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

Optimizing Materials Versus Speed when Cutting Parts on a Slider
Wasted time is pitted against wasted material. November 30, 2009

Nested-Based Routers Versus Beam Saw and Point-to-Point
Two different technologies, same product — why pick one or the other? January 14, 2008

Stroke Sanders and Wide-Belt Sanders
More thoughts on the choices in production sanding equipment. March 13, 2007

Choosing a Verical Panel Saw or Slider
A question about choosing a panel saw slips into familiar territory: would a slider be better? That all depends, of course; cabinetmakers here share experiences they've had with both. November 23, 2012

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

Table Saw Blade Height Above Material
Here's a long, thoughtful discussion of the practical and safety aspects of setting blade height when working with a table saw. November 13, 2009

Sliding Table Saw Accuracy
Cabinetmakers discuss how to tune up a slider and provide tips for accurate cutting. January 13, 2009


A Sliding Table Saw in a Small Work Space
Here's another long discussion of the value of sliding table saws, and the practical aspects of fitting one into a small shop footprint. July 29, 2012

Using the Rip Fence as a Stop on a Sliding Table Saw
There are calibration and accuracy issues when using the rip fence as a work stop on a slider, but they are minor ones. November 20, 2008

What's your Favorite Machine?
Woodworkers chime in about the equipment they love. May 26, 2010

Saws
Basic descriptions of sliding table saws, miter saws, re-saws, and related saw equipment used in wood shops. November 13, 2008

Vertical Panel Saw and Sliding Table Saw Comparison
This discussion of the choice between vertical saws and sliders includes some thoughts on sliding table saw technique. November 21, 2006

Radial Arm Saw Cut Tolerances
After a discussion of the inherent roughness of radial arm saw cuts, a woodworker gets his unit tuned up for fine cuts on melamine. October 14, 2009

Plunge Cut Circular Saw Versus Table Saw
For a part-time shop, can a high-quality circular saw and guide setup take the place of a table saw for panel cutting on small jobs? June 3, 2009

Sliding Table Saw Versus Vertical Panel Saw
Another take on a common topic: whether to buy a panel saw or a slider (or both). September 26, 2009

Expanding Table Saw Capacity
Woodworkers discuss choosing a second table saw, building on an outfeed table, using a "shoot board," and other ways to expand panel ripping and crosscutting capacity. August 3, 2009

Widebelt Sander Adjustment and Scratch Patterns
A close look at widebelt sander head adjustment and its effect on the quality of the results. April 29, 2010

Options for Machining Dadoes
Here's an extensive collection of methods and tips for cutting dadoes in panels. November 30, 2009

Dust Cut Procedures
Woodworkers describe how they make initial cuts on sheet goods to establish straight and square edges. July 27, 2008

Fence Considerations with a Sliding Tablesaw
Here's a lot of detailed advice for getting the most out of the fence on a European-made sliding table saw. May 11, 2011

Value of a Sliding Table Saw
Cabinetmakers discuss whether, and why, a sliding table saw is worth having around when other tools can do (sort of) the same thing.April 29, 2012

Shopping for a Panel Saw
Advice on how to get your money's worth for a panel saw, and thoughts on choosing a slider or a track-guided circular saw instead. May 28, 2010

Squaring Up a Sliding Table Saw
Pros walk a newcomer through the steps of getting a slider trued up for accurate rips and crosscuts. February 20, 2008

Eliminating Melamine Chip-Out
Suggestions for blade choice and equipment tweaks that will help reduce chip-out when cutting melamine on the table saw. May 6, 2010

Comparing Sliding Table Saws
A discussion of the merits of competing brands of sliders. July 28, 2012

Melamine Chipping on a Sliding Table Saw
A cabinet shop goes through the learning curve cutting melamine on an entry-level slider. The discussion covers blade choices, sharpening, setup, adjustments, and technique. August 8, 2008

Ripping Accuracy with Vertical Panel Saws
Tips for making accurate panel rips, and a discussion of equipment tolerances and various quirks. March 25, 2007

Sliding Table Saw Versus Conventional Cabinet Saw
Input for a shop class student on the academic comparison between a sliding table saw and a traditional table saw. April 18, 2011

Cutting Square on the Table Saw
The main pitfalls are that your stock is out of square from the factory, and that table saw fences move. Here are tips on squaring up panel cuts. December 11, 2006

Boring Machines
Casework assembly methods that rely on evenly-spaced 32-mm holes are most efficient when you have high-volume precision equipment to bore the holes. Here's a rundown on the options in machinery for that purpose. September 18, 2008

