Cabinetmaking at WOODWEB's Knowledge Base

Try our Knowledge Base Micro-Search: enter a keyword (or phrase) in the search box below, and the Micro-Search will produce results from the article list on this page.

Router Overheating

Woodworkers discuss how hot router bits and collets should be expected to get during normal operation, and what might cause them to overheat. September 7, 2006

How to Secure Floating Panels

Using spaceballs versus pinning panels at top and bottom center points. January 22, 2006

Another Cabinet Pricing Survey

Cabinetmakers from around the U.S. quote ballpark prices for a generic cabinet project, and discuss costs and markets. April 9, 2008

Ripping Hardwood on a Sliding Table Saw

Advice on ripping hardwood lumber on a sliding table saw, and other useful slider tricks. February 6, 2007

Low-Tech Frameless Cabinet Construction

How can a face-frame cabinetmaker switch to frameless, without investing in a lot of equipment? April 20, 2008

Cost Factors in Adding Face Frames to Frameless Cabinets

Another take on how a frameless shop can add face frames to their repertory without adding too much cost. April 20, 2008

Outsourcing Cabinet Carcase Parts to CNC Shops

Here are some detailed thoughts on how to interface with a CNC-equipped shot to get custom cabinet parts made to order. April 20, 2008

Three-phase motors 101

Three-phase power and converters; explained in layman's terms. June 19, 2003

Set-ups for spraying cabinet doors

Methods for clean and efficient finishing. Includes photos.. October 9, 2002

Kitchen Advice for a Young Beginner

A youngster gets some advice and encouragement about getting into the kitchen cabinet business. April 20, 2008

How Long to Build Cabinets?

Cabinetmakers share views on how long a typical cabinet job should take a small shop, and help a colleague figure out why his progress has been slow. April 20, 2008

Positioning Drawer Fronts in Frameless Cab Construction

Lining up and attaching drawer fronts can be a finicky production bottleneck. Here are half a dozen different ways cabinetmakers handle it. April 20, 2008

Pricing Feedback on a Built-In Entertainment Center

Cabinetmakers offer their guesstimates on a reasonable price for a typical built-in. April 21, 2008

Door-Sample Carrying Case Ideas

Woodworkers discuss ways to haul a few sample doors around for showing clients. April 20, 2008

Should I Make My Own Crown Moulding?

Is it worth investing in a moulder for the convenience of making your own crown moulding sometimes? April 20, 2008

Getting Tight Joints with a Corner Stapler

Corner staplers make fast work of frame assembly. For joints that are tight on the front face, elevate the pieces on blocks and clamp carefully. April 20, 2008

Air Piping Sizing and Material Choice

Wider diameters offer less resistance and more storage buffering. Pex is also an option to consider. April 20, 2008

Attaching Toe Kicks

Thoughts on toe-kick clips and other forms of attachment. April 20, 2008

Making Your Own Solid Wood Edgebanding

In a pinch, making your own edgebanding is no big deal. Here's how to do it. April 20, 2008

Trying Out Face-Frame Cabinetry

and discuss what exactly he will have to learn if he does take it. April 9, 2008

Estimating Jobs for Tire-Kickers

don't give those drawings away any more. April 10, 2008

Farm Sink Mounting Details

For a custom kitchen, confusion arises over how the farmhouse sink is intended to be mounted. Learn more here about farm sinks and how they fit in. April 9, 2008

Forced-Air Shop Heat Versus Radiant Heating

A few thoughts on the effect different heating system types have on comfort for people, and conditions for wood or machinery. April 10, 2008

Corner Cabinet Dimensions and Crown Moulding Transitions

Advice on figuring out how to size a corner cabinet so crown moulding on the straight runs dies gracefully into the side of the corner cab. April 10, 2008

Steel Support for an Overhanging Granite Countertop

Advice on the use of structural steel to support a stone counter, without overkill or excessive weight (and cost). April 9, 2008

Face Frame Dimensions and Fastening Issues

A tricky little puzzle about face frame screw assembly, based on a particular dadoed face frame detail. April 10, 2008

Clear Alder Versus European Beech

A cabinetmaker who finds that clear Alder looks good, but scratches too easily, discovers a satisfying alternative: European Beech. April 9, 2008

Hard or Soft Maple for Stained Cabinets?

