Melamine Carcasses
Can melamine interiors be considered high end? April 18, 2004

Line Boring and Dowel Assembly Tips
Here's a long discussion about choosing a line boring machine and about best techniques for doweling and cabinet assembly. April 12, 2011

Outsourcing Pros and Cons
Outsourcing door production is a no-brainer — except when it's not. This discussion looks at door production from both sides. July 5, 2011

Scribing three edges
Templates, tic sticking and more for efficient scribing in difficult situations. September 20, 2003

Pursuing perfect miters
Methods and equipment for achieving the highest quality. September 20, 2003

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

Whether to Build a Big Order of Slab Doors
A long and informative discussion of the risks inherent in constructing cabinet doors as glued slabs made up of solid wood boards. November 14, 2014

Fine-Tuning Cutting and Sanding Operations for Inset Doors
Here's an extended discussion on how to tool up for accurate cutting of inset doors, with minimal need to sand the edges. May 26, 2011


Cabinet Businesses Overseas
Here's an in-depth discussion of what it's like to move your U.S. cabinet business to a developing country (where, yes, there are opportunities). August 29, 2011

Plywood Thickness for Cabinet Construction
What starts out as a question about 1/4" versus 1/2" plywood for cabinet backs, turns into a long discussion of what plywood cabinetmakers prefer for building carcases, and why. January 20, 2007

Cupping of a Solid Wood Countertop
Woodworkers troubleshoot a case of moisture-related movement in a kitchen countertop. April 14, 2010

Photographing Your Work -- Professional Vs Amateur
Should you hire a professional, or take the photos yourself?

Cabinetmaking Productivity
Shop owners and woodworkers discuss how fast the people ought to be able to pump out product, and consider strategies for making better time. April 13, 2010

Cabinet Door Shop Set-Up Necessities
Specializing in cabinet doors isn't a business you can easily jump into. Here's a lively discussion about "barriers to entry" — the minimum scale required for success, and the equipment you'll need to compete. December 14, 2009

Humidity, Temperature, Wood Moisture Content, and Wood Movement
Basic technical information and an extended discussion of the way wood expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature and humidity. November 13, 2009

Certifcation for solid surface
What does it take to become certified to install by the manufacturer? July 9, 2003

Shop Power Choice: Single Phase or Three Phase?
Shop owners discuss the relative pros and cons of three-phase and single-phase power supplies. February 6, 2010

Scribing cabinets and Z clips
Issues of overhang and attachment are discussed. February 19, 2002

Cabinet Door Construction: Doweled Corners or Nailed Corners?
For a high-end custom product, is it worth adding dowels to the joinery for strength and reliability? January 19, 2011

Quirk Bead Cutters
An extended discussion on cutterheads for making quirk bead, plus equipment choices and setups for this custom decorative detail. March 3, 2009

Small Chunks Sticking to the Edgebander Roller
Trying to get to the bottom of a performance issue with an edgebander: small particleboard core chunks sticking to the glue roller are starving parts of the joint for glue. November 15, 2010

Drum Sander or Wide Belt Sander?
Another discussion comparing and contrasting widebelt sanders and drum sanders (widebelts win).October 3, 2011

Crown Molding Detail -- For Sloped Ceilings
Calculating angles and inside corner details for crown applied to sloped ceilings. April 2, 2004

Tooling Up for a High-School Wood-Shop Program
Cabinetmakers advise a high school shop teacher on how to equip a new shop class program. July 11, 2007

Machining raised panels
Addressing workpiece movement and tear-out problems. April 9, 2003

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

Drying Compressor Air
This long, detailed discussion covers the whys and hows of drying out the air that flows through your compressed-air lines to power tools and spray equipment. April 6, 2007

Cabinet construction joinery
Different joinery and construction methods. November 24, 2002

Set-ups for spraying cabinet doors
Methods for clean and efficient finishing. Includes photos.. October 9, 2002

Finger Versus Tablesaw
A cautionary tale of a seven-stitches encounter with a tablesaw blade sets off a discussion of accidents had and lessons learned. April 25, 2006

Panel and Door Balancing with 32mm Systems
A closet contractor struggles to make his standardized shop system compatible with specs for a commercial job. September 30, 2010

Drum Sander Options for a Small Shop
This thread wanders a little, but it sheds some light on the sander choices available for the owner of a one-man shop with space and budget limits. March 12, 2015

Fence Adjustment Issues with Cope and Stick Cutting
A discussion of jigs and methods that make cope-and-stick setup efficient and simple. September 27, 2009

Comparing Assembly Methods for Euro Cab Construction
Starting with a question about entry-level cabinet assembly, and bypassing a digression about business qualifications, this thread digs deep into the relative advantages of different assembly methods and process systems for a production cabinet shop. April 27, 2011

Miter-Saw Kickback Injury Story
Miter-saw one, woodworker zero. Pain. Injury. January 19, 2011

Door Warping Mystery
Tall veneered-MDF cabinet doors are warping badly. Why? February 20, 2008

Shopping for a Used Edgebander
This discussion of comparison shopping for an edgebander has some detailed info from a maintenance and repair technician. May 30, 2011

Quality and Service Issues with Outsourced Cabinet Doors
A long discussion of how large-volume specialty door companies address occasional defects in the products they ship. March 6, 2008

Rough P-Lam Edges, Specs, and AWI Standards
A bad case of chip-out on some laminated door edges leads to an informative discussion of AWI standards and quality specifications, along with some good guesses about what caused the unacceptable chip-out. November 23, 2012

Mistake-Proofing Cabinet Jobs
Deep thoughts on office, shop, and job-site standard operating procedures that can reduce the human-error factor in cabinet production and installation. April 29, 2010

Mitered Versus Cope and Stick Door Joinery
A customer's red herring about "strength" of mitered versus square door joinery leads to a discussion of the pros and cons of different door construction joints from the cabinetmaker's point of view.June 7, 2011

Raised Panel Shrinkage
Cabinetmakers grapple with the issues raised by installing unfinished cabinetry in an unheated house, mid-project. May 28, 2010

Drum Sanders Versus Belt Sanders
Advice for a cabinetmaker on selecting some serious sanding equipment. November 30, 2009

Opaque Finish for a 1920's-Look Kitchen
Conversion varnish and high-quality latex enamel are the candidates. Here's a discussion. July 14, 2010

Shaper Choice and Setup for Making Raised-Panel Doors
Advice on choosing and setting up a shaper for making raised-panel doors in the shop. December 9, 2008

Should a Cabinetmaker Agree to Let the Contractor Install Cabinets?
For various reasons, most cabinetmakers prefer to install their own work — unless they know and trust the installer. December 2, 2006

Trying Out Face-Frame Cabinetry
and discuss what exactly he will have to learn if he does take it. April 9, 2008

MDF Door Quality Debate
MDF has its critics and its defenders. Here's a worthwhile discussion of the pros and cons of MDF as a door-building material. December 28, 2014

Router Table Add-ons
With a router lift, precision fence, and some customizing, a router table can "kinda-sorta" stand in as a poor man's shaper. November 26, 2006

Sanders
Basic descriptions of every type of sanding equipment commonly found in wood shops. November 13, 2008

Installing Drawer Faces
A long, detailed discussion about various ways to accurately and rapidly attach drawer fronts when installing cabinets. February 16, 2012

Entry-Level Edgebanding
Here's a discussion of how to accomplish occasional and incidental edgebanding with decent quality, when you don't do enough of that kind of work to justify a big investment. August 19, 2013

Designing entertainment centers
Important considerations when designing and building multimedia centers. August 25, 2003

Positioning Drawer Fronts
Cabinetmakers swap ideas for the jigs and methods they use to set drawer fronts onto drawer boxes. September 21, 2005

Switching to Factory-Built Cabinets
A Gulf Coast cabinetmaker has had good luck with a line of factory cabinets. His story triggers a discussion of today's market realities and the pros and cons of adding factory-made cabs to your business model. November 10, 2006

Cabinet Startup
A general contractor gets advice on getting started building his own cabinets. Some have done it on a shoestring. January 23, 2012

Choosing Compressed Air Line Piping Materials
Here's a long, detailed, and well-informed discussion about air supply pipe materials, sizing, and layout. January 19, 2011

Making Mitered Boxes with MDF
Here's a long discussion of how to get accurate, clean miter joints with MDF, time after time. September 26, 2009

Order of Operations in Solid Wood Panel Assembly
Is it better to dress lumber before gluing up wood panels, or glue up first and then sand the whole panel? People do it both ways; here, they discuss why. December 6, 2006

Thirty-Inch Deep Base Cabinets
Extra depth brings cabinet faces out flush with a standard refrigerator, but it introduces other complications. In this discussion, cabinetmakers share techniques for building 30-inch deep cabinets that work. December 28, 2005

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

Designing for Large Pocket Doors
Choosing quality hardware for TV entertainment center. March 14, 2004

Determining left and right hand doors
How do you keep them straight? (From WOODWEB's Architectural Woodworking Forum) March 5, 2003

Shaper Choices for Door Construction
Cabinetmakers discuss equipment selection and machining techniques for making raised-panel cope-and-stick doors. May 22, 2006

Direct Drive Shaper Motors
A woodworker gathers information for designing a custom-made shaper for finish machining of door edges. August 30, 2010

Setting Up a 32mm Stop System
Tips on the "Sticks" 32mm stop system from Metricks, and general advice on getting started with 32mm Euro cabinetry methods. August 31, 2009

Flat Panel Cabinet Doors
Using solid wood or veneered MDF for panels. April 18, 2004

Scribe Rails -- Why Not?
Why are custom shops not including scribe material on backs? August 26, 2004

Tandem Slides and Drawer Dimensions
To notch, or not? Cabinetmakers discuss the fine points of matching slide specs to drawer sizes. August 29, 2005

Quality Control for Square Doors
There's a lot involved in getting five-part cabinet doors to come out really square. October 9, 2006

Cabinet Design Skill and Talent
Cabinetmakers discuss the knack for good design — what it is, who has it, how to acquire it, and what it's worth. September 27, 2009

Drying racks for cabinet doors
Purchased and shop built varieties - the designs that work the best. Illustrated. (Finishing Forum) March 23, 2003

Inset Door Cabinetmaking 101
Pros explain the basics about making inset door and face frame cabinets. October 8, 2005

Cloth Versus Paper Sanding Belts
Cloth belts are washable and last longer, but may mark the wood more than paper belts. Here's a detailed look at all the pros and cons. January 12, 2015

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

Scrap and Cutoffs: Are they Worth Saving?
The perennial problem: how to manage odds and ends of material. September 30, 2010

Getting a Square, Clean Edge on Face Frame Stock
Cabinetmakers discuss tolerances for face frame edges, and compare ways of prepping stock. April 6, 2007

Outsourcing Design Work – Why or Why Not?
A CAD artist who wants to draw for others on a contract basis gets feedback about the usefulness and value of that proposed service. February 8, 2008

Stile and Panel Material Size Optimizing in a Production Door Shop
Advice on material optimizing in production cabinet door manufacturing. May 12, 2013

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

Inset Cabinet Door Fitting and Tolerances
Here's a discussion about the process and quality control measures cabinetmakers employ when fitting inset cabinet doors. October 27, 2011

Specialty Sawing Vocabulary
A newcomer asks for definitions of terms like "resawing," "ripsaw," and "chopsaw." December 30, 2005

Setting Up to Build Cabinet Doors
Even if you usually outsource, building your own doors in special circumstances can make sense. Here's advice on machinery and tooling for that scenario. June 16, 2014

Shopping for a Widebelt Sander: One Head or Two?
Expert advice on good characteristics for a belt sander, with advice on effective sanding and some first-hand reports on a few models. April 19, 2015

Humidity Control and Cabinetmaking
A cabinetmaker gets an introduction to moisture-related wood movement and humidity control. July 25, 2010

Fabricating Copper-Faced Cabinet Doors
Here's an in-depth discussion of materials and techniques for making doors with metal skins. December 8, 2010

Cabinet Back Construction Choices
Cabinet backs are important for attachment to the wall. What's the best detail? April 16, 2010

Touching Up the Burnt Ends of a Routed Flute
Here's advice on cleaning up the rounded end of a flute if the router leaves burn marks — and on scraper sharpening, and on how to avoid those burn marks to begin with. February 11, 2010

Mobile Shop in a Trailer?
Cabinetmakers discuss the practicality of running a woodshop on wheels. June 28, 2007

Router Versus Shaper for Cabinet Doors
Stick with the router, or step up to a shaper? A pro can make good door parts with either tool. April 30, 2009

Why Build Face Frame?
Reasons the face-frame tradition survives. September 9, 2004

Frameless Cabinets: Sticking to the System
How important is the 32mm module to frameless cabinetry? And is there a place for solid wood components in frameless?March 27, 2012

Omitting the Center Rail from a Tall Cabinet Door
A cabinetmaker considers the risks and alternatives after a designer asks him to build tall cabinet doors without center rails. February 1, 2015

Drawer System Choices
Cabinetmakers consider the pros and cons of various manufactured drawer systems. September 27, 2008

Heating a Woodshop
Shop owners chime in on heating options and climate-control considerations. August 31, 2005

Tricked-Out Job Trailers
An extended thread on how to customize your "shop on wheels" for convenience and efficiency. August 13, 2007

Finger Jointed Stave Cores for Cabinet Doors?
Man doors with 1/4-inch sawn face veneers and finger-jointed stave cores are a good product. Would the same concept work for a wood cabinet door? Discussion ensues. July 30, 2009

Solid-Edged or Edge-Banded Veneer Doors
Thoughts on equipment and techniques for making veneered MDF-core doors. September 23, 2006

Stepping Up to a Cheap Airless Spraygun
Here's an interesting argument for using a $300 home-center airless spraygun setup for cabinet finishing. June 8, 2008

Whether to Re-Cut Granite in Place
Does it make sense to install granite that you plan to cut later to accommodate an appliance change? December 7, 2008

Pantry Doors with Storage
Cabinetmakers brainstorm kitchen storage ideas, and discuss how much shelf space a door can support. May 15, 2012

Saw Blade Diameter, RPMs, and Rim Speed
A technical discussion of the thinking required to calibrate tool speeds to blade sizes. September 26, 2009

Wood Color Variation Defect in Out-Sourced Doors
Cabinetmakers discuss door quality issues related to wood selection in panel stock glue-ups. April 30, 2009

