Kitchen cabinet construction?

There are lots of books on the subject, hit up Amazon. The one I’d recommend is Jim Tolpin's – I like how he gives several different ways to do things, whether you wanted to use biscuits, or screws, or rabbit/dado.

I would not recommend Danny Proulx’s book, as I found the cabinet designs in his book to look very cheap, and he pretty much only gives one way to do them.

Check out this downloadable tutorial video from WOOD MAGAZINE.

It looks like everything you need to get started for $19.95.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I would say that is good advice from Jimi_C. There are a lot of good books out there, but Jim Toplin’s is a great start. It’s good to have different options on how to construct something. It will depend on your tools and experience as to which will work for you. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to build something and you don’t have the set up or experience to do it.
The only thing I would add to that is some silly common sense. I don’t know what kind of saw you have, whether it’s a circular saw, table saw, chop saw or radial arm saw. The first thing I would do before starting a major project like kitchen cabinets is buy a new blade. lol. I know that sounds stupid, but we have a habit of using the same blade over and over and over again. Sharp tools are far safer then dull ones. I’ve always made it a habit that a new saw blade is part of my Material list when starting another big project. Your saw will love you for it. Good luck and hope we get to see some pictures as you proceed.

-- John @ Myrtle Beach

Along with the Tolpin book recommended by Jimi, check out Bob Lang's and Udo Schmidt's.

All three are very interesting and one may speak to you more than the others. My local library will inter-library borrow almost any book I can imagine and request via the library web site. Your’s might do the same. I often use this service before buying books, if my local shops don’t have all the examples in stock.

-- - Please help keep Lumberjocks an enjoyable escape by refusing to participate in political discussions. Simply spit out the bait and ignore the thread...

I like the Tolpin book too.

I have never seen the Marc Adams video before but I like it right away by viewing the little segment. He uses the same measuring technique as I do by holding the two stiles together and measuring backwards with the tape. The remainder tells you exactly the length you need.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

I also agree with Marc Adams because I do what ever I want with cabinets. If I was offering stock cabinets I would just go buy them off the shelf. I don’t make money on cabinets unless they are custom.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Aside from the techniques, I would limit my use of hardwoods to the doors frames, panels and face frames. All the casework would be of a high quality AMERICAN ply.

-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

I also like Tolpin’s book. Don’t know about the others.

The last set that I built, I covered all of the plywood shelves and bottoms with Formica. Then I edged banned them with 1/2 inch maple. People really like it, and it’s going on 10 years. No shelf paper, and no finish to apply or scratch off. I think it was easier to do than finish them. It was not that expensive. Oh well, just a thought.

You could easily justify the cost of a Table Saw with a good fence with all the money you will save.

Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

I am with FLWoodRat. I make my boxes out of quality plywood. It is a great selling point, people expect it in a high quality cabinet, and it is ultimately easier to use.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

or…..you could just ask your questions here and I’m sure those of us that have been building cabinets rather than writing books can answer them.

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

Well my problem is a family member asked me if I could make custom cabinets and I was like I guess I could but I think it might be better to buy cabinets that arnt finished to save on cost and finish them might be a better choice as I would not charge for the job…what ever it would take to make it would be all I would charge and I am also 900 miles away….lol I know I could do it but @ what cost and having to ship or / deliver them out to the east cost….Connecticut

-- christoper Blanchard, Michigan

”I would not charge for the job…what ever it would take to make it would be all I would charge”
“cost”, although perhaps complicated is not ambiguous. I am assuming when you say “cost” you are refering to materials and out of pocket expenses directly related to the production of the product. I also am assuming that you are willing to absorb the cost that is indirectly related to the production( ie: subsistance, utilities, facilities) that are required to produce a product. You will need to determine what costs you are willing to absorb.

I hope you don’t have too many relatives or this might get expensive for you.
“Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets” and “Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets ..but @ what cost” would be totally different books.
I can tell you how to build cabinets but you’ll have to decide how generous you want to be.

Too bad you don’t have a relative that writes books.

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

Be wary of family members (parents excepted) who want you to make things for them but don’t want to pay you.

-- criticism: the art of analyzing and evaluating the quality of a artistic work...

Just saw your last post. Big difference. “family member”........”900 miles away”.......... that’s easy, give them a $50.00 gift certificate to Lowe’s and Let them order Cabinets ( finished and installed). You will come out better all the way around. If you’ve never done a kitchen hundreds of miles away, you have no idea what you’re getting into. Like mics_54 said, we can tell you how to build cabinets, but that’s the least of your problems. I’ve done work in 13 States and can tell you it is a challenge to build everything in one state and deliver and install in another. You better take everything you need and then some. Sometimes it’s just better to gracefully back away. Good luck.

-- John @ Myrtle Beach

lmao I hear you on the backing away part but I only have one brother so I do just about anything for my family. Really not a real big deal right now but as the project gets started then the shit can hit the fan I guess!!! We are no talking about cabinets from floor to celling His kitchen is small well smller than mine…lol I guessing about 12X 16 or so thats kitchen and dinning room together…I know if hes looking for detailed hand carvings he called the wrong person…hehehehe but he should know that by now….thanks for some of your guys thoughs

-- christoper Blanchard, Michigan

Go to youtube.com and do a search for ‘making kitchen cabinets’ you’ll see many tutorials with guys making them right before your eyes.

If you decide to get a set of router bits and make raised panel cabinets, the set of bits will come with good directions. My freud ones do anyway.

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful. http://web.me.com/deceiver6/Deceiver/Craftsman_on_the_lake/Craftsman_on_the_lake.html

yeah I was thinking raised pannels with the router and also getting some rail and sriles bits too….

-- christoper Blanchard, Michigan

I like to get the pre-finished plywood. Even if you are going to stain the outside this ply saves on labor. It works well for the drawers too. There is nothing better than the Kreg pocket hole system for the face frames. Kreg also makes jigs for setting drawers, they work great! You can get the European style hinges cheap online. Ive made panel doors with slats that look really good. I got tired of doing the same old raised panels. feel free to ask any questions. I didn’t see too many books out there that would be helpful to me. Good luck.

-- I'm not here for your amusement. You're here for mine - Johnny Rotten

Amen to the out-of-state relatives. Pre-finished plywood is great – a real time saver. I agree with tomakazi about a pocket hole system. I’ve built cabinets using Marc Summerfeld’s tongue and groove router bits and also incorporated pocket holes with the rails and stiles. Also, I would second (or third) the American ply. That Chinese crap is just that – crap (being VERY polite).

-- There is no such thing as a mistake in woodworking. Eventually, every scrap will become small enough to become starter wood in your fire pit.

I was just looking @ summerfields router bits…lol I have alot of time to think how and what woods to use and ply woods as well…this well be a project to be conpleted by this late spring comming up…..2010….I am thinking raised pannels solid wood and plywood sides bottom and top face frame solid wood more in likely with pocket screws for face frame right now I know I need to make about 4 -5 wall cabinets but im sure many things could change from that…. No chinses crap here all american or as much as possible…lol

-- christoper Blanchard, Michigan

There are lots of helpful comments here about the construction. I’m a total klutz about these stuff but I can point you to the nicest kitchen cabinets you can find. Check them out!

-- Minnie Rogers, California, http://fortheloveofbeads.com

Another vote for Jim Tolpins building traditional cabinets.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

Yeah I plan on picking up his book

-- christoper Blanchard, Michigan