Thoughts on choosing Maple for cabinet frames, and on staining versus applying dye and toner. April 9, 2008

Shelf Stiffening Methods

A discussion of shelf spans, shelf materials, and reinforcing methods to prevent sagging. April 10, 2008

Materials Cost as a Proportion of Cabinet Costs

There's no standard ratio of materials cost to other costs in cabinetmaking — it depends on many factors, and varies widely from job to job. April 10, 2008

Considering a Hotel Kitchenette Cabinet Job

A quick look at the pricing and management issues involved in approaching a commercial cookie-cutter job. April 9, 2008

Countersinks and Self-Sinking Screws

Countersink bit and self-countersinking screw recommendations. April 9, 2008

Attaching 3/4-Inch Plywood Cabinet Backs

Cabinetmakers describe alternative ways of fastening cabinet backs to carcases. April 9, 2008

Whether to Finish Hidden Cabinet Ends

Cabinetmakers discuss whether to finish the ends of cabinets that abut slide-in appliances. April 9, 2008

Drawer Slides Breaking During Transport

A cabinetmaker reports drawer slides that malfunction after a 5-mile cabinet delivery trip. April 9, 2008

Thick Butcher Blocks

A discussion of construction methods and wood movement issues for a six-inch-thick butcher block top. April 11, 2008

Appearance Considerations with Sapele

Sapele wood darkens over time (as do Cherry and Mahogany), and its compatibility with the look of other woods is a matter of personal preference. April 11, 2008

Pricing for Built-In Shelf and Media Center Units

Cabinetmakers consider how materials, finishes, and installation may affect the value of a representative built-in unit. April 11, 2008

Equipment For New Cabinet Business

Equipment and other advice for a beginning businessman. August 26, 2004

Pricing Cabinet Installation Work

Pros discuss their differing approaches to charging for kitchen and bath cabinet installation work. January 24, 2005

Advice about Starting a Cabinet Business

Cabinetmakers deliver several truckloads of advice to a young person with some start-up cash and a lot of enthusiasm. October 25, 2006

Face-Frame Versus Frameless Cabinetry

Have we had that discussion yet on the relative merits of face-frame and frameless construction? August 15, 2006

Melamine Carcasses

Can melamine interiors be considered high end? April 18, 2004

Cabinetmaker's Responsibilities

Lively conversation about who should handle plumbing, electrical, etc. on kitchen/bath projects. December 9, 2004

Frameless carcass construction

A detailed discussion of the quality of frameless cabinets. July 24, 2001

Career change: Computers to cabinets

Issues that could affect the success of a newly purchased woodworking business. July 29, 2003

Level Cabinets in Out-of-Whack Houses

A rowdy, no-holds-barred debate on whether cabinet installers should fudge square and level when the existing house is neither. December 20, 2005

Does it Pay to Own an Edgebander?

A good edgebander can really boost your productivity, but how much machine you need depends on how much volume you're doing. October 9, 2006

Blind woodworker's story

A blind cabinetmaker tells the story of his education and career in woodworking. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) January 21, 2003

Installing crown moulding

Calculations and tools for cutting crown angles. May 17, 2003

Scribing three edges

Templates, tic sticking and more for efficient scribing in difficult situations. September 20, 2003

Are Solid Wood Cabinets Practical to Build?

A long, highly informative discussion of the practical and other issues involved in building and selling cabinetry made from solid wood rather than plywood or composites. February 26, 2007

Cope and Stick Joinery with a Router

Tips on door construction using a router table and sled, and an extended discussion about outsourcing doors versus building them in house. June 28, 2007

Small Shop Struggles

A one-employee cabinet shop owner gets wide-ranging practical advice on managing his fledgling business. The voice of experience, from pros who have been there. August 29, 2005

Pricing Example: a Simple Cabinet

A simple pair of free-standing cabinets, with a long discussion on pricing, bidding, and relating to a competitive market. July 5, 2006

Methods of 32 mm system layout

Different interpretations on the 32mm system. (Cabinetmaking Forum) March 23, 2003

Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Doors

Here's a detailed and lively discussion among cabinetmakers and door specialists about the key issues in outsourcing doors, including schedules, quality, efficiency, cost, and making good on mistakes. October 26, 2007