Paint Cracks in Five-Piece Doors
Some cracking is pretty much inevitable when you paint five-piece wood cabinet doors. September 25, 2014

Considering the Cross-Belt Option on a Wide-Belt Sander
A cabinetmaker shopping for a widebelt to sand veneer ponders whether he should get a machine that incorporates a cross-belt sanding step. March 26, 2009

Solid Surface as a Shelf Nosing
An architect's query sets off a spirited discussion of using solid surface material for shelf nosings. Appropriate adhesives, durability, and movement rates are issues (and yes, it has been done before). June 10, 2006

Tablesaw blade guards
Choosing the best blade guard/dust collector. April 9, 2003

Inset Drawer Stops
With inset face frame cabinets, making drawers stop just flush with the frame is tricky. Here are tips on hardware solutions and a "hillbilly rig." December 26, 2006

Visual Wood Match in Door Construction
Wood has natural variations in appearance — you have to explain that to customers. September 30, 2010

Efficient Door Construction
Building solid-wood cabinet doors takes time. In this thread, cabinetmakers share ideas for speeding up the process. July 6, 2005

Inside Corner Drawers
Pricing and practical considerations for drawers that fit the inside corner of a corner cabinet. February 11, 2010

Heavy Institutional Cabinet Doors
Considering the materials and hinging options for large replacement doors on hospital cabinets. January 20, 2007

Steps for processing cabinets
Cabinetmakers share the methods they use for processing doors and cabinet parts. July 3, 2001

Creating a Bead Profile on Curved Stock
Cabinetmakers suggest tools and setups for beading curved pieces, and offer an alternative applied-bead technique. Check out the photos! September 22, 2005

Construction Joinery and Slide Choice for a Large Drawer
Advice on beefing up the joinery and slides for an oversize drawer that might be called on to store files. March 28, 2015

How to Make Haunched Face Frames
Various woodworking techniques described for making beaded face frames for cabinets. February 6, 2007

Drawer Slide Choices and Tips
Pros discuss drawer slide preferences and installation details. March 17, 2005

Door Stops for Inset Face Frame Wall Cabinets
Here's a handful of solutions for applying door stops to inset face frame cabinet doors. February 28, 2012

Flat Faces on Shop-Built Doors
An exchange of views on lumber handling, door assembly, tolerances, and the meaning of "high end." June 18, 2005

Straightening Frameless Cabinet Sides
Dealing with bowed plywood that causes drawers to jam in a frameless cabinet. November 7, 2007

Choosing a Moisture Meter
A well-informed discussion comparing the cost and characteristics of various pin and pinless moisture meters. October 11, 2012

Organizing Cabinet Door Production
Cabinetmakers offer advice on how to set up the workflow for making doors in a three-man shop. October 13, 2008

Shopping for a Shaper
Cabinetmakers give advice on how to select a good shaper for a decent price. September 21, 2005

Shapers: Single-Phase Versus Three-Phase
A discussion of what makes a three-phase shaper different from one with a single-phase motor, and whether the difference matters. January 23, 2012

Radius countertop edge
Making a radiused wood edge without resorting to segments. January 3, 2003

Stop! Don’t buy that wide belt sander!
A tale of caution regarding purchasing a wide belt sander. June 14, 2015

Drawer-Box Joinery with Baltic Birch
A discussion of drawer-box construction connection methods. May 28, 2010

How to Make a Full Radius Arch Top Cab Door
From laying up blanks to cutting, here are some tips on making arched top door stiles. November 2, 2010

Chipout Problems when Cutting Melamine
Badly sharpened blades, an out-of-tune beam saw, or maybe just too many sheets at once might be causing excess chipout on melamine cuts. July 6, 2006

Shopping for an Edgebander
Here's some detailed advice on how to choose the right edgebander for your volume and style of production. January 1, 2012

Using Lyptus
Here's a detailed thread on woodworker experiences using Lyptus wood. April 20, 2008

Face Frame Dimensions and Fastening Issues
A tricky little puzzle about face frame screw assembly, based on a particular dadoed face frame detail. April 10, 2008

Notching Out the Top for a Frameless Lazy Susan
Cutting and banding the inside corners for a Lazy Susan can be time-consuming. Here's a spirited technical discussion of various methods. July 31, 2009

Sanding Cabinet Doors Efficiently
Final sanding on cabinet doors can hold back productivity. Here, shop owners discuss means and methods for sanding door faces and profiles in a production environment. October 22, 2005

Euro-Style Hinges for Face-Frame Inset Doors
Cabinetmakers describe how they construct face-frame cabinet boxes to receive Euro hinges June 8, 2008

Getting Into Frameless
A cabinetmaking newbie gets advice on making his first attempt at a frameless kitchen. June 16, 2014

Sanding Door Edges
The group agrees that a spindle sander is a bad idea for sanding door edges; instead, here are tips on edge sanders. February 16, 2012

Multi-Head Orbital Sanding Machines
An orbital sanding machine can speed up time-consuming final sanding work. March 2, 2006

Pros and Cons of Pocket-Holing Face Frames
Cabinetmakers praise pocket hole joinery for face frames, discuss the occasional glitches, and compare notes on equipment. October 26, 2005

Indexing Blumotion Drawer Slides
Fine points of the alignment of a Blum drawer slide: Why are the screw holes not parallel with the drawer bottom? July 29, 2011

Whether to Caulk Painted Cabinet Doors
Materials choices, assembly methods, and finishing techniques all affect whether a door looks seamless, or not. May 15, 2014

Drawer Slides for Inset Through Dovetail Drawers
Cabinetmakers consider how to rig drawer slides for inset cabinet drawers with through dovetail joints on the drawer fronts. September 27, 2008

Consistent curves
How to create a long, accurate curve. May 15, 2002

Whether to Install Drawer Fronts and Doors on Site or in the Shop
Some cabinetmakers like to add doors and drawer fronts on site, but others do that work in the shop. Here's a look at the reasons for both ways of working. August 30, 2011

Milling Raised Door Panels
Should you run the pieces face up, or face down, asks a cabinetmaker? Opinions, and the reasons for them, vary. October 30, 2005

Using a Radial-Arm Saw to Cut Dadoes
A radial-arm saw is good for repetitive cross-cut dadoes, but dangerous for ripping. Here, woodworkers discuss equipment alternatives for efficient, accurate dadoing. November 10, 2006

Static charge on wood
Troubleshooting and resolving static problems on freshly planed boards. October 9, 2002

Routers
Basic descriptions of various types of routers commonly found in wood shops, including CNC router equipment. November 13, 2008

Ideal Humidity in a Wood Shop
Indoor humidity levels correspond with wood moisture content. Here's advice on humidity control. October 26, 2012

Troubleshooting Wood Movement with Outsourced Cabinet Doors
ztp Cabinetmakers advise a colleague on how to figure out what happened to a set of Maple cabinet doors — and how to manage the resulting situation. November 8, 2007

Old Air Compressors: Replace or Repair?
It could be well worth your while to keep that old unit running, rather than shop for a new one. May 14, 2006

Gluing Up a Solid Oak Top From Narrow Strips
Advice on ripping, planing, sanding, gluing and clamping for a quality wood countertop. February 20, 2008

Installing Frameless Cabinets Under an Out-of-Level Soffit
Tricks for using scribed molding to fudge the gap between a set of frameless upper cabs and a ceiling soffit that's out of whack. March 28, 2010

Dado processing
Methods and equipment for producing dados. October 30, 2003

Crating and Shipping Tips
Advice on packing and shipping your fine work safely. August 23, 2006

Correcting Warp in Cabinet Doors
A cabinetmaker collects many suggestions for working the warp out of a set of oversized cabinet doors. He tries one. It fails. January 13, 2015

Solutions for Chipping Melamine
Melamine chips when you cut it, but the problem can be prevented — or at least minimized. November 10, 2006

Heat Issues in a Television Cabinet
Cabinetmakers discuss how to keep a 50-inch plasma TV set cool in a tight cabinet. June 28, 2007

Refrigerator Fit Issues
"Counter-depth" refrigerators don't provide a true built-in look: the sides are exposed, as this cabinetmaker learned to his (and his customer's) dismay. November 2, 2010

Plywood Thickness Variation and Slot Cutting
Cutting slots for Shaker doors gets problematic when "quarter-inch" plywood is really more like 3/16" thick. In this thread, cabinetmakers discuss how they adjust to actual plywood thickness. November 12, 2005

Pocket-Screw Drawer Assembly
Ideas for constructing drawers with pocket-screw joinery. December 10, 2007

Humorous Tool Definitions
Do not read this while drinking, or your beverage may go up your nose and on your keyboard. December 28, 2006

Miterfolds for clean corner joints
A sweet technique for classy corners. November 21, 2003

Mahogany Varieties for Countertops
A discussion of the practicality of mahogany for a countertop, and thoughts about similar alternatives. November 7, 2007

Cabinet Back Plywood Thickness
Yet another discussion about whether to use half-inch or quarter-inch plywood for cabinet backs, and why. June 15, 2014

Design of Shaker-Style Panel Doors
If the face is flat but the edge is narrower than the rest of the door panel, where does the raise go? March 25, 2007

Reasons to Dado Face Frames
Stiff structure, ease of assembly, and clean joints are all good reasons to dado face frames to accept carcase edges. February 26, 2007

Setting Up for Beaded Face-Frame Joinery
A discussion of practical machinery and jig options for haunch cuts on beaded face frames. August 31, 2010

Making Cool Stuff with Metal Components
This thread started out with a question about finding T-nuts for rigging up an adjustable cabinet pull-out shelf slide. But it goes on to consider all sorts of things you can rig up in the shop using off-the-shelf metal parts. February 13, 2009

Cabinet Door Production Rates
How many cabinet doors should a shop produce per man-hour? Depends on the set-up — advanced technology can really boost your output. July 22, 2005

Cutting Clean Grooves
A discussion of ways to dado drawer parts to accept bottom panels, without chipping and other defects. April 15, 2009

Quality of Outsourced Doors
Cabinetmakers share experiences with outsourced door quality after hearing about a shipment of doors that arrived with sanding defects. May 27, 2014

Installing Full Extension Slides
Tips for setting drawer slides in face-frame cabinets. June 5, 2006

Gloves in Woodshops
The consensus view is, no gloves allowed when operating machinery. October 13, 2010

Screw Versus Reciprocating Compressors
Shop owners share thoughts and experiences with different air compressor technologies. August 31, 2009

P-lam Cabinet Door Backs
Construction considerations when backing cabinet doors with plastic laminate to match cabinet interiors. March 20, 2006

Edgebanding Glue Holding Problems
Cold melamine stored in the unheated shop overnight may be stopping edgebander glue from adhering properly. March 20, 2006

Compressor CFM and Pressure
An explanation of how airflow speed and pressure relate, and how this affects compressor sizing and distribution pipe system design. June 15, 2014

Start-Up Cabinet Shop Equipment Needs
What machinery does a start-up cabinetmaking business need? Small shop owners describe their setups. December 28, 2005

Power Draw Comparison, Rotary Screw Versus Two-Stage Air Compressors
Comparing the power needs and other aspects of rotary and piston air compressors. January 7, 2007

Cabinet Backs and Slide Installation
What other shops are using for back material and it works with back-mounted drawer slides. February 8, 2005

Hinge Swing: 170 or 125 degrees?
More swing may mean more adjustment and stability problems. August 29, 2005

Router Bits for Raised Panels
Horizontal versus vertical bits for cutting raised panels. January 28, 2004

Choosing an Air Line Material
Shop owners discuss the pros and cons of various metal and plastic tubing materials for compressed-air supply lines. March 20, 2006

Extreme Drawer-Slide Extension
With a wide desk overhang above some short drawers, a custom cabinetmaker needs drawer extensions that go above and beyond the call. Here, he presents and ingenious solution for giving a 20-inch drawer 36 inches of travel. November 11, 2005

"Soft-Close" Drawer Slides
Soft-close drawer slides are bothered by dust, and require careful installation. May 22, 2006

Machinery for a Small New Shop
Advice on basic machinery choices for a small shop. March 16, 2015

Drum Sander Ripple Marks
Ripple or chatter marks on boards run through a drum sander may not be a maintenance issue, but just the nature of the equipment. April 30, 2009

Fine Points of Boring
Advice on matching the bore-hole dimensions of various boring machines to the requirements of metric-based frameless cabinetmaking systems. September 7, 2006

Saving Caulking and Putty After Opening
Woodworkers share their secrets for keeping half-used tubes of caulk or cans of putty from drying out before they're used up. October 20, 2013

Template Materials
Pros discuss the merits of various materials for making router patterns, including MDF, plexiglass, phenolic board, and more. October 22, 2005

Dadoing techniques
Using a router to make dados. June 24, 2002

Mitering the Corner Joints of an MDF Box
Advice on gluing and clamping a sharp, clean miter joint when building boxes with MDF. April 24, 2014

Corner Cabinet Solutions
Thoughts on ways to provide access to buried inside cabinet corners. October 28, 2014

TV cabinets
Designs for large, small and flat screens. April 9, 2003

Taking Impressions of Moulding
Advice on making a reverse impression of a moulding you want to replicate. November 8, 2008

Flat Panel Door Material
for the job? February 25, 2005

Drawer Guide Socket Breakage
What's making those plastic hardware pieces crack? Cabinetmakers talk it over. August 29, 2005

Setting Up a Shaper for Door Parts
Advice on fences, cutters, and more for door production with a shaper. December 19, 2009

Drawer Slides and Stock Thickness
Can drawer slides standardized for use with half-inch material work if you build your drawers from 3/4-inch stock?June 16, 2014

Setting Up a Boring Machine to Make Shorter Pockets
Tips on using shims to tweak the configuration of pocket holes produced by a boring machine. November 29, 2014

Making Door Muntins and Mullions
The complex joinery for window frames in cabinet doors can really slow the job down. Here's how some cabinetmakers approach the task. May 7, 2007

Where to Mount Drawer Slides
Cabinetmakers discuss whether to position drawer slides so that the slide itself halts the drawer travel, or to install bumpers instead. August 14, 2007

Drawer-Slide Installation Tips
Cabinetmakers suggest lower-fuss ways to install drawer slides. April 27, 2006

P2P Origin Placement
Best postitioning for running gables on a point-to-point router. March 14, 2004