Buying a Used Beamsaw
Input from users and maintenance techs on what to watch out for when buying a pre-owned beamsaw, and advice about teardown, transport, and re-assembly.July 29, 2011

Shopping for a Slider
Comparing and contrasting two makes of sliding table saw, with comments about the fine points of user-friendliness. February 2, 2011

Choosing Table Saw Blades
Thoughts on table saw blade selection for cutting plywood and for ripping hardwood. March 26, 2010

Sliding Table Saws — New Versus Used
When the budget is tight, a used high-end slider can be a better value than a brand new low-end machine.November 15, 2011

Troubleshooting Melamine Chipping on a Panel Saw
Advice on blade selection, sharpening, and saw operation to avoid chipping out melamine when cutting with a panel saw.March 13, 2014

Shopping for a Used Slider
Cabinetmakers discuss the desireable and undesirable attributes to consider in purchasing a previously owned sliding table saw on a budget. November 15, 2011

Aligning a Sliding Table Saw Carriage
Another good discussion of ways to tune up a slider for accurate, precise cuts. February 28, 2012

Budget Alternatives to a Sliding Table Saw
If a slider's not in the budget, what are the alternatives? Cabinetmakers discuss table saw attachments, vertical panel saws, and track saw packages. April 6, 2011

Shop-Built Sliding Table Saw Sled Decisions
Advice on whether to build a shop-rigged table saw sled, buy a sliding table attachment, or step up to a professional-grade slider. January 19, 2011

Budget Cross-Cutting Solutions
Suggestions on gearing up for wide panel cross-cuts without investing in an expensive sliding table saw. March 25, 2007

Sliding Table Saw: Manual or Digital?
Cabinetmakers consider how to assess the productivity benefits of a digital or computer-controlled slider. November 15, 2010

Table Saw Cutting Out of Square when Set on the Bevel
A little help with the problem of a table saw that cuts out of square, but only when the blade is tilted over to 45 degrees. November 16, 2010

Mounting a Digital Scale on a Sliding Tablesaw
Advice on the purchase, installation, and use of a digital scale on a sliding table saw. March 22, 2013

Upgrading the Table Saw
Where do you go when you step up from that old table saw? February 8, 2008

Squaring up a Vertical Panel Saw
Here's advice on tweaking a second-hand vertical panel saw into square (with the proviso that a trained tech will do it faster and better).February 16, 2014

Are Two Motors Better than One on a Two-Head Sander?
Some two-head sanders drive both heads with a single motor. What difference does it make? February 6, 2007

Track Saws for Breaking Down Panels
A tracked circular saw is no substitute for a panel saw or sliding table saw, but it's a productive tool that's worth the investment. October 13, 2010

Slider, Panel Saw, or Festool?
"All three" is the easy answer; but here are some thoughts for the cabinetmaker who is forced to choose. April 29, 2012

Troubleshooting Chip-Out with Melamine
Blade characteristics and plunge depth are factors to consider. February 18, 2011

Clamp Retrofits for Sliding Table Saws
Here's a discussion of site-built clamp setups for the slider, with some instructive photos. June 17, 2009

Routing Dadoes with a Vertical Panel Saw
People who have relied on a vertical panel saw for dadoing panels say the idea is problematic at best. February 26, 2007

Construction Boring Machines and Confirmat Screws
Tips on how to bore, countersink, and align cabinet parts for assembling with Confirmat screws. July 21, 2006

Dado Tooling for a Sliding Table Saw
Advice on choosing and setting up dado blades for a sliding table saw. January 9, 2015

Squaring Up a Cross-Cut Sled
Getting a cross-cut table-saw sled jig squared up just right is a finicky and time-consuming process. June 30, 2007

Cabinetmaking Forum -- 32mm: Imperial Versus Metric
Frameless cab systems use metric measurement. Your crew will make the transition with ease, but you'll still need to talk feet and inches to most customers. August 29, 2006

Cutting Veneered MDF on a Bevel
Tips on blade selection and table-saw technique for clean cuts on veneered panels. November 28, 2006

Left-Tilt Versus Right-Tilt Table Saws
In response to a question about which is better, here's a well-thought-out list of pros and cons. December 28, 2006

Vertical Panel Saws Versus Sliding Table Saws, Again
The perennial discussion, with a few new observations. March 3, 2009