Confirmat screw assembly

Troubleshooting problems with Confirmat screws. June 24, 2002

Pursuing perfect miters

Methods and equipment for achieving the highest quality. September 20, 2003

Value added defined

Many definitions and interpretations are offered up. July 29, 2003

Nested-Based Routers Versus Beam Saw and Point-to-Point

Two different technologies, same product — why pick one or the other? January 14, 2008

Case construction methods

Discussion of the strongest, most efficient methods of joinery. July 29, 2003

Choosing Sliding Table Saws and Panel Saws

Pros discuss the choices in panel saws and sliding table saws, and offer advice on modifying equipment for better performance. November 10, 2006

Working With Leg Levelers

Revising an installation process to include leg levelers. October 20, 2004

Plywood Thickness for Cabinet Construction

What starts out as a question about 1/4" versus 1/2" plywood for cabinet backs, turns into a long discussion of what plywood cabinetmakers prefer for building carcases, and why. January 20, 2007

Appliance Cutouts

Standards, and a lack of, for kitchen appliace cutouts. August 7, 2004

Photographing Your Work -- Professional Vs Amateur

Should you hire a professional, or take the photos yourself?

Kitchen Cabinet Pricing Comparison

Cabinet shops compare price estimates on a basic kitchen job, and discuss the factors that influence their prices. June 5, 2006

Five-piece doors on CNC

Doing raised-panel work on a CNC router. November 26, 2001

Defining "Custom Cabinets"

What is a "custom" cabinet, and what do terms like "semi-custom" and "stock cabinet" mean? Pros discuss the dividing line between craftsmanship and mass production. December 28, 2005

Setting Up Excalibur Slider

Tips and photos for accurate alignment. March 14, 2004

Confirmat screws -- getting started

A discussion on drilling holes for confirmat screws dives deeper into screw and dowel construction. July 3, 2001

Certifcation for solid surface

What does it take to become certified to install by the manufacturer? July 9, 2003

Streamlining High-Volume Cabinet Production

Well-organized cabinetmakers share their secrets for labor time efficiency. April 26, 2006

Photographing Kitchens Professionally

Recommendations on creating high-quality shots of your work. April 2, 2004

Starting a cabinet business

Pros give pros and cons involved in starting a new cabinet business

NC lacquer for kitchen cabinets

Why shouldn't this old standby be used? March 23, 2003

Pricing Example: Bath Vanity

An emotional, but informative, discussion of cabinet pricing based on one bath vanity example. September 23, 2006

Chip-free dovetailing in plywood

Building dovetailed plywood drawers without chipping; European and American approaches. April 24, 2002

High-Quality Cherry Slab Doors

An extended discussion of the advantages of various ways to make slab doors. October 25, 2006

More About Sanding

And some more about sanding. Then, a little more about sanding. Finally, just a little more about sanding. June 5, 2006

MDF versus particleboard

Strength and other qualities in relation to cabinet construction. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) March 23, 2003

Gluing face frame joints

Is the added glue necessary? August 13, 2002

Stupid Woodworker Tricks

With a nod toward David Letterman, pros discuss their least-best moments. January 24, 2005

Scribing cabinets and Z clips

Issues of overhang and attachment are discussed. February 19, 2002

Woodshop Waste Percentage

How much wood do you waste in the construction of your product? June 21, 2004

AWI certification

Is membership or certfication with AWI worth your while?July 29, 2003

Custom Built-In Seating for a Boat

The furniture forum discusses plumb, level, port, starboard, pitch, yaw, and relating nautical seating terminology. June 10, 2006

Table Saw Safety Accessories

A long discussion on the utility and practicality of guards, splitters, and automatic blade brakes. November 26, 2007

Pricing Kitchen Cabinets

Price by the foot, or by the box? Cabinetmakers discuss the pros and cons of different estimating and pricing methods. May 20, 2006

Preparing Face Frame Stock

A lively discussion among cabinetmakers about whether, when, and how to joint, plane, or sand stock for face frames. October 8, 2005

Stickley Design

A question about Stickley style provokes answers starting with a discussion about rift-sawn and quartersawn oak, and ending with a wide-ranging ramble (or was that rumble?) about Gustav Stickley, the Arts and Crafts movement, history, and the philosophy of work and play. Some pictures of cabinets he ......