Oversize Drawer Construction
Five out of five doctors agree: heavy slides, extra slides underneath, and no guarantees. August 29, 2005

Making Remote Controls Work Through Cabinet Doors
Hardware add-ons are available that allow remote-control infra-red signals through wood doors. February 6, 2007

Crown Coping Tips
Some advice on dealing with large, hard-to-cope crown moulding. January 26, 2008

Using a Router Table for Cope and Stick Joinery
Here's a nice example of a shop-built sliding table for a router, set up to machine complex door parts on a budget, with a reasonable degree of accuracy and efficiency. June 18, 2009

Who Supplies the Tools?
Practices vary, but in most shops the employer supplies all power tools — and often, small incidentals as well. March 22, 2013

Drawers Versus Doors with Pull-Outs
Which makes more sense: drawers, or cabinet doors and pull-out shelves? January 26, 2008

Undermount Slide Installation Jigs
Ways to speed up and standardize the layout and attachment of undermount drawer slides. February 11, 2010

Tools for "Perfect" Miter Cutting
A solid table saw's your best bet. August 29, 2005

Hard or Soft Maple for Stained Cabinets?
Thoughts on choosing Maple for cabinet frames, and on staining versus applying dye and toner. April 9, 2008

Figuring Complex Leg Angles for Furniture
You can do the math, you can draw the part full size, or you can make a rough cut and then fine-tune it. November 14, 2014

What Equipment is Needed to Switch to Face-Frame Construction?
A cabinetmaker who usually builds frameless asks about the tools he'll need to add face-frame cabs to his product mix. February 26, 2007

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

Odd Cabinet Heights with 32mm System Hole Spacing
Cabinetmakers who use the 32mm system discuss how to create symmetrical balanced panels when building cabinets with heights that aren't even multiples of the basic 32mm module. February 26, 2007

Slides for Five-Foot-Deep Drawers
Where there's a will, there's a way. April 29, 2012

Options for Carving on Cabinet Doors
A cabinetmaker looks for practical ways to make bas-relief carvings on wood cabinet door faces. September 23, 2006

Wood Movement: How Big a Risk?
In principle, solid wood joinery that does not allow for wood movement is a recipe for disaster. In practice, sometimes you get away with it. June 18, 2009

Child-Safety Drawer Catches
Advice on those child-proofing drawer and door accessories. July 5, 2006

Sizing Cabinet Doors to Tolerances
Layout tips for a beginner, plus advice on final sizing after assembly. October 20, 2013

Gluing Steel to MDF
Cabinetmakers ponder the pitfalls that may lurk in a proposal to glue 1/8" steel to MDF for cabinet doors. October 19, 2013

"Light" and "dark" veneer bands
Avoiding the "striped" look in veneered ply. November 18, 2002

Melamine/Laminate Panels
A discussion of practical ways of building cabinets with melamine exteriors and laminate interiors. October 13, 2010

Solid Wood V-Groove Cabinet Doors
Cabinetmakers consider how to address moisture-related wood movement in cabinet doors made with solid wood slats. January 13, 2009

Sunken Joints at the Glue Seam
Here's a good explanation of why glue seams in cabinet doors may appear visibly depressed. April 29, 2013

Flat Slab Cabinet Doors
Given the concern over quality of sheet goods, what's a practical way to make large, flat cabinet doors? Here's a handful of suggestions. September 7, 2006

Veneering a Curved Cabinet in Place
Advice on a very tricky veneering problem: applying veneer to a half-completed cabinet with a curved face, on site. August 23, 2006

Router Overworking on Raised-Panel Door Work
Why is a router struggling on door panels? Probably because it's the wrong tool for the job. October 2, 2010

Stop Options for Inset Doors
There's more than one way to stop a door. August 29, 2005

Shaper Set Up for Door Stiles
Cabinetmaker shows off his easily adjustable setup for quick machining of cope-and-stick door parts. August 29, 2006

Is MDF Stable?
Cabinetmakers and woodworkers report mixed results with medium density fiberboard in terms of movement in service. December 24, 2012

Warping Plywood Cabinet Doors
Cabinetmakers agree that plywood is not suitable for making doors because of its tendency to warp. For flatness and stability, MDF-core material is a better choice. May 13, 2008

Eliminating Burn Marks when Routing Flutes
Tips on router techniques to prevent burning at the end of flutes, and on tools and methods for removing burn marks when they do happen. December 28, 2005

Cutting Board Details
Advice on installing a pull-out cutting board drawer in a kitchen cabinet. December 9, 2008

Hand Clamping for Mitered Doors
What's a simple shop setup for assembling mitered cabinet doors? Pros supply a beginner with tips and suggestions. July 25, 2005

Installing New Doors and Drawers in Old Face-Frame Cabinets
June 26, 2009

Tooling Up for Door Production
A discussion of the ideal machinery setup for efficient production of cabinet doors on a regular basis. February 26, 2007

Rugged Wainscoting
An installer gets advice on wainscot paneling for a high-traffic commercial space.

Drawer Slide Jigs
Pros suggest several options for quick and accurate drawer-slide installation. June 17, 2005

Trash Bin Pull-Out Drawer Dimensions
Trash-bin drawer show and tell. July 27, 2008

Lumber Core Raised Panels
Considerations involved in fabricating raised-panel cabinet doors using veneer applied to lumber-core plywood. March 20, 2006

Setting Glass into Flush Panel Doors
Attachment options for setting small pieces of glass into cabinet doors. May 24, 2010

Low-Odor, Quick Adhesive for Refacing
Is there a fast-setting contact cement for commercial re-facing work that does not smell bad or carry health risks? February 25, 2009

Frameless Cabinet Door Dimensions and Tolerances
Of cabinet door gaps, wiggle room, millimeters, and math. June 28, 2007

Troubleshooting Twist in Cabinet Doors
Here's advice on building cabinet doors to minimize twisting caused by wood moisture content changes. January 26, 2009

Installing Backsplash
Backsplash installation tips, including a cool new product. March 14, 2006

Over-Arm Router Tips
General advice on ways to use an over-arm router. November 21, 2006

Sharpening Machine for Brad Point Bits
Insight into getting set up to sharpen your own carbide brad point bits. November 15, 2011

Working with Jatoba ("Brazilian Cherry")
This tropical hardwood is dense, heavy, and beautiful, but prone to movement and hard on tools. Yellow pieces will probably change to match the rest. May 11, 2011

Remotely Located Air Compressors
Cabinetmakers and finishers discuss how to locate their compressors in an outbuilding or basement. February 9, 2006

Shop Air and Electrical in the Floor
Should dust collection ducting and electrical wiring be placed in a slab floor? January 8, 2010

Choosing a Power Feeder
Advice on matching power-feeder horsepower to the intended use. July 27, 2008

Corner Joints on the Back of Island Cabinets
Installers share tips and methods for creating a finished corner on the back of an island cabinet. July 24, 2005

Pullout Slide Clearance and Hinge Types
Cabinet pullouts may crash into door backs if you don't select the right hardware and install properly. January 10, 2006

Using Spreadsheets to Standardize Cabinet Part Specification
You can make an Excel spreadsheet to automate and standardize your process of specifying cabinet part dimensions. August 5, 2010

Changing from Undermount to Side-Mounted Drawer Glides
Swapping out the hardware is simple enough, but the strength of attachment of the drawer bottoms could be a concern. November 29, 2014

Dovetails for Front Only?
How about if we dovetail just the front joints of a drawer box, and just staple the back? Cabinetmakers kick the suggestion around. July 9, 2007

Wood Versus MDF for Painted Cabinet Doors
MDF doors avoid the moisture-related movement and paint cracking issues of solid wood. March 26, 2009

Cabinets for a Pool Area
Selecting durable wood, hardware and finish coatings for cabinets intended for an indoor swimming pool area. March 20, 2006

Whether to Glue Cabinet Cases
More opinions and reasoning on the question, "To glue or not to glue?"February 26, 2007

Troubleshooting Drawer Slide Noise
A little too tight or too loose, and the slides will make noise. December 10, 2007

Red Elm for Kitchen Cabinet Doors
Woodworkers discuss the appearance and workability of Red Elm for kitchen cabinetry. August 11, 2009

Purchasing a Boring Machine
A dedicated boring machine is a huge productivity booster that will quickly repay its purchase price. August 29, 2006

Lighting and Orientation for Sanding Easels
A shop owner works on his sanding table concept. February 19, 2011

Specifying features for leased space
Advice on features to include in a leased production facility. June 6, 2001

Limitations of a Router Table for Making Mouldings
Buying a second-hand shaper is a wiser choice than trying to stretch your router's capabilities too far. April 26, 2006

Troubleshooting Warped Cabinet Doors
but how do you prevent it? Craftsmen provide some answers. June 12, 2005

Making Beadboard Door Panels for One Job
Suggestions for how to make a small amount of beadboard for a custom cabinet door project. May 6, 2010

Squaring the Notch for a Toe Kick
Cabinetmakers describe different approaches to the troublesome toe-kick cutout. April 6, 2007

Custom Veneering for Sequence-Matched Cabinet Doors
When the veneer-matching requirements get extreme, it's time to outsource to a specialty shop. November 19, 2008

Mission Style Glass Panel Router Bit
Glass panel doors require a special cut on the frame stiles and rails, which calls for a custom-made router bit. March 3, 2009

Drawer Slide Adjustment
Some drawer slides are designed to leave the drawer just a hair proud of the face when closed. November 10, 2006

Door Stops for Cabinets
Ways to hold inset cabinet doors flush to the face, when closed. March 20, 2006

Staining MDF
Products and techniques for best results. July 28, 2004

1/16" Versus 1/8" Cabinet Door Reveals
Careful hinge choices will help prevent doors from interfering with each other, but if they're too close, you might still have trouble. December 27, 2010

Shadow Lines On Cabinet Door Backs
Faint dark lines on the inside face of cabinet doors right at shelf locations are typically caused by deposits of dust. March 12, 2009

Woven Cherry Door Panels
Thin slats woven together into a door panel is a cool idea, but kiln-dried wood is too brittle. Green wood may work. November 10, 2006

Supporting Drawer Slides in Face-Frame Cabinets
When face frames aren't flush with the cabinet box, setting drawer slides is tricky. Cabinetmakers share tips and techniques. July 9, 2005

Shop-Made Frame Assembly Table
Details on construction, including images. March 14, 2004

Notching Drawer Backs for Slides
Advice on accomplishing a drawer construction detail. October 20, 2013

Sizing the Air Compressor for a Small Shop
Horsepower and tank size aren't the best measures of whether a compressor can keep up with the work you're giving it. Here's a closer look at the specs that matter. January 25, 2013

MDF for Raised Panels
Pros discuss the characteristics of medium-density fiberboard for making cabinet doors. November 10, 2006

Drilling for Closet Shelf Holes
Matching hardware to drilling equipment for efficient closet shelf fabrication. April 27, 2011

Outsourced Cabinet Door Squareness and Size Tolerances & sizing
Should you have to trim outsourced cab doors to make them square and right-sized? January 28, 2009

Drawer Front and Door Suppliers
Cabinetmaker gets suggestions on economical sources for drawer fronts and cabinet doors. June 17, 2005

Dadoes and Plywood Thickness Variation
Dimensional variation in plywood can cause trouble with dadoes. Cabinetmakers in this thread offer ways to handle the problem. September 22, 2005

Whether to Use a Refrigerated Air Dryer
Wise woodworkers use air dryers to protect their air-powered equipment from atmospheric humidity. Here's more discussion. June 17, 2013

Inconspicuous Drawer Front Mounting Methods
Advice on a tricky attachment problem: hiding the fasteners for a drawer front when the geometry leaves you few easy options. November 15, 2011

Templates for Pin Hole Boring
A shop-made router template saves time in 32-mm frameless construction. May 13, 2005

Fastening Glass into Cabinet Doors
Thoughts on fabricating doors and panels with glass panes. March 14, 2006

Glass Drawer Fronts
How do you attach glass drawer fronts to a drawer box? February 12, 2009

Humidity and Warping in the Shop
The key is to get the wood at the right moisture content and keep it there. October 26, 2012

Small-Shop Sliding Saws
A short-stroke sliding table saw or a panel saw might help solve this cabinetmaker's space problem. May 10, 2005

Preventing Hinge Attachment Failure in Commercial Cabinet Doors
Was it an ineffective fastening method, a weakness in the door material, or both? Cabinetmakers troubleshoot. March 9, 2008

Plywood Versus Solid Wood for Recessed Panel Cabinet Doors
A discussion of door construction material and methods. November 29, 2014

Whether to Glue Panels to Stiles and Rails
The basic answer is no (don't glue door panels to frames), but there are some fine points raised in this discussion. November 15, 2011

False Mullions for Glass Cabinet Doors
Mullions laid over full-size glass doors are a tricky detail. Here are some tips on shaping, joining and attaching the pieces. December 30, 2005

Poplar for Paint-Grade Cabinet Doors?
It works well for paint-grade trim, but woodworkers say poplar creates stability issues when used for casework. March 20, 2006

Drawer Slide Adjustment for Flush Inset Cabinets
The math and the hardware positioning and adjustment can get tricky when you're using tandem slides with inset face frame construction. July 6, 2011

Infra-Red Tube Heaters
Shop owners say gas-fired infrared overhead heaters work well, with good heat, quick recovery, and no worries about over-drying stored lumber. February 13, 2009

Sanding Shaker Door Edges
Cabinetmakers describe how they manage to get square door edges sanded while maintaining a consistent size. June 16, 2014

Plywood Thickness and Cabinet Doors
Nominal quarter-inch plywood can really be 5 millimeters thick. Here are thoughts on accounting for edge thickness when machining the door frame groove.July 6, 2011

Dovetailing for a hand-cut look
Advice on getting a hand-cut look when dovetailing by machine, and reasons not to do it. June 13, 2001

Springback and Accuracy with Radius Glue-Ups
Advice on making glued-up radius pieces conform to a precise, accurate curve — and stay that way. May 11, 2011

Mill Marks on Cabinet Doors
A cabinetmaker gets help identifying a production defect in doors he bought from another shop. November 29, 2014

Matching Old Cabinets: Is This Cherry or Maple?
Actually, the pros think it might be Alder ... or Red Birch. June 28, 2013

Face Frame Edges and Cabinet Ends
Cabinetmakers discuss the detail where a face frame edge meets the exposed end of a cabinet. November 6, 2007