Vertical Panel Saw Score and Cut Accuracy
Advice on adjustments to keep the score cut and the through cut aligned on an older vertical panel saw. October 13, 2012

Resetting the Sliders on a Sliding Table Saw
A detailed description of the process for fixing a sliding table saw slider mechanism that has gone out of adjustment. January 3, 2014

Track Saws and Accessories
Advice on the choices in the track saw category. November 15, 2011

Shopping for a Sliding Table Saw
Cabinetmakers recommend top-grade equipment with large-panel cutting capacity. February 13, 2009

Whether to Keep the Slider
Does a sliding table saw earn its keep when there's also a CNC in the shop?February 1, 2011

Beam Saw Cut Quality
Assuming the saw is well set up and in tune, you rarely see chipout when cutting stacked panels on a beam saw. March 26, 2012

Squaring a Sliding Table Saw
Advice on how to adjust the fence on a slider to restore its ability to make accurate, precise cuts. January 13, 2015

CNC V-grooving
Suggestions for tooling and techniques. March 23, 2002

Blade Life when Cutting Melamine
Melamine tears up saw blades. Here are some observations on blade life expectancy, some thoughts on blade choice, and a success story involving diamond blades. August 14, 2007

Good Things to Have on a Sliding Table Saw
Are independently-powered scoring blades or extra-long length important? January 8, 2007

Producing Quarter-Inch Thickness Lumber
Here are several different approaches to the challenge of producing very thin board lumber. January 17, 2011

Vertical Panel Saw Choices
Information on capabilities and setup details for different vertical panel saws. May 2, 2011

Is a Motorized Sliding Table Saw Fence Worth It?
Cabinetmakers describe the benefits of upgrading the fence on a slider. June 15, 2009

Buying a Sliding Table Saw
A second-hand, high-quality slider is a good investment. Here are tips on tuning it up and getting the best out of it. February 16, 2012

Sawblades 101
Select the right blade for the job with this quick rundown of blade characteristics. January 7, 2007

Blade Life in Melamine
Cabinetmakers discuss triple chip blades, hollow ground blades, blade sharpness, and equipment adjustments to get long performance from blades. January 26, 2009

Double-Refined MDF
Double-refined MDF provides a cleaner, smoother machined edge. But there are also ways to improve the edge of standard MDF. November 5, 2007

Widebelt Sander Belt Tracking
Advice on how to get your belt running straight. January 20, 2010

Grinding a Warped Cast-Iron Table Saw Top Flat
It's not unusual for machinery tables to get deformed out of their proper flat shape, but the problem is correctable. March 25, 2007

Chip-out on HPL panels
Solving problems with chip-out during CNC machining. August 12, 2001

Cleaning Sander Belts
Shop owners share their methods for cleaning wide-belt sander belts. November 14, 2009

Preventing Blow-Out When Cutting Double-Sided Veneer Plywood
Advice on equipment, blades, and techniques to prevent a ragged edge on the underside of table-saw cuts. January 20, 2007

Aftermarket Dust Collection for a Sliding Table Saw
Product suggestions and a look at a shop-rigged example of a dust collection saw blade shroud for a slider. April 15, 2013

Vacuum Lift Versus Scissor Lift
A discussion of equipment options for moving panels onto the sliding table saw. October 26, 2007

Troubleshooting Warpage with Kiln-Dried Cherry
Why did a load of Cherry boards warp in the kiln? May 16, 2008

Pneumatic Clamps for Sliding Table Saws
Info on aftermarket and shop-built pneumatic setups for clamping material to a sliding table saw. March 26, 2009

Drying Siberian Elm Slabs
Prone to warpage and bug damage, Siberian Elm is tricky wood to dry. March 31, 2008

Setting Up a New Slider
Nine out of nine doctors agree: have the supplier's tech set up your brand new sliding table saw for you. Do not do it yourself. January 23, 2014

Baltic Birch Plywood Dimensions and Waste
Thoughts on how to get value out of a 5-foot by 5-foot plywood panel. June 16, 2010

Troubleshooting Curved Rips in Melamine
Cuts coming out curved when you rip melamine? It's probably due to stresses in the material, not a problem with the table saw. August 14, 2007

Rolling A-Frames for Moving Plywood
Ideas for a low-cost shop-built plywood-handling rack on wheels. July 10, 2007

Beam Saw Versus Sliding Table Saw
Which to buy, slider or beam saw? Versatility, productivity, and ease of maintenance are issues to consider. August 24, 2008

Stable spoilboard material
Choosing spoilboard material that won't shrink, grow or warp. January 3, 2001