Techniques and Equipment for Long-Grain Miters

Cabinetmakers who like to miter their face frames to their end panels discuss table-saw and shaper setups, joinery, and gluing techniques. September 28, 2006

Quality and Price for a Basic Bedroom Built-In

Here's a long business and technical discussion on how to build a modestly-priced armoire and entertainment center. July 28, 2007

Crowns on Band Wheels

Why do crowns exist, and do they improve band tracking? January 29, 2004

Vacuum Veneered Drawer Faces

Vacuum laminating is ideally suited for creating curved surfaces. May 23, 2006

Taking Measurements on Site — Tape Measure or Laser Device?

The new generation of laser measuring tools can improve accuracy and save time. Here, cabinetmakers describe why they made the switch and how they use the new tools. November 22, 2005

Are bone-dry biscuits necessary?

Questions about the dryness and size of biscuits. April 24, 2002

Hand Cut Dovetails (Are They Worth It?)

Cabinetmakers discuss the esthetic merits (and practical demerits) of hand-cut dovetailed drawer boxes. October 8, 2005

Quality and Service Issues with Outsourced Cabinet Doors

A long discussion of how large-volume specialty door companies address occasional defects in the products they ship. March 6, 2008

Face Frame Joinery

The definitive, final, last-word discussion on all the ways there are to assemble face frames, until next time. June 28, 2007

Should I Specialize in Door Production?

These days, the cabinet door industry is highly competitive and has low margins. Here's a discussion of the realities of starting a door-making business. March 25, 2007

Installing Framed Cabinets

Save time with careful layout and the right tools. February 9, 2001

Crown Molding Detail -- For Sloped Ceilings

Calculating angles and inside corner details for crown applied to sloped ceilings. April 2, 2004

Pricing Custom Cabinets and Trim

Even within one local market, prices can be all over the map. Balancing careful itemized estimating against local market conditions can help you turn a decent profit. August 23, 2006

Tooling Up for a High-School Wood-Shop Program

Cabinetmakers advise a high school shop teacher on how to equip a new shop class program. July 11, 2007

Drying Compressor Air

This long, detailed discussion covers the whys and hows of drying out the air that flows through your compressed-air lines to power tools and spray equipment. April 6, 2007

Methods for Pricing Cabinet Work

After years of estimating cabinet costs box by box in detail, you may have enough data to start taking short-cuts. October 2, 2007

Outsource, or Build it Yourself?

Shop owners discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing doors and drawers. August 29, 2005

Machining raised panels

Addressing workpiece movement and tear-out problems. April 9, 2003

Organizing Tight Shop Space

A start-up cabinetmaker is working in cramped conditions. Other chime in with space-economizing ideas for workflow and storage. August 29, 2005

Cabinet construction joinery

Different joinery and construction methods. November 24, 2002

Frame-and-Panel Carcases Versus Applied End Panels

What's better, building a plywood box and attaching frame-and-panel elements to it, or using the raised-panel frames as structural elements in the cabinet? Cabinetmakers discuss history, technique, and the state of the art. June 5, 2006

Recessed or flush cabinet backs

Which method cabinetmakers find preferable, plus materials and methods used. December 17, 2003

Proper Size for a One-Man Shop

Bigger is better, woodworkers agree. April 6, 2007

Speeding up the Work with a Value Stream Map

Drawing a map to visualize the steps in the production process helps cabinet shops streamline their processes and focus on productive activities instead of on moving parts around. October 2, 2007

Efficient Drawer-Front Installation

In this long, detailed discussion, cabinet pros swap techniques for attaching drawer fronts and discuss how to improve efficiency and accuracy of this fussy and time-consuming step. September 8, 2007

Out-of-Level Floor Problem

A cabinet job for a new house with an out-of-level floor leads to a callback. Pros weigh in with views and technical advice. August 29, 2005

Installing seamed countertops

Fitting p-lam countertops in the field, due to size and shape. September 23, 2003

How to Prevent Sanding Swirl Marks

There is more to power sanding than you might think. Here, pros discuss the fine points. December 26, 2006

CNC configuration

Building a CNC router. May 1, 2003

Getting Mahogany Flat

Very hard woods with alternating grain patterns sometimes develop waviness when sanded with wide-belt equipment. Here's an extensive discussion of the characteristics of Mahogany, and of ways to approach it using both hand tools and power equipment. November 12, 2005

Kitchen Corner Cabinets

Creative solutions for this awkward space. February 10, 2004

Pricing a Bathroom Cabinet Job

Pros share estimating tips and pricing strategies. June 22, 2005

Does Outsourcing Cabinet Parts Make Sense for a Small Shop?

