Advanced Cabinet Making Techniques

Class Preview

Let’s take your cabinet making skills to the next level! In this class you’ll follow along, step by step, and make a base cabinet that includes double raised panel doors, a drawer on full extension slides, a toe kick, and a plastic laminate countertop.

Carcase and Face Frame

The class project includes a stopped dado, and you’ll learn how to produce that cut on the table saw. The case sides also include a toe kick cut-out, and you’ll learn how to use a shop-made jig to produce that. The face frame includes a drawer opening, and you’ll see tricks for getting the drawer opening consistent on every face frame.

Make the Doors

A critical aspect of getting double doors to work right; they don’t bump in the middle and the gap isn’t too big, is getting the door dimensions just right. We’ve got you covered there. You’ll also learn how to accurately measure for the door panel, and how to create the raised panel on a router table. And, you’ll see tricks for gluing your doors up.

Build the Drawer

Our drawers are made from Baltic Birch plywood, which is an excellent drawer material. The lock rabbet joint we cut on the router table makes each corner very strong. Since we’re using full extension slides, you’ll learn what dimensional adjustments you need to make in the drawer box to allow for the slides.

Make the Countertop

Particle board, solid wood and contact adhesive all come together to make our countertop. The design is very woodworker-friendly, using solid wood banding on the edges. Contact adhesive is the perfect glue for the plastic laminate, and requires that you master a few things to use it correctly.

Installing Doors and Drawers

Using European hinges means getting the cup hole drilled in precisely the right spot. A jig simplifies this process, and we’ll fill you in on an insurance policy that guarantees you won’t drill your doors incorrectly. We’ll also walk through using the adjustments available on Euro hinges to get the doors in perfect alignment. Spacers, clamps and some careful measuring help us get the drawer front in just the right spot.

Bonus: More about Cabinets

Learn more about how the skills used in cabinet making can apply to many projects.

Advanced Cabinet Making Techniques Meet Your Instructor

Learn more about your instructor.