Do I Need the Scoring Blade for a Vertical Panel Saw?
Many users get along fine without a scoring blade. February 11, 2010

MDF and Shaper Cutter Life
How much wear and tear does MDF cause for knife edges? August 31, 2010

Choosing a Slider Blade
Advice on blade choices for a sliding table saw. March 27, 2012

Panel Router Versus Slider for Dadoing
Cabinetmakers discuss the choice of equipment for routine dado work in panels. February 1, 2015

Drum Sander Sanding Marks
Drum sanders typically leave "washboard" contact marks, so that sanded pieces still require hand sanding with a random-orbit sander. March 13, 2007

How to Saw Curved Panels
Advice on cutting up bowed panel stock for making curved cabinet doors. February 13, 2009

Foreign Material in Sheet Stock
People have found nuts, bolts, wrenches, nail sets, and sheet rock knives embedded in sheets of MDF or plywood. September 3, 2011

Getting Straight Table-Saw Rips
Tips on tuning a table saw for straight ripping. May 23, 2007

Dressing the Rollers on a Wide-Belt Sander
Tips on getting the sander drum true again by running it over flat sandpaper. July 29, 2011

Flipping Heavy Sheet Goods
Ideas for managing the weight of MDF and other heavy sheet goods when laminating sheets on both faces. September 15, 2011

MDF Bowing After Panel Saw Cutting
Panel moisture content can cause pieces to bow when cut. October 14, 2009

Troubleshooting Blade Chip-Out with Melamine
Advice on checking the blade for imperfections and the saw setup for inaccuracies. December 28, 2014

Edge Trimming on a Beam Saw
It's common practice to trim off the factory edge when cutting panels into parts on a beam saw. January 3, 2014

How Much Weight in a Truckload of Lumber?
Information on wood weight and truck carrying capacity. July 20, 2011

Cleaning Melamine Blades
Solvent cleaning will give you a little more mileage between blade re-sharpenings. March 9, 2008

Mill Shed Show and Tell
Bandmill owners share photos of the shelters they have built for their saws. February 27, 2013

Best Saw Blade for Melamine?
Woodworkers recommend tablesaw blades for cutting melamine. June 16, 2010

Sliding Table Saw Crosscut Fence Safety
The crosscut fence on a slider is positioned for managing large panel cuts. April 10, 2008

Sharpening Schedule for Scoring Blades
If you cut a lot of melamine, how often does the scoring blade need to be sharpened? January 19, 2012

Adjusting a Wide-Belt Sander
Tips for fine-tuning a belt sander for smooth operation and good control. February 6, 2007

12-Inch Versus 14-Inch Table-Saw Blade Performance
Twelve-inch blades seem to cut straighter and smoother. September 8, 2007

Cleaning Wide-Belt Sander Belts
Tips for getting the gum and dust out of a wide-belt sander belt. April 14, 2010

Sources for Panel Handling Carts
Several companies make competing hand carts for moving and lifting panels in the shop. December 2, 2010

Face frame versus frameless
December 28, 2002

Is CNC Equipment Practical for a One-Man Shop?
A long and thorough analysis of the value of an investment in CNC equipment for the small shop, this thread should be read by anyone considering the upgrade to CNC. August 23, 2006

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

Cost of running a CNC router
Choosing the right CNC machine based on projected capabilities and costs. November 29, 2000

Nested Base Versus Beam Saw and PTP
A closet system fabricator and installer describes his journey through various shop equipment situations. May 26, 2014

Capabilities of a Point-to-Point Router
If you're buying older used equipment, be aware of its limitations and its condition. August 17, 2006

CNC tooling: What's the best?
Solving the problems of worn-out router bits and torn-out melamine. January 3, 2001

Sliding Table Saw Safety
Here's an extensive set of tips and cautions for working safely with a sliding table saw. December 2, 2010

Going from handcrafted to CNC
Discussion of P2Ps, dedicated boring, edgebanders and other equipment, software and processes. August 29, 2001

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

Value-added pricing: Why? -- Because you're worth it!
We all fear "those guys in their garages, doing work for cheap." But we really have nothing to fear at all.

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

Drawers and the Utilization of Space
Why slide-integrated drawer systems are less costly to produce and provide greater space efficiency than traditional drawer construction. 1998.