Edge Treatment for MDF
Is it better to edgeband MDF cabinet doors, sand and paint them, or what? June 9, 2012

Doors that Stay Open or Closed
Working with gravity to make cabinet doors lay back and be still. November 13, 2009

Speaker Cloth in Cabinet Doors
Ways to attach speaker cloth in place of a floating wood panel in entertainment center doors so that infrared remote control devices will work through the door. August 14, 2009

Cleaning Silicone from Frames
Tips on removing silicone used to set glass in a wood cabinet door, when changing the glass. March 25, 2007

Drawer Socket Breakage
Cabinetmakers discuss how and why drawer-slide socket hardware may break. October 13, 2005

Upgrading a Compressor Pump
Is it worth the time and expense to upgrade the capacity of an existing compressor? Probably not. March 26, 2013

Solid Wood Edging for Euro Cabs
Tips for attaching thick wood banding to frameless cabinet panels, instead of standard edgebanding. October 27, 2008

Setting Up for Accurate Raised Panel Cutting
Here's a good set of suggestions for setting up and tuning your equipment for precise, reliable production of raised door panels. May 15, 2012

Retrofitting New Drawer Slides in Old Face Frame Cabs
Tips on how to align and secure the back attachment points of replacement drawer slides in an existing cabinet. May 6, 2007

Square Pegs in Round Holes
Quick tips on a custom historic detail touch. October 9, 2006

What Brush Sanders Can and Cannot Do
Brush sanders are useful, but like any tool they have certain limitations. March 9, 2008

Cutting and Trimming Aluminum and Plastic
Advice on bits and blades that work will with aluminum laminate and plastic resin material. October 2, 2007

Fans and Grilles to Cool a TV Cabinet
A cabinetmaker gets help figuring out how to get enough air moving to cool a big, hot television unit. July 11, 2007

Standardizing Side Mount Drawer Slide Placement
If you want to make time, make a simple rule and stick with it. March 26, 2010

Stacking Doors That Open Together
Suggestions for dowels, pins, and other methods to connect stacked cabinet doors so they will swing as a unit. June 15, 2014

Whether to Lay Up Your Own Veneered MDF
Pre-veneered panels are more economical, but there may be reasons for preferring a custom product. April 20, 2007

Setting Glass into Cabinet Doors
Silicone, splines, wood stops, or glazier's points and putty? Each has its pros and cons. August 8, 2008

Substrate for Laminating Cabinet Doors
Plywood cores are not recommended for laminate cabinet doors (MDF, particleboard, or plywood-core MDF are better). July 26, 2010

Compressors, Vacuum Pumps, Air Dryers, Air Makeup
Thumbnail descriptions of various kinds of equipment that move air. September 20, 2008

Dimensions for Glass-Paneled Cabinet Doors
A discussion of glass door design for structural strength and good looks. August 17, 2009

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

Tempered Glass for Cabinet Doors?
Safety glass is typical for commercial cabinetry. Residential, not so much. April 29, 2012

Making a Standard Refrigerator Look Built In
Wood-look panels applied to a standard refrigerator fall short of providing the appearance or useability of a true built-in model. January 1, 2012

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

Side Mount Soft Close Drawer Slides: Any Good?
Side mount soft close drawer slides have a less-than-stellar reputation. June 13, 2011

Mirrored Medicine Cabinet Doors
Cabinetmakers discuss the details of mirrored bath cabinet doors. November 12, 2005

Cabinet Doors Twisting in the Clamp
A cabinetmaker tries to understand why door parts twist out of alignment during the assembly process. January 11, 2008

Sanding Stile and Rail Profiles
Tips for choosing and using sanding wheels, or making a precise sanding block. April 30, 2009

Contact Adhesive for Attaching End Panels in the Field
Some installers swear by spray contact cement, but roll-on waterbased also works well. February 11, 2009

De-Greasing Drawer Slides
Cabinetmakers ponder how to get the packing gunk off new drawer slides before it gets grimy and causes binding. October 12, 2007

Should Edgebanding Need to be Filed by Hand?
Do edgebanded laminate parts require hand sanding, filing, or other touch-up for quality? January 19, 2011

Inside Corner Drawer Construction
Here are a few photos of inside corner drawers, with some advice on how to build them. January 9, 2015

Making Beaded Panels
Equipment and techniques to cut beads in solid wood panels. April 18, 2006

MDF Selection for Veneered Cabinet Doors
A little basic info about medium density fiberboard. October 26, 2011

Tag-Teaming Your Air Compressors
Woodworkers discuss various ways to tie two air compressors together to operate in tandem. January 27, 2008

Matching Off-Size Cabinet Pull Holes
Advice on replacing cabinet pulls when the originals are an odd dimension. November 5, 2013

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

Notching Cabinet Backs for Hanger Rails
Here's advice on routing out cabs for hanger systems, and a picture of a handy shaper jig. September 7, 2006

Cleaning Dusty Drawer Slides
How to clean out and re-lubricate a batch of dusty old door slides from the back of the shop. June 22, 2010

Keyboard Pullout Drawer Front Hardware
Pros discuss drawer slides and drawer front mounting for pull-out keyboard trays. August 29, 2006

Edgebanding with Aluminum Laminate
Aluminum does not spark, but even the thin edgebanding will wear out tools faster than wood or plastic banding. October 20, 2013

Mitered Doors in a Production Shop
Quick tips on the top issues involved in making mitered raised-panel doors in volume. October 2, 2007

Whether to Bevel the Edge of Cabinet Doors
When would it be wise to taper the back side of a cabinet door to permit closing and opening without binding? June 12, 2014

Hard Versus Soft Maple
Quick basic info on hard and soft Maple. September 27, 2009

Waste Factor in Doormaking
You gotta make sawdust to make cabinets. But how much sawdust? Here are some views on the ballpark numbers. February 12, 2009

Supporting Pull-Outs Behind Doors in A Frameless Cabinet
Cabinetmakers chime in on a tricky design problem: A wide pull-out below, a pair of drawers above. December 14, 2005

Thinner for Wood Filler
Advice on storing, reconstituting, or thinning solvent-based wood fillers. August 8, 2008

Machining Convex Raised Panels
Woodworkers describe a curved shaper jig for machining the edges of a concave panel. July 11, 2007

Corner Drawer Clearances
Cabinetmakers work on a layout problem — keeping drawers from crashing at an inside corner. February 13, 2009

Isolating Air Lines from Compressor Vibration
To prevent vibration and noise, install a short section of suitable flexible tubing between the compressor and the copper air lines.January 3, 2012

Cabinet Doors for Coastal Climates
How do you make a cabinet door that will stay stable through wide seasonal humidity changes? August 19, 2008

Setting Glass in Laminate or Melamine Doors
Cabinetmakers describe how they insert glass into laminate and melamine cabinet doors. December 2, 2011

Sanding Pads for Profile Work
Tips for hand-sanding profiled mouldings. October 26, 2011

Making Cabinets with Hickory
Tips on machining and finishing this heavy, hard wood species. May 22, 2006

Cutting Small Moulding
Advice on ways to get clean, accurate miter cuts on 3/8" moulding pieces. November 13, 2009

Cutting Aluminum in the Shop
Tips and cautions for cutting aluminum accent strips with woodworking equipment. March 26, 2009

Rattan Door Panels
Advice on fastening rattan into cabinet doors. December 11, 2012

Warping in a Large Laminated-MDF Door
Waterbased glue caused this MDF layup to warp in service. March 4, 2009

Easing the Edge of Shaker Style Doors
A light touch is all that's called for. April 6, 2007

Hose Size and Air Flow for Sanders
How much do hose diameters and fittings affect air sander performance? March 3, 2009

Hand-Planing Wood-Veneer Doors
How thick should the veneer be for hand-planed reproduction slab doors made with veneer over a wood-composite core? January 20, 2007

Square Corners for a Let-In Door Panel Rout
Ideas for squaring a door-back rabbet with less chiseling labor. June 18, 2005

Finger-Joint Miter Joinery
Thoughts on a finicky joinery detail. February 27, 2015

Lightweight Door Core Options
Suggestions for core material for lightweight veneered cabinet doors. July 28, 2006

Material for Oversize Cabinet Doors
Plywood is unstable and MDF weighs too much. In this thread, cabinetmakers suggest alternatives. November 11, 2005

Troubleshooting Melamine Panel Joints
Melamine cabinet parts aren't fitting tight. Is it the panel cuts, or the assembly technique? June 12, 2005

New Blum Locking Devices?
06/25/2012

Drawer Slides Breaking During Transport
A cabinetmaker reports drawer slides that malfunction after a 5-mile cabinet delivery trip. April 9, 2008

Shaping the Top Rails for Half-Arch-Top Shaker Panel Doors
Tips on laying out and fabricating a tricky door part. March 25, 2008

MDF for Cabinets in an Oceanfront House
Thoughts about cabinetry for a salt-air environment. May 5, 2011

Solid Wood Face Frame to Plywood Joint
Tips for detailing a plywood-to-solid-wood joint. December 14, 2005

Slippery Surfaces for Sliding Drawers
Advice on making wood-to-wood drawer-slide contact surfaces slick. October 27, 2009

Oversize Cupboard Doors
Suggestions for trouble-free construction of wide, tall raised-panel cabinet doors. February 17, 2006

Space Between Cabinet Doors
Cabinetmakers weigh in on the proper gap between doors. November 11, 2005

Mitered-Corner Cabinet Case Joinery
Advice on making mitered corner joints for cabinet carcases. January 20, 2010

Making Wood Drawer Slides Slippery
Suggestions for making wood drawers slide smoothly without creating dust. May 11, 2011

Limiting Door Swing
Rawhide makes a nice site-installed restraint to keep doors from opening too wide. August 30, 2010

Touch Latches and Inset Doors
Quick tips on making a touch latch work with an inset cabinet door. December 27, 2006

Raised Panel Thickness
Three-quarter-inch, eleven-sixteenths-inch, or five-eighths inch? May 10, 2005

Wooden Dovetail Drawer Slides
Tips on how to detail traditional wooden drawer slides. June 3, 2007

Circle Jigs for Routers
Ideas and photos for router setups for cutting circles of various sizes. August 31, 2010

MDF End Panels
Thoughts on the various ways to use MDF for cabinet end panels. February 26, 2007

Drawer Slide Screws
Finding screws that won't scrape on the slides during operation is a bit tricky. February 19, 2011

Power Feeder Wheels Too Slick
Addressing a slippery-wheel situation on a power feeder. July 29, 2012

Easy Drawer Slide Retrofit
Here's a quick tip for speedy installation of new drawer slides in an existing cabinet in place. March 3, 2009

High Quality File Drawer Rails
Sources and ideas for hefty file rails. October 3, 2011

Stainless Steel Cabinet Doors
Where do stainless steel cabinet doors come from? January 26, 2009

Locking Drawer Slides for Cabinets on a Boat
Suggestions for drawer hardware to keep drawers fixed in position on a boat in a rough sea. July 29, 2012

Friction Between Wood and Jointer
Waxing helps wood slide more easily, but the outfeed table may also need adjusting. February 6, 2007

Hinging Triple Cabinet Doors
Hinges that mount to cabinet tops and bottoms can handle the swing for the center door. September 3, 2011

Sealed Cabinet Doors
Ideas for sealing cabinet doors for airtightness. December 28, 2005

Screen Spline and Space Balls
Quick tip: screen spline makes a good substitute when you can't find the right diameter space balls. March 20, 2006

Drawer Slide Installation Excel Spreadsheets
Handy spreadsheets supply installation specs for several types of cabinet drawer slides. January 7, 2007

Punch-List Management Strategies
Cabinetmakers discuss ways to streamline the installation punch-out process. May 20, 2009

Shelf Stiffening Methods
A discussion of shelf spans, shelf materials, and reinforcing methods to prevent sagging. April 10, 2008

Screw Sizes for Cabinet Box Construction
Cabinetmakers discuss screw preferences for assembling carcases. December 27, 2008

Selecting Shelf Pins
Shelf pins are a small detail, but one that can make a difference. February 20, 2008

Running Two Compressors Together
Further advice on tag-teaming compressors (it does get a little tricky). March 9, 2008

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

Undermount Sinks for Laminate Tops
Tips on installing undermount sinks designed for laminate countertops. September 27, 2008

Rare Earth Magnets as Inset Door Catches
Tips on using magnets as hidden door catches. October 27, 2009

Refacing a Rounded Face Frame
Tips for how to reface cabinets with round corners, and some general comments on the cabinet-refacing market. February 28, 2006

Custom-Built Curved Range Hood Ideas
Brainstorming about ways to design and build a custom range hood with concave curves. February 16, 2014

Template Forming for Farmhouse Sinks
Farmhouse sinks require cabinet frames to be scribed and fit to the sink. Here, cabinetmakers discuss ways to make a template for better accuracy and fit. November 26, 2007

Painting wood cabinets
Suggested paint-grade materials for cabinets. October 15, 2001

Crown Molding for Radiused-Corner Cabinet Tops
An explanation of how to mill curved crown molding for application to radiused corners. June 23, 2006

Supporting a Molded Plastic Sink
Suggestions: wooden supports or a mortar bed. January 21, 2007

Fixes for a Mis-Drilled Knob Hole
Moving a screw hole over less than the diameter of the hole is a pesky task. Here are a handful of tips. October 8, 2005

Fix for Mis-Placed System Holes
There are ways to patch mis-located screw holes. But it's smarter to back off and start over (you can still re-use the scrap). April 21, 2011

Tips for Paint Grade Doors
Advice on door materials, spackle, and paint techniques for paint-grade work. February 27, 2013

MDF for Painted Projects?
Medium density fiberboard (MDF) has some advantages over wood for paint-grade cabinetry. This discussion looks at when to use MDF and also at fastening and related issues. April 6, 2011

Hinge Hole Repair in Melamine
Pros suggest ways to patch a blown-out hinge mortise. September 22, 2005

Filler for Countertop Knotholes
Advice on a filler material for knotholes that's compatible with a Tung oil finish. May 12, 2013

Heating the Shop in a Cold Climate
A discussion of the choices for heating a large, poorly insulated shop, including radiant gas burners, wood-fired boilers, and more. March 22, 2013