Cabinetmakers discuss the pros and cons of having parts cut by another shop. January 26, 2008

Finishing in-house vs on-site

Is quality compromised when cabinets are finished on the job site? November 22, 2003

Determining CNC feeds and speeds

Where to begin in a world with no standards. June 19, 2003

Achieving Consistent Copes

Why is it so difficult to cut copes the same every time? October 5, 2004

Choosing a Sliding Table Saw

It's wiser to buy quality used equipment than a low-end brand new unit. May 27, 2006

mounting screws

July 24, 2005

The Trouble with High-End Appliances

Beefs, anecdotes, and general observations about installing expensive, fancy kitchen appliances. January 9, 2006

When to use waterbornes

Applications where waterborne coatings will and won't work. May 22, 2002

Responsibility for a Too-Dark Finish

A cabinetmaker is being asked to hold the bag for the poor work done by a painter who the customer hired. In this thread, professionals suggest ways to handle the problem. November 11, 2005

Distressing Wood

Learning how to give new furniture that well-worn look. January 6, 2005

Drawing Units and Precision

Deciding on the level of precision needed for cabinet and millwork design. October 20, 2004

Who cuts sink holes?

Is this the responsibility of the cabinetmaker or installer? December 17, 2003

Installing Cabinets: Uppers or Lowers First?

Opinions vary. Here, installers describe how they go about installing cabinets, and explain why. July 3, 2006

Finger Versus Tablesaw

A cautionary tale of a seven-stitches encounter with a tablesaw blade sets off a discussion of accidents had and lessons learned. April 25, 2006

What's the Best Tool for Cutting Panels?

A start-up shop owner asks whether he should purchase a sliding table saw, a vertical panel saw, or maybe even a beam saw. Experienced hands offer thoughtful opinions. July 6, 2005

Building Separate Kicks

Different methods of building and installing toekicks. August 7, 2004

Out-of-Level Brouhaha

Sparks fly when a cabinet installer goes with the out-of-level house for the sake of appearance. His story sets off a lively exchange of views. October 22, 2005

Selecting CNC Machinery

Choosing a machine to best suit your operation. January 28, 2004

Door Warping Mystery

Tall veneered-MDF cabinet doors are warping badly. Why? February 20, 2008

Bidding a Commercial Cabinet Job

Residential cabinetmaker gets advice on pricing a commercial unit. May 4, 2005

Darkening existing finishes onsite

Setting up shop in the customer's home in order to modify a finish. October 9, 2002

Drilling Long Holes in MDF

An MDF shelf made of two panels glued together poses a special edge-drilling challenge. October 2, 2007

Kitchen Projects: Required Deposits

The policy of demanding a deposit gets fouled up when contractors are involved. December 26, 2004

When Cabinets Fail

Like the poet said, "Everything falls apart." Here's a long discussion of common cabinet failures and the nature of cabinet repair work. June 28, 2007

Install Solutions for the One-Man Cabinet Shop

Anyone can do it with help... January 26, 2008

Melamine Cabinet Boxes

Can melamine move in as plywood quality degrades? October 5, 2004

Edgebander or Small CNC?

A part-time garage-shop cabinetmaker gets advice on whether his next investment should be a CNC or an edgebander. Good thoughts on both sides in this long thread. October 11, 2007

Proper Depth for Frameless Cabinets

In a long discussion, cabinetmakers share observations, opinions and experiences about the dimensions of frameless cabinets. December 14, 2005

Switching to Melamine

A cabinetmaker who usually builds with plywood gets advice on working with melamine. July 5, 2006

Advantages of Pocket Screw Construction

Fans of pocket screws explain why they like to use them for assembling face frame cabinets. April 26, 2006

Should a Cabinetmaker Agree to Let the Contractor Install Cabinets?

