How to Make Cabinet Doors

How to Build a Raised Panel Door

Edited by Maluniu, Anonymous6862, BR, CrazyHamster and 2 others

Cabinet doors can make or break the look of your kitchen or bathroom cabinets - and the longevity of the cabinets. The secret lies in the workmanship and quality of materials used to make cabinet doors.

EditSteps

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   Choose which door to make. There are two basic types of cabinet doors -- slab and flat panel -- most often chosen. You should consider the need for speed of construction, durability, ease of cleanup and maintenance.
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   Pick the correct material to fit your doors. Most slab doors are made of plywood. Use MDF (medium density fiberboard) on a painted or a covered surface for a wood grain look.
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   Use solid wood for a door when you make a panel door. This is done by either gluing up a panel to the width and length you need or by using a solid piece that has been specially milled for you. However, you need to know that this is usually cost prohibitive.
   • Lay out the dimensions of the door on your choice of sheet material.
     
   • Cut the door from the sheet using either a circular saw or a table saw.
     
   • Ease the edges of the face with a router using the bit of your choice.
     
   • Put on the desired finish, install the hinges and door knob and you are ready to hang the cabinet door.
     

EditHow to Build a Raised Panel Door

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   Build a flat (raised panel) door for a quality look. You need to realize that this type of cabinet door requires more tools, skill and time to create. However, the finished results can be very rewarding if you are willing and ready to step up to the challenge. Panel doors consist of two stiles (side pieces) and two rails (top and bottom) along with a panel that sits between them.
   
   • 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). Accuracy and consistency of width assures a good fit.
   • The rails need to be approximately .5 inches (1.2 cm) less than the stiles. The width depends on the project and the look you want for your cabinets.
   • Make the stiles blanks the length you need and then run the inside edge through a stile router bit mounted on a router table.
   • Cut the rails to the length you need. Determine this length by measuring from the outside edge of the stiles to the beginning of the round-over, or bead, you made with the router bit. Subtract this from the width of the opening, then cut the rail blanks to length. Run the inside edge through the router using the same bit you used earlier.
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   Change the bit to a coping or stick bit. The coping bit creates a secure and tight fit of the rail to the stile. Now, run the ends of the rails through the bit.
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   Determine the dimensions of the panel by measuring from the outside edges to the beginning of the rollover (or bead). Subtract that distance from the total height and width of the door. A flat door panel will usually be made from .25-inch (.6 mm) plywood - the same wood type as the rest of the cabinet.
   • Cut the door panel insert slightly less than the size you need to allow for wood expansion and contraction. Ordinarily, this will be the width of a table saw blade.
   • Begin assembly of the door by applying glue with a brush to the inside of the stile where the rail meets it and insert the rail tenon.
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   Place rubber space balls (available at most woodworking supply stores) into the groove you created with the router style bit. Insert the panel.
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   Apply glue to the tenon of the rails and slide the second stile into place. Clamp the pieces together, and allow the glue to dry.
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   Sand the door, finish as desired, install the hardware and hang the new cabinet door on the cabinet frame.

How to Make a Table

Edited by Eric D, Nicole Willson, Ben Rubenstein, Sondra C and 25 others

Making a wooden table is a great entry level project for the beginning woodworker, and also a complex project for the more experienced carpenter. In this wikiHow we will show you the steps to take in making a simple but sturdy small table.

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   Using paper, pencil and a ruler plan out the rough design of your table.
   • Use brainstorm sketches first, don't worry about dimensions.
     
   • Once you have settled on a rough design, pencil in some rough dimensions. Your dimensions will vary based on the kind of table you intend to construct. In other words, a dining table will have different dimensions than a bedside table.
     
   • Consider where you intend to place the table when creating your dimensions. It doesn't have to be any size other than the size you need.
     
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   Using your rough dimensions figure out how much wood you will need.Always add a little extra, just in case.
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   Purchase your wood. For most beginners using a soft wood like pine is a good place to start. For a slightly better finish try poplar. If your table will be used outdoors consider redwood or treated woods.
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   Construct the table top. There are two ways to do this:
   1. Using planking. The advantage of planking is that it is less expensive than a single sheet. Tongue and groove planking is easiest, but if you can use a dowel or biscuit cutter to create a butt joint then you might consider that route for a flat top.
   2. Use a single sheet of wood. If you go this route save some money and use hard wood veneered construction plywood.
      
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   Cut, glue and clamp your table top and leave overnight.
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   Create the under-table. The under-table is a basic square of wood that attaches to the table top and helps support the legs, preventing them from moving from side-to-side. To create the under-table:
   • Measure in from the edge of your table top a few inches. The exact width will vary depending on the dimensions of your table. Make a mark at your position.
     
   • Turn the table top over and draw a square on the bottom of your table at your mark.
     
   • Cut two pairs of wood for the two front pieces and the two side pieces.
     
   • Glue and clamp these pieces at your lines on the underside of the table. You may choose to screw these into the table top either permanently or to help hold until the glue sets if your clamps do not have the depth they need to reach your inset.
     
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   Create the legs.
   • Cut one leg to the size you wish.
     
   • Cut the three other legs to the approximate size.
     
   • Clamp all four legs together.
     
   • Cut all four legs to the same length while they are clamped together, using the first leg as a guide.
     
   • Sand your table legs using a power sander so they are smooth and ready for a fine sand. Be careful not to sand the top or bottom of the legs as this is likely to ruin your right angle cuts.
     
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   Attach the legs.
   • Turn the table upside down if it is not there already.
     
   • Place the first leg in one corner of the under-table with the top flat against the underside of the table top and the sides flat against the under-table.
     
   • Apply glue to the top of your leg and to the interior side of the under-table that will butt against the leg.
     
   • Secure the legs by fastening screws — do not use nails — through the under-table and into the leg.
     
   • Check that your legs are at a right angle to the table top. Adjust the screws as necessary.
     
   • Repeat for the rest of the legs.
     
   • Once everything is set up and square, glue and clamp the legs in place.
     
   • Optionally, you can place a screw into the top of the leg from the top side of your table, however, this is often unsightly, and you risk splitting the tops of your legs by nailing or screwing into the end wood.
     
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   Wait until all the glue is fully dry.
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    Turn the table over and see if it is stable by placing it on a known level floor and trying to make it wobble as best you can.
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    Sand your table to whatever degree of finish you find pleasing.
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    Optionally, apply some kind of wood treatment like stain, varnish or tung oil.