Why Does Plywood Warp?
An extended technical and practical discussion of dimensional instability in plywood panels. January 20, 2010

Machinery Choices for Slab Door Production
A discussion of which machinery will best optimize productivity: a beam saw, a panel saw, or a CNC? May 15, 2014

Installing Rollout Shelves
Keeping rollouts clear of the hinges. March 14, 2004

Chinese Plywood
Cabinetmakers complain about the quality of hardwood plywood imported from China. April 13, 2012

32mm manual vs NBM setups
Will any efficiency be gained by adding high-tech equipment to a small shop? July 24, 2002

Compensating for Material Thickness Variations
Thickness differences between pieces can cause trouble when machining parts out of sheet goods. But a savvy operator can work around the problem. August 29, 2006

Components--Not Cabinets
A longtime adherent of the system process of cabinet manufacturing makes his case for componentizing. 1998.

Marketing High-End Cabinets
Cabinetmakers share ideas for attracting big-ticket clients. February 10, 2004

Are Tracksaws Under-Powered?
A tracksaw is handy when you need one, but it's no straight-line rip saw. February 27, 2015

Troubleshooting "Banana Cut" Problems with Melamine
Humidity issues cause some panels to curve or bow when cut. Here, CNC operators discuss possible solutions. December 6, 2006

Fastening dado joints
Fast techniques for assembling dadoed cabinet boxes. June 24, 2002

To nest or not to nest?
Is nesting appropriate for all shops? June 4, 2003

Do Edgebanders Provide Perfect Output?
Few, if any edgebanders will consistently produce panels that can pass your thumb's feel test — and none will without continual tending by a good operator. December 27, 2006

Accurately Squaring Cabinet Boxes
Methods foraccurately squaring frameless cabinet carcasses. October 16, 2003

Efficiency of nested-based manufacturing
How much time can be saved? January 16, 2002

Think before you take the CNC plunge
WOODWEB technical advisor Brian Personett offers some food for thought to those thinking about purchasing CNC equipment. November 15, 2000

CNC Equipment for MDF Door Production
Advice on choosing the right CNC setup for milling doors from MDF. October 9, 2006

Point-to-Point and Beam Saw Versus Nested-Base
A short dialogue on a much-discussed topic about alternatives in cabinet-shop automation. April 17, 2009

Panel Processing Time with and without CNC
A CNC shop and a cabinetmaker using conventional equipment compare the labor time used to cut up and bore an entire kitchen. January 1, 2012

CNC Versus Panel Saw Accuracy
CNC equipment has a reputation for superior accuracy. Here, cabinetmakers discuss the reasons it may be so. March 25, 2007

Plywood Cupping and Moisture Content
Check panel moisture content when you receive it, advises the Wood Doctor. April 16, 2009

Raised panel wainscot
Making wainscot onsite. November 24, 2002

Machining Scallops or Flutes into MDF Panels
With CNC equipment, you can machine any kind of regular or irregular scallops, waves, or flutes into MDF — but it can be pricey, and makes a lot of dust. January 26, 2008

Bit Selection for a CNC Router
A shop owner gets advice on what bits he'll need for his new CNC router, along with tips on bit care and re-sharpening. August 30, 2005

Wide Belt Sander Choices
More advice on selecting a widebelt sander. April 27, 2011

Inset-door cabinets
A cabinetmaker goes from frameless to face frame and seeks advice. September 19, 2001

Assembling Frameless Casework
Dowel, dado, or confirmat screw? August 9, 2005

Throat Plate Tweak for Laser-Guided Sliding Table Saw
Advice on a shop-rigged throat plate for a sliding table saw to augment the laser guide, and tips on zeroing in the laser for accuracy. June 18, 2010

Stripes in Fir Plywood
A cabinetmaker's finisher notices a strange defect in some Fir plywood, probably caused by grain compression that happened at the plywood mill. October 13, 2012

Frameless Cabinet Fastening
Attaching lower cabinet sides to deck. August 7, 2004

PTP vs. CNC: What's the difference?
Technical differences and applications of point-to-point and CNC routers. December 12, 2000

Wood-Core MDF Panels
A quick look at the pros and cons of panels with plywood cores and MDF skins. April 22, 2014

Line-boring for adjustable shelves
The full range of options for getting shelf holes in place is reviewed. 1998.

CNC vs P2P
Defining the difference between P2P and CNC. June 13, 2001

Curing 32mm hole alignment problems
Improving results achieved with a single-hole line borer. January 24, 2001

Dowel drilling and use guidelines
A quick guide to dowel clearances and practices, including drilling depth, diameter-to-edge ratios, and dowel selection. 1998.