For various reasons, most cabinetmakers prefer to install their own work — unless they know and trust the installer. December 2, 2006

Router Table Add-ons

With a router lift, precision fence, and some customizing, a router table can "kinda-sorta" stand in as a poor man's shaper. November 26, 2006

Quality of Cherry Lumber

Cabinetmakers discuss cherry quality, grading standards, and the market. August 17, 2006

Low-tech panel squaring

Methods and machines for squaring that don't involve CNC equipment. April 9, 2003

Estimating and Pricing for Cabinet Installation

Cabinetmakers and installers discuss the ins and outs of pricing methods and rules of thumb. September 4, 2005

Drawer runner holes in 32mm system

Placement, mounting and more. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) February 12, 2003

Kitchen Cabinets and Floors — Which Should Be Installed First?

The decision affects both trades, and there's more than one well-reasoned opinion posted here. May 6, 2007

Upper cabinet install jig

A sampling of shop-built setups used by the pros. October 16, 2003

Is Glue Necessary with Pocket-Hole Joinery?

If you build cabinets with pocket-hole screws, should you also glue the joints? Opinions vary. February 26, 2007

One Man, One Kitchen, How Many Days?

Solo cabinetmakers compare notes on the time it takes them to complete a basic kitchen job. April 26, 2006

Wine Cabinet Construction and Technology

More wine-storage concepts, information, and wine-cellar construction tips and techniques. November 11, 2005

Sink cutouts in post form tops

Woodworkers share their favorite methods. April 3, 2002

Designing entertainment centers

Important considerations when designing and building multimedia centers. August 25, 2003

Regular or dewaxed shellac?

is an appropriate primer coat. May 22, 2002

CNC Router Versus Vertical Panel Saw

Which to invest in? It all depends on the shop's needs and the business plan. January 8, 2007

Shop Maintenance and Cleaning

How to get your crew behind the idea that "a clean shop is a safe and happy shop." May 6, 2006

Figuring Out Woodshop Power Requirements

Amps, volts, watts, horsepower, and all that jazz: here's an instructive thread on how to figure out if a building's power supply will support your plans for shop equipment. July 9, 2007

Unpainted MDF Filler Strips Near a Dishwasher

Is it safe to have a cut MDF edge located close to a dishwasher? Cabinetmakers talk about materials, water resistance, and the meaning of "quality." July 9, 2007

Relationships with Edgebanders

No two ways about it, edgebanders are temperamental. Here's an extended discussion on getting through the working day with your useful but finicky mechanical partner. December 7, 2007

Vertical panel saws

A comparison of speed and efficiency of vertical panel saws as opposed to sliding table saws. July 24, 2001

Positioning Drawer Fronts

Cabinetmakers swap ideas for the jigs and methods they use to set drawer fronts onto drawer boxes. September 21, 2005

Installing Rollout Shelves

Keeping rollouts clear of the hinges. March 14, 2004

Should I Install Cabinets for a Big Box Store?

Advice from all sides, including those who tried it and liked it, and those who tried it and didn't. December 26, 2006

Opening Laminate Joints Mystery

in a long MDF and laminate countertop? March 14, 2005

Too-tight biscuits

Biscuit joining tricks and techniques. March 23, 2002

Switching to Factory-Built Cabinets

A Gulf Coast cabinetmaker has had good luck with a line of factory cabinets. His story triggers a discussion of today's market realities and the pros and cons of adding factory-made cabs to your business model. November 10, 2006

Thirty-Inch Deep Base Cabinets

Extra depth brings cabinet faces out flush with a standard refrigerator, but it introduces other complications. In this discussion, cabinetmakers share techniques for building 30-inch deep cabinets that work. December 28, 2005

Compressed-Air Piping for a Woodshop

Copper is considered the safe choice, but here is a discussion of some alternatives, and tips on a workable setup. April 21, 2007

Building a Stroke Sander

Craftsmen share tips about making and running this handy shop tool. October 2, 2005

Melamine Wall Cabinet Design

Sturdy construction with an unfamiliar material. July 20, 2004

Custom Cabinets for an Out-of-Whack Room

Pros discuss ways to make cabinets fit "right" in a room that's wrong. April 20, 2007

Building Beaded Face Frames

Making beadmould application more efficient. January 14, 2004

Blum hinge drilling locations

Determining the edge setback for drilling in the use of Blum hinges. March 20, 2001

Drawer Slide Options

A discussion of the latest in drawer slide technology. October 25, 2006

The Most Important Skills to Learn

An apprentice woodworker asks what he should concentrate on for a career in the trade, and gets a full helping of good advice. October 2, 2005

Scribe Rails -- Why Not?