Level Cabinets in Out-of-Whack Houses
A rowdy, no-holds-barred debate on whether cabinet installers should fudge square and level when the existing house is neither. December 20, 2005

Granite Countertop Underlayment
Depending on thickness, granite countertops may be self-supporting without underlayment. September 5, 2006

Face Frame Width Issues
Structural and esthetic design considerations influencing face frame widths. April 10, 2012

How Many Hinges?
This thread includes a handy chart for deciding when a door large or heavy enough to require a third or fourth hinge. August 12, 2014

Hanging Cabinets from the Ceiling
No walls to attach to, and no backs on the cabinet — here are a few suggestions for securely mounting these custom cabs. March 25, 2007

Sealing Plywood to Slow Down Formaldehyde Emissions
Here's an extended discussion of whether, and how, to seal plywood in order to reduce the emissions of formaldehyde (or whether to purchase a different type of plywood instead). December 27, 2010

Gluing Teak to Plywood
Advice on surface prep and adhesive choice for glue-up of teak and plywood doors on a boat. October 13, 2010

Clamping Lock Miters
A discussion of the fine points of aligning, clamping, and gluing miter joints, with some commentary on whether lock miters are even worth the trouble. June 3, 2013

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

Storage Cabinet Shelf Spacing
Ideas about the value of adjustable shelving, and about practical shelf spacing in kitchen cabinets. December 8, 2010

Kitchen Cabinet Clearance Above Stove Top
Installers discuss the rules for installing cabinets or a microwave and vent hood above a kitchen range. November 19, 2005

Whether to Place a Refrigerator in the Corner
Cabinetmakers consider a kitchen design problem: setting a fridge diagonally into the corner. September 27, 2008

Estimating Cabinet Material by Hand
An experienced cabinet builder with no design experience gets advice on making his first materials list for a project. February 13, 2009

Recutting Installed Countertops In Place
Advice for trimming a few inches off a laminate countertop, in place. January 9, 2006

Electrical Outlets in Cabinetry
Electrical code requires outlets to be installed within properly mounted electrical boxes. April 26, 2006

Hardwood Plywood Grades
Here's a concise explanation of hardwood plywood grades and what they mean. March 26, 2009

Value added defined
Many definitions and interpretations are offered up. July 29, 2003

Five-piece doors on CNC
Doing raised-panel work on a CNC router. November 26, 2001

Installing Framed Cabinets
Save time with careful layout and the right tools. February 9, 2001

Too-tight biscuits
Biscuit joining tricks and techniques. March 23, 2002

Cabinet Installation: Preventing Problems
Careful preparation and knowledge of the site make cabinet installation much easier. February 9, 2001

Conversion varnish basics
The pros agree: conversion varnish is best for kitchen cabinets. April 20, 2001

More boxes, less time
Making the process more efficient, including discussion on toekicks and finishing. May 2, 2001

Drawer construction
High-quality, cost-effective methods of drawer construction, and tips on joinery. March 28, 2001

Fastening countertops
How to fasten a laminated particleboard countertop to cabinets. March 28, 2001

Switching to metric
A discussion of the 32mm system and its attendant need to convert to metric measure. February 13, 2001

Span Limits for Plywood Shelving
Over three feet, and you're looking at potential sagging issues. Pros discuss span limits and shelf stiffening options. November 11, 2005

Drawers, from scratch to systems
Materials and methods forum participants are employing in their quest for the perfect drawer. February 14, 2001

Tinting body filler -- it can be done!
Searching out an epoxy filler that can be color-mixed, for filling large knot holes. March 20, 2001

Which software?
Ideas on reasonably priced, comprehensive computer applications for cabinetmakers. February 13, 2001

Chip-free cutting of composite panels
Consider these factors when striving for chip-free cuts in composite panels. February 13, 2001

Square-trimming face frame stock
Woodworkers share their secrets for getting dead-square cuts on the ends of face frame members.

Fillers on frameless cabinets
Filling the space around cabinets set in uneven alcoves or against bowed walls. January 3, 2001

Jigs for shelf pin holes
Speeding up the drilling process. March 23, 2002

Cutting veneered panels and melamines -- without a scoring blade
Avoiding chipping problems when cutting veneered panels and melamines. January 3, 2001

To glue or not to glue
Is glue necessary in frame assembly for raised panel doors? January 31, 2001

Distressing wood
Creating a well-worn look on newly built furniture. February 6, 2002

Hard maple versus soft Maple
Aesthetic and functional differences between hard and soft maple

Dovetailing plywood
Successfully dovetailing baltic birch plywood. March 20, 2001

Rating drawer slides
What does a drawer slide weight rating mean, exactly? February 12, 2001

Dowel case joinery guidelines
Basics on doweling for case construciton. April 25, 2001

Problem with ball catches
Are ball catches appropriate for use on kitchen cabinets? March 20, 2001

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

Confirmat screw spacing
Spacing guidelines for Confirmat screws in the assembly of particleboard cases. January 16, 2001

Steam bending wood
Information resources on how to steam bend wood. January 24, 2001

Choosing a table saw
Selecting a table saw and fence system for a small shop. January 3, 2001

Cabinet manufacturers' associations
Finding associations, local and larger. January 16, 2002

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

Square Edges and Edgebanding
Woodweb's Cabinetmaking forum straightens out a shop owner who has been edgebanding after putting cabinets together. Along the way there's a detailed discussion of how to produce square edge cuts, even with basic equipment. March 3, 2009

Door Sanding Quality Issues
Here's advice on setting quality standards for cabinet door final sanding, and meeting the goals in a competitive market. April 2, 2013

NC lacquer for kitchen cabinets
Why shouldn't this old standby be used? March 23, 2003

Stupid Woodworker Tricks
With a nod toward David Letterman, pros discuss their least-best moments. January 24, 2005

Equipment and Curriculum for a Woodworking School
Woodworkers discuss the shop equipment, software, and focus appropriate for a serious secondary school program intended to train professional woodworkers. July 27, 2008

Face Frame Joinery
The definitive, final, last-word discussion on all the ways there are to assemble face frames, until next time. June 28, 2007

Cabinet Refacing Labor Hours
Making a profit on cabinet refacing depends on being productive on site. Here are some thoughts on the labor time required with various methods. May 28, 2010

Joinery Methods for Attaching Face Frames to Cabinets
A long discussion on various joinery methods for face frame fastening. June 16, 2010

Tracksaw and Accessories for Site Fabrication of Cabinets
Are pricey tracksaw and router setups practical for professional use? Opinions vary. April 10, 2012

When to use waterbornes
Applications where waterborne coatings will and won't work. May 22, 2002

Switching to Melamine
A cabinetmaker who usually builds with plywood gets advice on working with melamine. July 5, 2006

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

Drawer runner holes in 32mm system
Placement, mounting and more. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) February 12, 2003

Regular or dewaxed shellac?
is an appropriate primer coat. May 22, 2002

Low-tech panel squaring
Methods and machines for squaring that don't involve CNC equipment. April 9, 2003

Scribing Beaded Face Frames into Enclosed Spaces
Neat tricks for fitting a beaded face-frame cabinet into a space trapped on both sides by framed walls. February 11, 2010

Should I Joint and Plane My Own Face-Frame Stock?
It's work to get nice flush joints and consistent dimensions on cabinet face frames. Here's a discussion about whether to surface your own stock or buy pre-planed lumber. January 28, 2009

Screws for Joining Face Frames Together
A cabinet installer finds his crews are snapping the occasional screw when connecting adjoining face frames in the field. Here's a discussion of installation methods, clamps, and fastening hardware. December 27, 2007

One-Man Installation Setup
Small cabinet-shop owners explain how they organize bringing their tools and supplies to the jobsite for installations. March 9, 2008

Cost of Shop Power
Understanding (and minimizing) your shop's utility bill. July 5, 2006

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

Fitting Inset Doors to Face Frames
Pros discuss the efficiency and accuracy of various approaches to measuring, marking, cutting, and installing inset cabinet doors. January 21, 2007

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

Choosing a Hand-Held Sander
Woodworkers discuss the options in electric and air-powered random orbital sanders. December 28, 2014

Cabinet Refacing Basics
Solid tips on refacing cabinets. April 9, 2008

Edge Jointing of Ripped Boards on Site
Here's a long list of suggestions and tips for getting a good clean edge on site-ripped wood. June 12, 2014

Dado Techniques
Router and jig, or table-saw with dado blade set? Cabinetmakers discuss choices and methods. May 22, 2006

Cutting Flutes in Pilasters
Advice on using a table saw or router to make fluted woodwork. January 13, 2009

Drawers To The Rescue
An installer gets organized on site, and life is good again. January 23, 2012

On-Site Laminate Cutting Tips and Tricks
Cabinet re-facing work calls for a lot of cut-and-fit laminate work. Here's a long discussion of ways to go about the task. May 6, 2007

Tool Organization for Cabinet Installers
How does a cabinet installer cut back on the number of trips back and forth from the truck to the house? Pros ponder solutions. December 2, 2006

Compressor Choices for Pneumatic Sanders
It takes a lot of air to power air sanders, but many shop owners consider the upgrade worthwhile. Here's extensive advice on compressor choice, with additional tips on setup and operation. September 8, 2007

Efficiently Ripping a Straight Edge on Rough Stock
A spirited discussion on jigs, equipment, and how investing in the right machinery can make you money. February 27, 2015

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

Circular Saw Guides for Cutting Sheet Goods
You can make your own straight-edge jig for cutting panels, but many cabinetmakers and installers recommend buying a specialized tool. November 20, 2008

Skinning the Bottoms of Frameless Upper Cabinets
Extended discussion of how to treat the underside of an upper cabinet, with a conversation about space-saver corner drawers on the side. March 5, 2007

Praise for Impact Drivers
It's official: installers and cabinetmakers love cordless impact drivers. July 3, 2006

Fine Points of Face-Frame Cabinet Construction
Cabinetmakers discuss dadoing face frames, leaving a "scribe" overhang, and other details of face-frame technique. July 5, 2006

Tool Choice for Dadoing Panels — Router, Shaper, or Table Saw?
Pros describe their preferred methods for running dadoes in cabinet panels. November 20, 2005

Installing an Island Over a Radiant Slab
Cab installers ponder how to attach an island cabinet over a heated concrete floor, without puncturing any tubes. January 11, 2008

Controlling Woodshop Dust
Cabinetmakers discuss vacuum tool attachments, filters, fans, and whole-shop dust collection systems. February 9, 2006

Equipment Issues for Final Door Sanding
Cross-grain scratches from the wide-belt, then swirl marks from the random-orbit sanders — what's the solution to minimize the final hand-sanding stage? November 26, 2006

Troubleshooting Glue Lines in MDF-to-Wood Joints
Cabinetmakers discuss how to achieve a seamless look in paint-grade cabinetry. February 27, 2015

Cutting a Sink Hole in a Four-Inch-Thick Wood Countertop
An architect's brainchild leaves a woodworker with a tricky job: cutting out a hole for an undermount sink in a 4-inch chunk of Walnut. August 3, 2009

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

Working with Recycled-Paper Countertop Material
Here's a detailed rundown of how to get good results with a popular "green" synthetic-stone countertop material. January 13, 2008

Keeping Faces Flush with Pocket-Hole Joinery
Clamping and drilling techniques that will keep pocket-hole-joined pieces from slipping out of alignment during assembly. December 6, 2006

Cutting Tenons on a Shaper
Advice on making end tenons on a shaper. March 3, 2009

Comparing Oscillating Tools
How do the original high-end oscillating cutter tools rate in comparison to the less expensive off brands? October 27, 2011

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

Lumber Choices for a Chocolate Brown Finish
Finishers discuss what wood species to start with when a deep brown color is the ultimate goal. July 11, 2009

Caulking the Backsplash Joint
Pros describe how to apply a neat, clean bead of caulk. June 16, 2005

Hand Methods for Trimming Edgebanding
Non-edgebander-owning cabinetmakers talk edgebanding tips and tricks. January 19, 2012

Edge Joinery for Pre-Finished Back Panels
Looking for a clean finished joint between prefinished panels on a kitchen peninsula. December 7, 2008

Dark Putty
Ideas for blending a dark wood putty to match dark woods like cherry. July 3, 2006

Squaring Up Plywood
Out-of-whack plywood can throw off all your cabinet carcase dimensions. Here, cabinetmakers discuss techniques for truing up plywood when the factory dimensions are off. October 22, 2005

Edge Lipping Planer Choices
Here's a closer look at the high-quality tools available for flush trimming shelf edges and similar components. March 22, 2013

Compressor to Power an Air Sander
Air sanders do a great job, but they use major air. Here's how some cabinetmakers provide for that. March 26, 2008

Hook and Loop Versus Peel and Stick Sanding Pads
Cabinetmakers discuss sandpaper preferences. April 16, 2010

Portable Plunge Cut Saw System
Does this system make sense for use both in the shop and on the job? May 10, 2005

Sanding Tool Choices: Pneumatic Versus Electric
Woodworkers discuss the merits and drawbacks of various finish sander options. April 14, 2010

Line Boring Jigs
Ideas for quick line boring without a line boring machine (and arguments for gettting the machine). June 8, 2008

Shopping for a Tracksaw
Craftsmen discuss their choices in tracksaws. November 14, 2014

Line Boring Equipment on a Budget
Is there anything short of a line-boring machine that will serve the purpose as an intermediate upgrade?May 15, 2012

Glue Line Failure in Cherry Panels
Are these joint failures due to product or process? May 10, 2005

Cleaning Glue Off Melamine After Edge-Banding
"Hot" solvents can dull melamine or leave a combined glue-and-thinner residue behind. Here are some suggested solutions. February 26, 2007

Heavy-Duty Miter-Saw Choices
Shop owners describe their experiences with industrial-grade cutoff saws and miter saws. July 29, 2011

Sander Skittering and Vacuum Suction
Reported control problems with some sanders may be solvable by adjusting dust collection vacuum settings. July 16, 2008

Countersinks and Self-Sinking Screws
Countersink bit and self-countersinking screw recommendations. April 9, 2008

Creating a Hand-Hewn Look on Cabinet Doors
Depending on exactly what you want, there are several ways to get a scooped-out, scalloped, rippled look on a wood surface. October 11, 2007

Cutting Out Oven Cabinet Openings
Oven cabinets come with small openings that need to be enlarged to fit the brand of oven selected. Here, installers share their methods for making a clean, precise cut. December 14, 2005

