| Project by tallpaul | posted 226 days ago | 227 views | 2 times favorited | 6 comments |  |
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I’m not an authority on refacing, having done a couple of projects only, but I thought I’d show what an amateur with time and patience can do. If you’re considering this approach rather than building new cabinets, I would encourage you to give it a try. Advantages are that you can skip the demo of what may be structurally sound cabinets, and save yorself a ton of money. You can retain some use of your kitchen during the project as well, which may help with keeping a happy household if you’re slow like me :)
Like most projects in woodworking, you can substitute a patient approach and attention to detail for real expertise, and you won’t need much in the way of new tools, mostly utility knives and straight edges.
I built flat panel doors out of maple and maple ply, and used a pressure sensitive adhesive backed veneer on the cabinet rails and stiles. I used contact cement as well to ensure a strong bond. I switched to Euro style hinges, filling the old hinge slots with Bondo and sanding flush before placing the veneer. Maple plywood panels were used on the ends of the cabinets. I replaced the pale blue tile with some sage green tile in the Arts and Crafts tradition, and placed a few accent tiles from Motawi to make things more interesting. These are rosettes and flowers from the Dard Hunter collection.
I can’t take credit for the granite slab counters, but they make the whole thing come together well. They are a stone called uba tuba, don’t ask me why…
Best wishes,
Paul
-- tallpaul
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6 comments so far
Robb
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324 posts in 421 days
posted 226 days ago
Boy, is your title appropriate! That maple sure does wake up the kitchen. Your project definitely shows how attractive refacing can be. I’m resisting refacing our old country farmhouse cabinets, just because I’m afraid if I do it, I’ll use it as an excuse to avoid the major remodel our kitchen really needs :). You did a fantastic job; you should be proud!
-- Robb
Scott Bryan
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9120 posts in 309 days
posted 226 days ago
Very nice job. The maple brightened up the kitchen.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
griff
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446 posts in 249 days
posted 226 days ago
Very good job, I like it alot
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
Woodshopfreak
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331 posts in 229 days
posted 226 days ago
Looks very nice.
-- Tyler, Illinois
CoreyLiepelt
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16 posts in 328 days
posted 226 days ago
Wow, that’s quite a transformation from the oak and blue tile! My wife and I would love new cabinets, but the existing ones are in good shape. A reface might be just what the doctor ordered. I’d love to see what the corners look like where the veneers meet. Do you have any close ups you could post of the veneer joints? Any pointers you could share?
-- Dublin, OH
tallpaul
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11 posts in 243 days
posted 226 days ago
Corey,
Other pictures are not immediately available; this house is now a rental and I can’t just step over and shoot the pics. The corners were done like this: I used plywood panels on the ends, putting them in place by butting them up against some blocks of scrap that were clamped to the stiles, in order to get a precise corner. I used a little Bondo to fill any gaps at that joint, and sanded flush. The veneer then covered the face frame and the exposed end of the panel, and I was able to trim it easily with a utility knife, followed by sandpaper. For those outside corners, they looked pretty good, but I added a little “L” shaped trim I made on the table saw. Basically, I cut the trim to a shape like angle iron. I did that by using a wider board of maple, and using a dado blade to remove most of the thickness of the wood. I cut that piece off leaving an “L” shape 3/4” by 3/4”. These were glued in place, because nailing such thin pieces can cause splitting. Inside corners just required a simple strip of wood 1/8” by 3/4” to hide the joint.
The definitive book on refacing is by Herrick Kimball. Taunton press. Dated book, older styles of cabinetry etc, but the techniques are sound.
I hope that explains it, happy to tell you more if you need.
-- tallpaul