Why are custom shops not including scribe material on backs? August 26, 2004

Cabinet Refacing

Can it work as a business? Pros share business and tech tips. June 17, 2005

Screws for Joining Face Frames Together

A cabinet installer finds his crews are snapping the occasional screw when connecting adjoining face frames in the field. Here's a discussion of installation methods, clamps, and fastening hardware. December 27, 2007

Building a Shop

Cabinet shop owners converse about what they would do differently if they were to build their shop all over again, again. August 14, 2007

Kick boxes

Building separate kicks for efficient installation. September 20, 2003

One-Man Installation Setup

Small cabinet-shop owners explain how they organize bringing their tools and supplies to the jobsite for installations. March 9, 2008

Drawer Building Options

Materials choices, fastening methods and systems for drawer assembly. September 23, 2006

Best material for bent lamination

Searching for the most suitable wood product to use with bent lamination. July 22, 2003

Curved cabinet doors

What's the most efficient way to build radius frame-and-panel doors in-house? May 15, 2002

Cost of Shop Power

Understanding (and minimizing) your shop's utility bill. July 5, 2006

Outsourcing Cabinet Installation

There are good reasons to install your own cabinets, and good reasons to have someone else do it. Here, installers and cabinetmakers discuss the fine points of communication and cooperation among specialists. August 3, 2005

Attaching Bookcases to Countertops

Efficient methods from professional cabinetmakers. February 10, 2004

Architectural Millwork Installer Compensation

Owners and employees discuss the wages installers make, and the factors that affect the value of labor. November 11, 2005

Pricing a Built-In Bookshelf

Another tour through familiar territory: How much is this bookcase worth? And should neighbors catch a break? November 26, 2007

Sliding Table Saw and Panel Saw Choices

Cabinetmakers kick around the uses of sliders and panel saws, what makes a good one, and which to purchase if you can't have both. November 22, 2005

Crown Transitions for Corner Cabinets

Several ways to deal with a tricky crown molding detail at the top of corner cabinets flanked by manufactured upper cabs. October 25, 2006

Problems with Chinese Plywood

Cabinetmakers report widespread quality and performance problems with hardwood plywood imported from China. May 22, 2007

Shaper Choices for Door Construction

Cabinetmakers discuss equipment selection and machining techniques for making raised-panel cope-and-stick doors. May 22, 2006

Making Fluted Pilasters

Detailed tips on efficient fluting, including images of a shop-made jig. October 5, 2004

Designing for Large Pocket Doors

Choosing quality hardware for TV entertainment center. March 14, 2004

Defining "Quality" in Custom Cabinet Work

Pleasing customers is about matching their expectations, not your own. Cabinet shop pros discuss how to succeed with custom work in a competitive market. August 29, 2005

Fine-Tuning for Accurate Cross-Cuts

starting with zeroing in your square itself. July 28, 2007

Determining left and right hand doors

How do you keep them straight? (From WOODWEB's Architectural Woodworking Forum) March 5, 2003

New Shop Options — Steel Building or Pole Building?

Business owners discuss the costs and merits of engineered steel buildings and pole barns. September 4, 2005

Machining Face Frame Stock

A cabinetmaker gets advice on improving his process for planing and dimensioning face frame material — or whether to buy pre-milled stock instead. October 12, 2007

Scribing in Difficult Situations

Techniques and tactics for problematic scribing. September 9, 2004

Brainstorming a Modified Door Frame Joint

Is there a quicker and easier way to machine the joints for a raised-panel stile-and-rail cabinet door? Here's a handful of possibly useful ideas. May 22, 2007

Do Base Cabinets Need Back Shims?

Shim the front and hang the back, say some. May 4, 2005

Outsourcing Design Work – Why or Why Not?