Compound Angles for Wood Range Hood
Joinery for a wood range hood gets into some tricky geometry. February 12, 2009

Tuning Up a Low End Widebelt
Advice on a few tweaks to get the best performance out of an inexpensive light-duty widebelt sander. April 12, 2013

Troubleshooting Sandpaper Scratch Marks
Sandpaper choices and sander settings both play a role in swirl marks created by small wood slivers that stick to the sandpaper. May 27, 2014

Downdraft Tables Versus Vacuum-Equipped Sanders
Some woodworkers swear by downdraft tables, others swear by sanders coupled to vacuum dust collectors. May 22, 2006

Hand Hewn Look for New Cabinetry
Achieving an old-fashioned look with antique and contemporary tools. May 10, 2005

Miter Cutting Precision
How to boost the accuracy of miter cuts for doors, without spending too much on equipment. July 28, 2012

Raised Panel Doors - Sanding and Knife Marks
Advice on sanding and finishing issues related to moulder knife marks in raised panel door profiles. September 18, 2014

Router Dust Collection for Field Work
Tweaking dust-catchers to work in odd situations outside the shop. April 6, 2007

Cutting Post-Form Countertops on Site
Installers discuss how to cut out an existing countertop on site for a new cooktop. April 20, 2007

Clean Cuts in MDF
Saw marks on cut edges could be a problem of fence alignment. Here's some advice on getting straight, clean cuts. October 9, 2006

One-Speed Versus Variable-Speed Random Orbit Sander
A discussion of random-orbit sander characteristics. October 25, 2006

Cordless Drill/Driver Choices
Cabinetmakers talk about the cordless tools they like. October 26, 2011

Pneumatic Random Orbit Sanders and Dust
Advice on dust collection efficiency with air-powered random-orbit sanders. March 26, 2010

Reinforcing Cope-and-Stick Joinery
Do cope-and-stick door joints require reinforcement from dowels or tenons? September 15, 2011

Rolling Jobsite Tool Carts
Ideas for putting your tool chest on wheels to get in an out of install sites quickly. September 27, 2008

Shared Power Switch for Tool and Vacuum
Quick tips on linking tool and shop-vacuum power supplies so that the vacuum starts when the tool starts. April 24, 2013

Removing Drum Sander Scratches
Tips for detecting and sanding out the scratches left behind by a drum sander. October 13, 2005

Touching Up White Cabinets
Advice on touching up nicks and dings in white thermofoil, vinyl, and melamine cabinet surfaces. August 7, 2006

Removing PL Construction Adhesive From Prefinished Floor
06/25/2012

Refacing Melamine Cabinets
Tips on refacing melamine. November 30, 2009

Touch-Up Marker Choices
Advice on marker selection for touching up bare wood exposed by raised panel seasonal shrinkage. July 26, 2010

Face frame versus frameless
December 28, 2002

CNC Versus Traditional Machinery for a Start-Up Shop
Here's a long, detailed, and thoughtful discussion about the ideal equipment investment for starting a cabinet shop, focusing on whether to jump into CNC right from the get-go. October 18, 2011

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

Cabinetmaker's Responsibilities
Lively conversation about who should handle plumbing, electrical, etc. on kitchen/bath projects. December 9, 2004

Frameless carcass construction
A detailed discussion of the quality of frameless cabinets. July 24, 2001

Confirmat screw assembly
Troubleshooting problems with Confirmat screws. June 24, 2002

Switching from Office Work to the Cabinet Trade
A computer programmer asks whether he's crazy to want to work in a cabinet shop instead. A long, spirited debate ensues. April 9, 2008

Working With Leg Levelers
Revising an installation process to include leg levelers. October 20, 2004

Case construction methods
Discussion of the strongest, most efficient methods of joinery. July 29, 2003

Choosing Sliding Table Saws and Panel Saws
Pros discuss the choices in panel saws and sliding table saws, and offer advice on modifying equipment for better performance. November 10, 2006

Confirmat screws -- getting started
A discussion on drilling holes for confirmat screws dives deeper into screw and dowel construction. July 3, 2001

Setting Up Excalibur Slider
Tips and photos for accurate alignment. March 14, 2004

Three-phase motors 101
Three-phase power and converters; explained in layman's terms. June 19, 2003

Which Fine Details Do Customers Care About?
A thoughtful discussion about whether labor expended on small details is wasted, or worthwhile. December 27, 2010

MDF versus particleboard
Strength and other qualities in relation to cabinet construction. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) March 23, 2003

Crowns on Band Wheels
Why do crowns exist, and do they improve band tracking? January 29, 2004

Woodshop Waste Percentage
How much wood do you waste in the construction of your product? June 21, 2004

Preparing Face Frame Stock
A lively discussion among cabinetmakers about whether, when, and how to joint, plane, or sand stock for face frames. October 8, 2005

Custom Built-In Seating for a Boat
The furniture forum discusses plumb, level, port, starboard, pitch, yaw, and relating nautical seating terminology. June 10, 2006

Stickley Design
A question about Stickley style provokes answers starting with a discussion about rift-sawn and quartersawn oak, and ending with a wide-ranging ramble (or was that rumble?) about Gustav Stickley, the Arts and Crafts movement, history, and the philosophy of work and play. Some pictures of cabinets he ......

Cabinet Shop Growing Pains
A cabinet shop owner gets advice on expanding his production volume while integrating some complex new software into his workflow. July 12, 2008

Cabinet Software and Photo-Realistic Rendering
This thread on a timeworn topic (choosing cabinet design software) has an extra feature: some examples of super-realistic rendering. January 13, 2009

Hand Cut Dovetails (Are They Worth It?)
Cabinetmakers discuss the esthetic merits (and practical demerits) of hand-cut dovetailed drawer boxes. October 8, 2005

Taking Measurements on Site — Tape Measure or Laser Device?
The new generation of laser measuring tools can improve accuracy and save time. Here, cabinetmakers describe why they made the switch and how they use the new tools. November 22, 2005

Cabinet Installs: Who Needs a Helper?
Do four hands plus two brains equal more production? Opinions vary. June 26, 2009

The Trouble with High-End Appliances
Beefs, anecdotes, and general observations about installing expensive, fancy kitchen appliances. January 9, 2006

Frame-and-Panel Carcases Versus Applied End Panels
What's better, building a plywood box and attaching frame-and-panel elements to it, or using the raised-panel frames as structural elements in the cabinet? Cabinetmakers discuss history, technique, and the state of the art. June 5, 2006

Installing seamed countertops
Fitting p-lam countertops in the field, due to size and shape. September 23, 2003

Recessed or flush cabinet backs
Which method cabinetmakers find preferable, plus materials and methods used. December 17, 2003

Saving Time by Reorganizing Work on Sub-Assemblies
Analyzing a "bucket brigade" approach to cabinet parts and quantifying the time efficiency improvement. April 10, 2009

Kitchen Corner Cabinets
Creative solutions for this awkward space. February 10, 2004

CNC configuration
Building a CNC router. May 1, 2003

Out-of-Level Floor Problem
A cabinet job for a new house with an out-of-level floor leads to a callback. Pros weigh in with views and technical advice. August 29, 2005

Setting and Leveling Base Cabinets
A discussion of various methods for setting base cabs, including using a separate ladder base, using leg levelers, or using a wall cleat at the back and leg levelers in the front. March 26, 2009

Finishing in-house vs on-site
Is quality compromised when cabinets are finished on the job site? November 22, 2003

What's the Best Tool for Cutting Panels?
A start-up shop owner asks whether he should purchase a sliding table saw, a vertical panel saw, or maybe even a beam saw. Experienced hands offer thoughtful opinions. July 6, 2005

Choosing a Sliding Table Saw
It's wiser to buy quality used equipment than a low-end brand new unit. May 27, 2006

Cabinet Backs: Dadoed Versus Plant-On
Cabinetmakers discuss the options in cabinet back construction and joinery. July 31, 2009

Learning About Edgebanders
Advice for a woodworker who is in the market for a very low-priced edgebander, and wants to educate himself about edgebanders and other machinery. March 13, 2014

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

Does Outsourcing Cabinet Parts Make Sense for a Small Shop?
Cabinetmakers discuss the pros and cons of having parts cut by another shop. January 26, 2008

mounting screws
July 24, 2005

Who cuts sink holes?
Is this the responsibility of the cabinetmaker or installer? December 17, 2003

Order of Operations for Cope and Stick Machining
Cabinetmakers discuss the details of routing operations for cope-and-stick joinery. December 9, 2013

Installing Cabinets: Uppers or Lowers First?
Opinions vary. Here, installers describe how they go about installing cabinets, and explain why. July 3, 2006

Selecting CNC Machinery
Choosing a machine to best suit your operation. January 28, 2004

Responsibility for a Too-Dark Finish
A cabinetmaker is being asked to hold the bag for the poor work done by a painter who the customer hired. In this thread, professionals suggest ways to handle the problem. November 11, 2005

Sink cutouts in post form tops
Woodworkers share their favorite methods. April 3, 2002

Drawing Units and Precision
Deciding on the level of precision needed for cabinet and millwork design. October 20, 2004

Out-of-Level Brouhaha
Sparks fly when a cabinet installer goes with the out-of-level house for the sake of appearance. His story sets off a lively exchange of views. October 22, 2005

Install Solutions for the One-Man Cabinet Shop
Anyone can do it with help... January 26, 2008

Opening Laminate Joints Mystery
in a long MDF and laminate countertop? March 14, 2005

Distressing Wood
Learning how to give new furniture that well-worn look. January 6, 2005

Melamine Cabinet Boxes
Can melamine move in as plywood quality degrades? October 5, 2004

Upper cabinet install jig
A sampling of shop-built setups used by the pros. October 16, 2003

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

Quality of Cherry Lumber
Cabinetmakers discuss cherry quality, grading standards, and the market. August 17, 2006

Stepping Up to 3-Millimeter Edgebanding
3mm edgebanding is a step up in quality, and it requires a serious equipment investment. November 8, 2008

Vertical panel saws
A comparison of speed and efficiency of vertical panel saws as opposed to sliding table saws. July 24, 2001

Is Glue Necessary with Pocket-Hole Joinery?
If you build cabinets with pocket-hole screws, should you also glue the joints? Opinions vary. February 26, 2007

Speeding Up Euro Box Construction
A homebuilder who shop-builds his own cabinets for 15 houses a year asks for advice on speeding up carcase construction. March 3, 2009

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

Wine Cabinet Construction and Technology
More wine-storage concepts, information, and wine-cellar construction tips and techniques. November 11, 2005

Making Raised Panels Flat
Advice on how to joint, plane, and glue up the pieces to achieve a flat door panel. August 31, 2009

Ultimate Primer on 2 Head Wide Belt Sanders
Tips and advice on how to best utilize and achieve success using 2 head wide belt sanders. June 14, 2015

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

Should I Install Cabinets for a Big Box Store?
Advice from all sides, including those who tried it and liked it, and those who tried it and didn't. December 26, 2006

Shop-Built Beaded Face Frame Notching Machine
A Woodweb member displays the machine he invented and built to automate the notch cuts for beaded face-frame joinery. June 15, 2009

Drawer Building Options
Materials choices, fastening methods and systems for drawer assembly. September 23, 2006

Cabinet Machining and Assembly Options in a CNC Shop
Accuracy and efficiency are the goals. How you get there can vary, depending on your machinery choices. December 7, 2008

Stretchers Versus Full Tops
Stretchers at the top of cabinet carcases sometimes cause drawers to get stuck. Is it wiser to just build a full top onto the cabinet?July 5, 2011

Troubleshooting Edgebander Glueline Failure
Cabinetmakers discuss the issues that might cause edgebanding adhesive joints to fail in service. April 20, 2008

The Most Important Skills to Learn
An apprentice woodworker asks what he should concentrate on for a career in the trade, and gets a full helping of good advice. October 2, 2005

Mixing African and Honduras Mahogany
A long discussion of the woodworking characteristics of various Mahogany types and substitutes, and the practicality of combining different woods in a single door. June 29, 2008

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

Gluing Methods and Strength of Dado Joints
Here's a long and serious debate about how to apply glue to dado joints in cabinets, and whether or not it matters. November 15, 2011

Tuning Up an Older Edgebander
A cabinetmaker gets help with an adhesion problem with an old-model Adwood edgebander. September 27, 2009

Kitchen Advice for a Young Beginner
A youngster gets some advice and encouragement about getting into the kitchen cabinet business. April 20, 2008

Finding a Use for Scrap Sheet Goods
A cabinet maker asks, "What can I do with all those drops?" March 17, 2005

Outsourcing Cabinet Installation
There are good reasons to install your own cabinets, and good reasons to have someone else do it. Here, installers and cabinetmakers discuss the fine points of communication and cooperation among specialists. August 3, 2005

Sliding Table Saw and Panel Saw Choices
Cabinetmakers kick around the uses of sliders and panel saws, what makes a good one, and which to purchase if you can't have both. November 22, 2005

Do Base Cabinets Need Back Shims?
Shim the front and hang the back, say some. May 4, 2005

Selling a Cabinet Shop as a Business
Does a successful cabinetmaking business have a market value above and beyond the value of machinery in the used market? Only in special cases. October 18, 2011

Toekick Drawers
Construction details and images for toekick drawers. January 14, 2004

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

Making Fluted Pilasters
Detailed tips on efficient fluting, including images of a shop-made jig. October 5, 2004

Re-Flattening a Warped Countertop
A beautiful wood countertop warped after it was finished on one side only, then stored for years. This discussion is about making it flat again by kerfing the underside and clamping the piece. September 16, 2008

Dowel, screw, staple, confirmat construction
Efficiency and assembly with different fastening methods. March 5, 2003

The Ultimate Primer on Single Head Wide Belt Sanding
With understanding of how successive grits function, you can improve the efficiency of your belt sanding and orbital sanding process while optimizing the quality of the results. November 12, 2014

Crown Transitions for Corner Cabinets
Several ways to deal with a tricky crown molding detail at the top of corner cabinets flanked by manufactured upper cabs. October 25, 2006

Kick boxes
Building separate kicks for efficient installation. September 20, 2003

32mm Systems and Drawer Stretchers
A discussion of the fine points of positioning and installing drawers stretchers (or "spreaders") in a 32mm Euro cab system. July 15, 2011

