine on the inside of the cabinet). For more tips, including how to build a raised panel cabinet door, read on! Once youve cut the door out, soften its sides with a router to get rid of any rough edges. Slab doors or flat panel doors are called such because the panel is made from a single piece of material. When all joints have been glued and assembled, place the entire assembly into a set of woodworking clamps. Usually I use 1/4" nicely trimmed or planed to begin with , top and bottom then trim and then I do the sides . If you're looking for a more quality, durable look, go with a flat door, also known as a raised panel door. Break the roll apart into manageable pieces. This should make a tongue that is a little thicker than you'll need to fit into the groove. In this set of free woodworking plans, learn how to build slab-style cabinet doors from any solid wood of your choice. It depends on your preference and how sturdy you want your cabinet doors to be. The first step to building slab-style cabinet doors from solid wood is to cut the boards to length. Eric and his team specialize in cabinetry, design, and remodels. Any home improvement store, hardware store, or lumber yard. Most anything that can be done with Pneumatics can be done with Electrics. Your cabinet door should now be the desired height. Apply glue with a brush to the inside of the stile where the rail meets it and insert the rail tenon. Stand the cabinet up and take one last look at the door placement. You can also buy them prefabricated if you don't want to build your own doors. % of people told us that this article helped them. Ken DeCost is a cabinet maker based in Boston, MA. Home Improvement Specialist. When making tongue and groove joints on the table saw, it is always advisable to cut the grooves first. This will help to make sure that you don't make any mistakes when assembling the joints later on. Simple shaker style cabinet doors can be made with 1x3 wooden boards and veneer plywood using just a table saw. If the doors overlap, use a Phillips head screwdriver to to adjust the hinges into place. It really depends on the material that you use. This cabinet will have a gap of 3/32nd inches, which is just under inch. Also, it is a good idea to allow at least one extra inch of length on each board. Check the fit of the tongue and groove joint. Our biweekly podcast allows editors, authors, and special guests to answer your woodworking questions and connect with the online woodworking community. Once you're familiar with the materials and actual dimensions, then you'll find many trustworthy online retailers that offer much more. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. If you want a woodgrain look, use medium density fiberboard on a painted or covered surface. M. Pekovich's latest wall cabinet in FW # 290, Editor's Letter: Technology and the future of woodworking. Place a piece of scrap cardboard or a towel on your work surface to protect the cabinet faces from scratches and damage while you work. The edge banding Ken uses is 1/64th inch thick. Every choice depends on the look you are trying to achieve. Tip: It is a good idea (whenever possible) to route the end grain of a board first, as routing the end grain is far more likely to cause a chip than routing with the grain. An alternative is to use something like Baltic Birch plywood (possibly with non-birch face veneers), and leave the edges exposed. Is it cheaper to build your own cabinet doors? Repeat for all four hinges. Panel doors consist of 2 side pieces, known as stiles, 2 rails along the top and bottom, and a panel between them. Place the face of the first board to receive a groove, flat against the fence (with the edge flat on the table) and run the board through the dado blade. Then, set your table saw fence to the desired height of the door. So if you're planning on installing a bunch of cabinet doors, you may want them to be a little less thick to save on the cost of materials. Step up the look of slab cabinet doors by adding molding to the edge or offset from the edge of the door. Set up the stacked dado blade set in your table saw to 1/2inch width, and set the depth to 3/16 inch. I'm also waiting until the countertops are installed before I hang the doors and drawers. offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications, like. This gives sort of an industrial look: If you want information on standard dimensions, where to drill holes for hinges, etc., the first place to go is the hardware manufacturer's web site. Most slab doors are made of plywood, and you can use medium-density fiberboard (MDF) on a painted or covered surface to give you that classic wood grain look for a really cheap price. Use a jig specific to the hinge type you are using. Eric Shipe is a Kitchen and Bath Designer and the Owner of Bath + Kitchen based in Washington DC. You may choose to adjust the order of the boards so that the colors and grain patterns match before alternating the end grain. Cutting the panels to size using rip cuts and cross cuts and finishing the edges should feel familiar. For this cabinet, Ken rounds to 11 inches and. To create this rounded edge, install a 3/8 inch round over bit with a bearing tip in your fixed-base router, and place it into a router table. I had to rebuild the first cabinet (a bathroom vanity) when I found that a very slightly out of square carcass showed up as an uneven gap between two doors. Here he has assembled a skilled team that aligns to his level of high standards and excellence. Tip: If you have significant dings or scratches in the panel, fill them with filler and let it cure before you begin the sanding process. Then finish with paint, stain, or varnish and install! This article has been viewed 438,844 times. The secret lies in the workmanship and quality of materials used to make cabinet doors. Drop the hinge into the large bored hole and snap it into place. Do I nail the panel to the rails and stiles or let it float? First is the actual hinge and second is the mounting plate.The hinge mounts directly into the door. A slightly rolled edge will protect the veneer from catching on anything during use and it will help the finish adhere. Keep an eye on the condition of the sandpaper you are using and replace as needed. As you work, dont allow the sander cord or exhaust system cord drag over the panel to prevent the cords from causing any scratches. To achieve this look, instead of taking all of the material off of one side to trim the door to width, take half of the stock to be removed off of each side. Immediately wipe off any glue that seeps out of the joint, as the glue could cause an issue with finishing the cabinet door later. Then, turn the board around and run it through the blade again, this time leading with the opposite end of the board. , which means to measure just short of 11 15/16ths (about halfway between 11 7/8ths and 11 15/16ths of an inch). Sure! There will be four layers of edge banding on the cabinet doorstwo doors, two sides of each doorthat add an 1/16th inch in material. This forum post is now archived. When the feel of the paper on your sander is significantly different from the new piece it is time to switch. Then mark each side of the cabinet edges at 1/64th inch in to account for the width of the edge banding. Sand all of the panel edges using a sanding block. Commenting has been disabled. The rails need to be approximately .5 inches (1.2 cm) less than the stiles. Attach the hinges to the mounting plates. Reference to 4/4 refers to .25 inches multiplied by 4, so 3/4 wood would be .75 inches and 6/4 would be 1.5 inches. Since each of the boards likely came from the same original piece of stock, the grain patterns for each board should be quite similar. Does anyone know where to find a book or article about making flush or solid slab cabinet doors for a contemporary style kitchen? MT Copelands Introduction to Cabinetry online course. Can I make cabinet doors out of a single slab of wood? Begin by "truing up" one edge of the board on a jointer.