A CAD artist who wants to draw for others on a contract basis gets feedback about the usefulness and value of that proposed service. February 8, 2008

Strength of Cabinet Joinery Using Pre-Finished Plywood

When you use pre-finished plywood, does the finish compromise the strength of glue joints? The question sets off an extended discussion of structural issues in cabinet carcass construction. September 23, 2006

Inset Door Cabinetmaking 101

Pros explain the basics about making inset door and face frame cabinets. October 8, 2005

Toekick Drawers

Construction details and images for toekick drawers. January 14, 2004

Quality Control for Square Doors

There's a lot involved in getting five-part cabinet doors to come out really square. October 9, 2006

Competing with the Factories

Custom quality at a mass-produced price? Pros debate the issue. February 25, 2005

Corner-Cabinet Face Frame Joints

Corner cabinets pose a tricky face-frame construction problem. Here, cabinetmakers discuss ways to detail the corner joint. August 29, 2005

Shop Heat Solutions

Ideas and suggestions for heating a woodworking shop. March 26, 2008

Scribing a Template to Fit A Countertop Between Three Walls

Here's a long, detailed thread about scribing a custom template for cutting and fitting countertops into tight spaces. December 27, 2007

To dado or not to dado?

The pros and cons of dadoing melamine cabinet boxes. November 22, 2003

Hidden-Pivot Bookcase Door

Here are detailed drawings for a nifty swinging-bookcase hidden door. October 12, 2006

Finding a Use for Scrap Sheet Goods

A cabinet maker asks, "What can I do with all those drops?" March 17, 2005

High-Volume Cabinet Install Jobs — Is It Worth It?

Cabinet installers discuss the potential pitfalls of a 50-kitchen installation contract, and share tips for making a success of it. March 20, 2007

Fitting Inset Doors to Face Frames

Pros discuss the efficiency and accuracy of various approaches to measuring, marking, cutting, and installing inset cabinet doors. January 21, 2007

Dowel, screw, staple, confirmat construction

Efficiency and assembly with different fastening methods. March 5, 2003

- What makes a cabinet "custom"?

Is there a specific standard that qualifies a cabinet as custom? June 24, 2002

Specialty Sawing Vocabulary

A newcomer asks for definitions of terms like "resawing," "ripsaw," and "chopsaw." December 30, 2005

Getting a Square, Clean Edge on Face Frame Stock

Cabinetmakers discuss tolerances for face frame edges, and compare ways of prepping stock. April 6, 2007

Making Time in a Small Shop

A 2-man shop needs to pick up speed. Should they buy tools or revamp their process? March 17, 2005

Marketing High-End Cabinets

Cabinetmakers share ideas for attracting big-ticket clients. February 10, 2004

Face frame assembly

Fastening face frame members that are assembled and sanded before being applied to a cabinet. April 17, 2002

Attaching Face Frames Revisited

Cabinetmakers kick around various ways to attach face frames to cabinets. August 15, 2006

Inset Door Hinge Adjustment and Stops

A discussion of ways to make inset doors close flush using Euro hinges. January 13, 2008

Small Shop Case Construction

More back-and-forth on how to assemble cabinet carcases. April 6, 2007

Dado Techniques

Router and jig, or table-saw with dado blade set? Cabinetmakers discuss choices and methods. May 22, 2006

Flat Panel Cabinet Doors

Using solid wood or veneered MDF for panels. April 18, 2004

Outsourcing drawings

Positive and negative experiences from those who have hired the job out. October 30, 2002

What to Do When a Customer Bid-Shops You

Pros give advice on handling the situation where a customer asks a cabinetmaker to price-compete with a low-ball bidder. (Note: The good guys won this one.) February 17, 2006

Ellipse jig

Making your own jig for ellipse-based arcs. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) March 5, 2003

Clean Cuts with Vertical Panel Saws

Cabinetmakers discuss scoring blades, blade types, and cutting techniques for getting clean, razor-sharp cuts with panel saws. December 28, 2005

Walnut Butcher Block Countertops

Techniques for creating a beautiful butcher block countertop are shared. May 10, 2005

Plywood Vs. Solid Wood

What do you mean by "solid, dude"? In this thread, cabinetmakers communicate about wood, plywood, particleboard, veneers, core materials, core values, and symbolic forms of expression. It's all in good fun. October 8, 2005

Whether to Mill Your Own Cabinet Mouldings

Is it practical for a cabinetmaker to mill his own mouldings? Shop owners say that depending on your situation, investing in a moulder might be worth it. July 29, 2007

Large Glass Display Doors

Glazing and hardware advice for big glass doors on a reproduction display case. February 6, 2007

Are "High-End" Drawer Joints Worth the Trouble?

Cabinetmakers discuss the processes involved in dovetail joints, box joints, and simpler drawer construction joints. Will customers see value in a "better" drawer joint? February 26, 2007