Defining "Quality" in Custom Cabinet Work
Pleasing customers is about matching their expectations, not your own. Cabinet shop pros discuss how to succeed with custom work in a competitive market. August 29, 2005

Standardizing Cabinet Construction
Thoughts on how to formalize your cabinet-building methods for efficiency and consistent quality. October 13, 2008

Scribing in Difficult Situations
Techniques and tactics for problematic scribing. September 9, 2004

Line-Foot Estimating
Advice on efficiently coming up with ballpark numbers for a cabinet job proposal. August 8, 2008

Tweaking a Woodmaster Sander
Advice on how to get acceptable sanding performance out of a small multi-purpose machine. January 19, 2011

Strength of Cabinet Joinery Using Pre-Finished Plywood
When you use pre-finished plywood, does the finish compromise the strength of glue joints? The question sets off an extended discussion of structural issues in cabinet carcass construction. September 23, 2006

Straight-Line Rip-Saw for a Small Shop?
Should a two-man cabinet shop acquire a straight-line rip-saw? The discussion balances cost against quality and productivity issues. March 13, 2014

Corner-Cabinet Face Frame Joints
Corner cabinets pose a tricky face-frame construction problem. Here, cabinetmakers discuss ways to detail the corner joint. August 29, 2005

New Shop Options — Steel Building or Pole Building?
Business owners discuss the costs and merits of engineered steel buildings and pole barns. September 4, 2005

Shop Heat Solutions
Ideas and suggestions for heating a woodworking shop. March 26, 2008

Making Time in a Small Shop
A 2-man shop needs to pick up speed. Should they buy tools or revamp their process? March 17, 2005

To dado or not to dado?
The pros and cons of dadoing melamine cabinet boxes. November 22, 2003

Face frame assembly
Fastening face frame members that are assembled and sanded before being applied to a cabinet. April 17, 2002

Ripping Hardwood on a Sliding Table Saw
Advice on ripping hardwood lumber on a sliding table saw, and other useful slider tricks. February 6, 2007

Hidden-Pivot Bookcase Door
Here are detailed drawings for a nifty swinging-bookcase hidden door. October 12, 2006

Stroke, drum and widebelt sanders
What sort of sander is most efficient for a small cabinet shop? July 24, 2001

Corner cabinets and out-of-plumb walls
How do you deal with the gaps inevitably caused by less-than-perfect walls? August 25, 2003

Does Your Sanding Make Sense?
"Trouble starts when taking off more than a belt can handle, or taking off more than the scratch pattern of the previous head. These are the most common mistakes in sanding... It can be incredibly frustrating to see a company trapped in a prison of their own design because they really never und ......

Keeping the Glue Pot Clean
This thread starts with a question about glue brands, but evolves into a discussion about how to operate the glue-pot edgebander to avoid charring of glue and reduce the need for cleaning the equipment. November 2, 2010

Large Glass Display Doors
Glazing and hardware advice for big glass doors on a reproduction display case. February 6, 2007

How to attach a drawer front
Fine-tuning the attachment of applied drawer fronts. September 25, 2002

Speaker Box Material — Solid Wood or MDF?
Solid wood turns out to be a poor choice for speaker cabinets. This discussion explains why, and covers other ground concerning speaker construction. November 20, 2005

Roller Conveyors and Racks for Organizing and Moving Cabinet Parts
A discussion of how to organize part movement and batch operations in a medium-volume cabinet shop. July 15, 2011

Positioning Drawer Fronts in Frameless Cab Construction
Lining up and attaching drawer fronts can be a finicky production bottleneck. Here are half a dozen different ways cabinetmakers handle it. April 20, 2008

Plywood Vs. Solid Wood
What do you mean by "solid, dude"? In this thread, cabinetmakers communicate about wood, plywood, particleboard, veneers, core materials, core values, and symbolic forms of expression. It's all in good fun. October 8, 2005

Clean Cuts with Vertical Panel Saws
Cabinetmakers discuss scoring blades, blade types, and cutting techniques for getting clean, razor-sharp cuts with panel saws. December 28, 2005

Dowel and Confirmat Combination for Cabinet Assembly?
Another discussion of using dowels for precise alignment, plus Confirmat screws for quick, no-clamp assembly. April 18, 2011

Troubleshooting Table-Saw Tearout
Blade sharpness is a bigger factor than you might think. May 10, 2005

Closet "Fit and Finish"
What kind of precision is expected in closet shelving? Should shelves be scribed to fit? May 6, 2009

Drum Sander Versus Wide Belt
Shop owners discuss the differences and share experiences. October 8, 2005

Whether to Rip Your Own Stock
Cabinet shops consider the pros and cons of setting up to gang-rip and surface stock, instead of ordering it that way from a supplier. February 12, 2009

Melamine carcass construction
Methods for the small shop. October 30, 2002

Preventing Sweat Marks on Work
Thoughts on how to affordably air condition a wood shop in a hot climate, and advice on preventing sweat from discoloring wood or finishes. May 23, 2011

Comparing Line Boring Machinery
Cabinetmakers discuss how to shop for a solid, reliable line boring machine and how to get the best use out of it. January 2, 2012

Face Frames First?
Most small cabinet shops build face frames first, boxes second. Here, woodworkers explain their preferences. July 5, 2006

Feets Don't Fail Me Now
All day on on your feet on a concrete shop floor is an rX for full-body pain. In this thread from the Cabinetmaking forum, old hands with old feet tell where they stand on personal footwear. October 1, 2005

Table Saw Blade Alignment
Advice on keeping a table saw blade parallel to the fence, and some general observations on accuracy and tolerances. October 25, 2006

"Green" Cabinetry
Environmentally-friendly or non-toxic cabinet work has become an important market niche. In this thread, cabinetmakers discuss the ins and outs of meeting customer expectations for "green" cabinets. September 4, 2005

Installing Built-Ins Over Carpet
Should built-in cabinets be installed over existing carpet, or should the carpet be cut away and re-attached at the joint? Craftsmen debate the point. July 24, 2005

Tall Cabinet Calculations For Ceiling Clearance
Formulas for figuring how tall a cabinet will be at its longest point. March 14, 2004

Math Question: Dimensioning Angles
Cabinetmakers chime in on methods for determining the size of an angled plane. February 8, 2005

- What makes a cabinet "custom"?
Is there a specific standard that qualifies a cabinet as custom? June 24, 2002

Scribing a Farmhouse Sink to Fit
A heavy, irregularly-shaped sink needs to fit just right — the first time. The installer asks for help, and reports on his results. August 29, 2005

Countersinking Confirmats in Melamine
Troubleshooting a problem with getting cabinet assembly screws driven flush. September 28, 2009

Forced-Air Shop Heat Versus Radiant Heating
A few thoughts on the effect different heating system types have on comfort for people, and conditions for wood or machinery. April 10, 2008

Whether to Rebuild an Edgebander
Here's a savvy discussion of the pros and cons of replacing a few important parts on an edgebander to keep it running for more years. June 15, 2014

Equipment Choices
A closet contractor shopping for an edgebander, boring machine, and panel saw considers his machinery options, new versus used equipment, and whether to lease or buy. November 11, 2005

How Long to Build Cabinets?
Cabinetmakers share views on how long a typical cabinet job should take a small shop, and help a colleague figure out why his progress has been slow. April 20, 2008

Joinery for a U-Shaped Wood Countertop
Given the natural tendency for wood to move, joinery for a complex wood countertop requires some careful thinking. December 1, 2010

Sliding Table Attachment
Woodworkers report varying degrees of satisfaction with sliding table attachments for their tablesaws. One big factor may be how carefully you first set the equipment up. December 14, 2005

Joinery for Cabinet Drawer Boxes
What's the best joint for a drawer box, asks a shop owner who wants to supply drawers for the trade? Cabinetmakers share their thoughts on drawer joinery and on supplying the outsourcing market. November 22, 2005

Driver Choices for Confirmat Screws
Experiences using battery-powered and air-powered impact drivers to drive Confirmat screws, and some thoughts on screw selection. April 18, 2006

Concealing Cleats in Cabinets
Constructing cases to hide cleats. November 3, 2004

Delivery Truck Choices
How best to move cabinets: Truck or trailer? Purchase or lease? Or just hire a moving company? Shop owners kick the topic around. September 4, 2005

Truck, Van, or Trailer?
Installation pros discuss the convenience, gas mileage, and security of various vehicle choices. October 8, 2005

Edgebander Options and Space Considerations
A closet contractor working in a small space considers an edgebander upgrade. September 7, 2006

Walnut Butcher Block Countertops
Techniques for creating a beautiful butcher block countertop are shared. May 10, 2005

Fabricating Pyramid-Shaped Raised Panels
Advice and thoughts on how to machine a raised door panel that looks like a very low pitched hip roof. November 5, 2013

Troubleshooting Widebelt Sander Electric Eye and Belt Tracking
Widebelt sanders use an electric eye to control belt oscillation, and the system can malfunction in peculiar ways. October 19, 2014

Plywood Thickness for Cabinet Cases
Is 5/8-inch plywood okay? Half-inch, even? Cabinetmakers discuss the pros and cons. December 14, 2005

Shop-Built Drying Racks
Cabinetmakers compare shop-rigged drying racks for freshly-finished parts. March 20, 2006

Count Your Fingers
A woodworker describes the accident that took off the ends of two of his fingers, and a discussion ensues about the lessons learned. November 10, 2006

Troubleshooting Finish Failure
prep, site conditions, materials, or technique? February 26, 2005

Small-Volume Edgebanding Setups
What's an economical but productive setup for edgebanding just the occasional shelf? February 8, 2008

Cabinetry for Farmhouse Sinks
Construction details for farmhouse sink cabinets have to include structural support for the heavy, bulky sink. September 15, 2011

Tablesaw blade safety device
Does a new sawblade-stop product really protect your fingers? July 29, 2003

Floating Vanity Structural Attachment
Here's a handful of strategies for attaching "floating" vanities to the wall so that they'll stay put, despite having no support from underneath. May 6, 2009

Making Arched Raised-Panel Valances
Old pros advise a beginner on accomplishing an ambitious detail. June 5, 2006

Trouble with Pre-Glued Dowels
A cabinet failure with pre-glued dowels gets cabinetmakers talking about the method's pros and cons. May 10, 2005

Hidden Bookcase Door Hardware
What kind of hardware and construction will support a bookcase full of books as it swings like a door? October 2, 2006

Edge-Planing Boards for Width
Cabinetmakers discuss the fine points of sending boards through the planer on the narrow dimension. December 28, 2005

Plywood Face Frames
Here's some creative and innovative thinking about ways to build cabinet face frames out of plywood. February 26, 2007

Learning to Design With Drawing Practice
Daily drawing practice is the key to developing your gifts for design. December 2, 2013

Replacing Insert Cutters on a Holz-Her Edgebander
The Woodweb community steps up with detailed instructions and drawings for an edgebander owner who has gotten himself in too deep with a maintenance issue.July 5, 2011

Hybrid Euro/Traditional Wall Unit Details
A cabinetmaker gathers ideas for a European style wall unit - with a face frame. March 17, 2005

Cabinetmakers and Installers
Should cabinetmakers install their own work, or hire an installer? September 25, 2009

More About Dadoing Face Frames
Additional back-and-forth on a well-trodden path — the whys and hows of dadoing cabinet face frames. March 5, 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

Setting Up and Using a Dual-Drum Sander
Some useful tips on drum-sander operation. January 11, 2007

Table-Saw Safety Accessories
How to keep a table saw safe, and why it matters. May 22, 2006

Shopping for (and Using) a Laser Level
Laser levels are a convenient productivity booster. Here, installers share experiences. November 28, 2011

Door Panel Tolerances
Sloppy fit : Is the supplier at fault? August 7, 2004

Gearing Up as a Cabinet Parts Manufacturer
Thoughts on starting up in business to supply cabinet parts on a large scale. August 7, 2008

Solid Wood Curved Counter Edge
Extended discussion of fabricating a rounded-over inside radius solid-wood countertop edge. September 23, 2006

Trimming Out a Boat
Finish carpentry and cabinetry are a whole different game when you're working on a boat. December 8, 2010

Drawer Bottom Construction Material
Home-center cabs may use 1/8" plywood for drawer bottoms, but pros in this thread explain why they prefer 1/4" or 1/2" material. December 27, 2006

Screw Choices for Cabinet Installation
A discussion of screws with and without self-tapping points and nibbed heads, for installing connecting cabinets during installation. November 20, 2008

Taper Introduced by Edgebander Premill
A discussion of the milling accuracy and adjustment tolerances of an edgebander with premill heads. December 2, 2010

Troubleshooting Poor Edgeband Adhesion
Temperature and priming could be the culprits when PVC edgebanding doesn't stick well. April 12, 2011

Ripping hardwood straight
Why do ripped pieces come out banana-shaped? July 9, 2002

Planing on edge
Processing stock through planer to define parts' widths. January 3, 2003

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

Leg Levelers and Cabinet Construction
Cabinetmakers discuss the assembly details that allow leg leveler hardware to provide structural support for installed cabinets. February 6, 2007

Vacuum Clamping -- Save Time, Save Money!
March 19, 2002

Face Frame Assembly Table
Developing a bench for fast and accurate assembly. March 14, 2004

Cutting Sink Holes in Laminate Tops
Installers trade opinions and experiences on sink cut-out tools and methods. September 25, 2009

Poplar Versus Maple for Hand-Painted Cabinetry
Cabinetmakers discuss whether a high-end cabinet job should use Maple or Cabinet for doors. December 8, 2010

Trimming Cabinet Toekicks -- Whose Responsibility?
Should the finish toe kicks be fitted and installed by the cabinetmaker, or the finish carpenter. February 28, 2004

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

CNC Choices and Blind Dado Versus Dowel Cabinet Construction
This wide-ranging discussion centers on CNC machinery capabilities in relation to different methods of building cabinets. November 25, 2005

Support and Span Limits for a Concrete Top
A discussion of table design involving issues of wood deflection and concrete span capability. June 15, 2009

Prefinished Versus Unfinished Plywood for Cabinets
For a moderate up-charge, pre-finished plywood saves a lot of labor and finishing materials cost. December 2, 2010

Speeding Up Repetitive Pin Insertion
Ideas for making the placement of 600,000 grommets go a little bit faster (so it will end sooner). March 3, 2009

Equipment for Fine-Tuning the Fit of Inset Doors
Cabinetmakers talk about equipment choices for refining the edges of inset doors for a perfect fit. April 6, 2011

Minimizing Tell-Tale Un-Stained Lines around Door Panels
Seasonal wood shrinkage often leaves a noticeable unstained margin showing around the edge of a door panel. Here are thoughts on how to minimize the occurrence. March 26, 2009

Diamond-Shaped Wine Rack Construction
Cabinetmakers discuss workable structural details for a large diamond-shaped wine rack job. October 22, 2005

Moisture and Wood Movement In Kiln-Dried Versus Air-Dried Lumber
In principle, wood's response to moisture changes is the same, no matter how the wood was dried. In practice, there may be a slight difference. July 23, 2014

Cabinet Sink Front Design Concepts
What's the point of a false drawer front at kitchen cabinet sink locations? And are there any better ideas? Sure there are.September 23, 2013

Quarter-Inch Plywood for Cabinet Backs
Cabinetmakers discuss whether it's wise to economize by using quarter-inch plywood and a stiffening strip for cabinet backs, rather than half-inch or three-quarter-inch material. July 5, 2006

Steambending
How much time to allow based on thickness and proposed radius of wood. September 23, 2003

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

Top Ten Things You Can Do To Prevent Headaches during Installations
A discussion about communication and pre-planning to make cabinet installations go more smoothly. May 5, 2014

Gluing Up Miters in Solid Wood Countertops
Here's a wealth of advice based on successful experience of several cabinetmakers building mitered solid-wood countertops. August 6, 2008

Using Prefinished Plywood
Cabinetmakers discuss why they use material that's finished on both sides, even where only one side will show. March 26, 2008

Preventing Long-Span Book Shelves from Sagging
More discussion on a perennial problem: stiffening long shelves. December 27, 2008

Speedy Face Frame Construction
Cabinetmakers debate the details of fast methods for building and attaching face frames. July 9, 2005

Sawstop Stories
Cabinetmakers discuss the value of a Sawstop table saw, which trips and stops before cutting off your fingers. August 12, 2014

Milling Face-Frame Stock
Fastidious cabinetmakers find that S4S stock comes with too many imperfections. Here, pros discuss their methods for machining lumber that's straight, square, flat, and true. January 10, 2006

Pros and Cons of a Basement Workshop
Woodworkers share experiences with home-based woodshops. March 12, 2006

Separate Toe Bases for Commercial Cabinetry
For convenience and efficiency, these cabinetmakers build the toe kick and the main cabinet as separate pieces. September 8, 2008

Making a Full-Height Cabinet Fit
A full-ceiling-height refrigerator cabinet can be a bear to install, because you can't tip it up (the diagonal is too long). Here's a useful thread on solving that problem. January 20, 2007

Troubleshooting a New Slider
After getting a variety of advice on finding the source of trouble, a woodworker finds out his new sliding table saw had a bad motor from the factory. September 3, 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

Solid Wood Versus Veneer for a Bar Top
Quarter-inch veneer over MDF might show less movement at the miter joints in this large bar top. But can they dance on it in high heels? December 6, 2006

Farm Sink Mounting Details
For a custom kitchen, confusion arises over how the farmhouse sink is intended to be mounted. Learn more here about farm sinks and how they fit in. April 9, 2008

Making Acrylic Cabinetry
Solid sheet acrylic and acrylic veneer are opening a new niche in cabinetmaking. Here is some background information and an extensive set of photo examples of finished work. November 29, 2014

Tape Measure Accuracy
Even before they get dropped on the shop floor, tape measures are unreliable. Calibrating your machinery instead might work better than relying on any tape. May 13, 2008

Eliminating springback problems
Determining the radius to aim for when creating a curve with vac-laminated plywood. September 23, 2003

Square Drive Versus Phillips Head Screws
A discussion of screw characteristics and preferences, with some interesting history and background. June 17, 2009

Outsourcing Cabinet Boxes to CNC Shops
Outsourcing custom cabinet panel cutting to a CNC shop is a workable system for some businesses. March 18, 2006

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

Full Height Refrigerator Cabinet Construction
Ideas for building a full-height refrigerator cabinet and fitting it into the space provided. March 26, 2009

Drawer Front Adjustment Issues
Drawers with a sub-front and applied face offer the chance to adjust fit on site or during assembly. But what about four-piece drawer boxes with no sub-front? April 29, 2011

How to make a tenon
Accurately sized tenons without a tenoner. September 25, 2002

Cabinet Refacing Tips
A few pointers on cabinet refacing. November 20, 2008

Cabinet Install Checklist
07/08/2012

Outsourcing Cabinet Carcase Parts to CNC Shops
Here are some detailed thoughts on how to interface with a CNC-equipped shot to get custom cabinet parts made to order. April 20, 2008

Laser Level Accuracy Issues
Laser levels can be knocked out of whack, and old-school water levels can have issues of their own. The watchword is "trust, but verify." October 19, 2014

Panel Handling with a Vertical Panel Saw
Equipment and techniques for moving panels around in vertical saw cutting operations. July 5, 2006

Laminate Cabinet Tips
Advice (sometimes conflicting) about how to build high-quality laminate cabinets. July 5, 2006

Integrated fillers in cabinets
Using fillers, integrated or loose. April 3, 2002

Troubleshooting the Air Tracking on a Widebelt Sander
A cabinetmaker gets help with the analog control mechanism on his widebelt sander. March 12, 2015

Hybrid Face-Frame/Frameless Cabinet Design
Cabinetmakers discuss how to merge frameless techniques with face-frame construction. August 8, 2006

Edgebander Glue Choices and Temperature Settings
Tips on choosing glue and tweaking the edgebander for good adhesive performance. November 23, 2008

Pulling Surface Joints Tight
Links to gadgets that can make this sometmes-frustrating issue a breeze. February 8, 2005

Templates for Cutting Round Corners
Woodworkers discuss how to make and use templates for cutting radius corners on countertops. December 6, 2006

SawStop Setup
Tips on adjusting the SawStop cabinet saw's safety brake. May 15, 2011

Plywood Thicknesses and Dado Widths
A detailed discussion of the fine points of making a well-fit dado joint. Calipers, shims, decimals, fractions, and more. May 14, 2006

Explaining to Customers about "Plywood" and "Solid Wood"
Wood movement, quality, perception, and reality in the choice between sawn lumber and plywood. July 6, 2011

Stiffening Long-Span Bookshelves
Pros discuss ideas for limiting mid-span shelf deflection. June 18, 2005

Cutting a Post-Formed Laminate Countertop
Hiring the job out to a well-equipped countertop shop is your best bet — but here's how to do it with an installer's toolkit. February 8, 2008

Shop Layout Tips and Techniques
Paper models make visualizing your shop floor easier, and good planning can really boost your workflow. May 10, 2005

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

Determining Square for Machine Setup and Q.C.
Here's advice on shopping for reliable squares, checking for square on machines or cut parts, and setting up machinery to be true and square. April 6, 2011

Cracks in beaded face frames
How can the crack between the bead and the frame itself be avoided? July 24, 2002

Sanding and Squaring Raised Panel Doors
It's typical to build raised-panel doors a hair over-size so that they can be squared up accurately as a final step. In this thread, cabinetmakers describe the various ways they go about it. April 18, 2011

Continuous Cabinets Versus Multi-Piece Construction
What's better, one big cabinet or two or three small ones? Custom cabinetmakers discuss the pros and cons. March 20, 2006

Wine Cellar Details
Tips on wine cellar construction. July 3, 2006

Pros and Cons of Combination Woodworking Machines
They're versatile, but having one machine that does many different things can make organizing the work less convenient. March 14, 2006

Entry-Level Edgebander Purchase
Advice on choosing an affordable but reliable and capable edgebander. March 5, 2008

Characteristics of a First-Rate Installer
Experienced pros discuss what qualifies an individual to be called an A-triple-plus installer. October 22, 2005

Face Frame Dadoing
A frameless pro gets advice on fitting face frames to cabinets for the first time. January 19, 2011

Self-Countersinking Screws
The pros and cons of screw-head "knibs." June 22, 2005

Cutting dadoes and spraying
Finding the best order to assemble, finish and dado. (Cabinetmaking Forum) May 1, 2003

Designing a Corner Sink Cabinet
Cabinetmakers put their heads together on a cabinet-building problem. October 26, 2005

Scribing Baseboard for an Uneven Floor
Here are some good tips on how to scribe base shoe molding to an uneven tile floor around the toe kicks of kitchen cabinets. October 27, 2011

Sliding Table Saw Tips and Tricks
Sliding tables saws ease the work, but there's a knack to using them. In this thread experienced hands help a new slider owner learn a few dance steps. July 22, 2005

Stick Profiles and Out-Feed Fences
Setting up the shaper to cut the stick pieces for cope and-stick doors. May 14, 2006

Guide Blocks for a Trash Bin Pullout
Cabinetmakers work on a new idea for alignment blocks to help a trash bin slide closed with precision. April 12, 2011

Cabinet Drafting Programs
Comparing top cabinet-shop CAD applications. June 28, 2005

Drum Sander Tweaks and Modifications
Drum sander owners discuss ways to get good performance from the sandpaper rolls. April 27, 2006

Considering a Cabinetmaker/Builder Partnership
Could it work? Professionals take a hard look at the possibilities. July 24, 2005

Look That Up in your Funk and Wagnall's
Is "templating" a word? It is now. March 12, 2009

Install Floors Before Cabinets, or After?
Cabinetmakers and installers discuss the sequence of the job. Which should you install first, the flooring or the cabinets? June 16, 2014

Dadoes for Cabinet Case Construction
Cabinetmakers explain why they like dadoes. October 27, 2008

Sanding Hard Maple
A cabinetmaker complains of little swirl marks, and gets advice on sanding (and card scraping) technique. July 21, 2005

Who's Responsible For Protecting Cabinets After Installation?
Cabinetmakers discuss the measures they take to protect cabinets while construction continues, and the risks involved. June 11, 2014

Drum versus belt sander
Pros and cons of two approaches to surface sanding. October 9, 2002

Corner Bookcase Cabinet
How can you create useable space where a built-in bookcase turns an inside corner? October 9, 2006

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

More Fun with Stud Finders
No stud finder works perfectly. In this thread, pros discuss stud finding methods high tech and low. September 4, 2005

Making a Curved Face Frame
When the top and bottom face frames on a cabinet need to follow the curve of a shelf, there are several simple options. December 27, 2008

Troubleshooting Curved Miter Cuts
Big chopsaw cutting a little concave? Blade quality and technique might both play a role. August 8, 2008

Should Cabinet Door Glass Be Tempered?
A discussion of why tempered glass is preferable in some situations, and some information about tempering and about costs. September 27, 2009

Competition for Installation Contracts
A cabinetmaker complains that his installation sub started working directly for the builder. The story sets off a discussion on fair competition in the new-construction market. November 11, 2005

Drilling Through Ceramic Tile
A discussion of power tools and bits for effective drilling into hard ceramic tile. May 2, 2011

Inverter Cooling and Ventilation
Inverter power supply electronics generates heat, and the units should be adequately cooled and ventilated for good performance and long life.October 26, 2011

Template Routing -- with a Vacuum Clamp
March 19, 2002

Frameless Cabinets With Traditional Look
Achieving quality and style with framless construction. April 4, 2004

Using Dowels and Confirmats Together
A cabinetmaker gets advice on an assembly method that would combine Confirmat screws and dowels. September 27, 2008

Table Saw, Slider, or Panel Saw?
Here's another detailed thread on an important topic: selecting and using panel-cutting equipment. July 5, 2006

Face Frames: Re-face Versus Replace
Here's an interesting thread about the advantages of replacing just a cabinet face frame, instead of refacing the cabinet or replacing it altogether. June 11, 2014

Cabinet Assembly Production Rate for a One-Man Shop
How long does it take to put a cabinet together? How many notes on a saxophone? But here are some thoughts and opinions. February 12, 2009

In Search of Lightweight Shelving
After struggling with inch-and-a-quarter laminated MDF panels, an installer looks for a better way. March 3, 2009

Keeping the Frame Assembly Table Clean
How to prevent glue from building up on your cabinet assembly table. October 3, 2011

Dadoing Face Frames and Cabinet Assembly
Cabinetmakers discuss techniques and fine points of cabinet construction using dadoed face frames. September 23, 2006

Surfacing curly woods
The best machinery and tooling to handle the job. October 9, 2002

Usefulness of a 15-Inch Wide-Belt Sander
For a small shop, will a 15-inch unit do? Cabinetmakers consider the pros and cons. November 12, 2005

Splitting stiles with pocket screws
Suggestions are offered on how to overcome the problem. July 24, 2002

Cabinet Leveler Success Stories
Is a new, more expensive cabinet leveler worth the up-charge? For some cabinet installers who think it works better, the answer is yes. April 18, 2011

Choosing an Installation Vehicle
Cabinet and millwork installers talk about their trucks, vans, hopes, and wishes. January 9, 2006

Crown Moulding for Uneven Height Cabinets
Alternating high and low upper cabinets create a puzzle when it's time to apply crown molding at the top. Here, installers share ideas and show finished examples. July 24, 2005

Mitered Corner Doors: Fabricate or Outsource?
Outsourcing is highly practical, but for small quantities, here are some ideas on in-shop construction. January 20, 2007

Custom Cabinet Heights and the 32mm System
A cabinetmaker puzzles over how to design odd-height cabinets within a 32mm Euro cabinet system. September 10, 2008

Optimizing Materials Versus Optimizing Time
A small non-CNC shop considers whether it makes more sense to process more or fewer cabinets at a time. June 4, 2009

Face Frame Construction Details with Prefinished Plywood
Using pre-finished plywood has helped streamline one cabinetmaker's process. Here, he gets ideas from others about touches that could make his product look better. November 20, 2005

Cabinet Construction with Half-Inch Plywood
Using half-inch plywood for all cabinet components (sides, back, shelves, and deck) lends itself to quick and simple cabinet assembly. March 5, 2007

Cabinet Bottom Details for Recessed Under-Cabinet Lights
Ideas for building cabinet bottoms that will conveniently accept "puck lights." March 1, 2006

Supporting a Cantilevered Shelf
but how? Pros share ideas. June 23, 2006

Spacer Balls for Raised-Panel Doors
A discussion of space-ball sizes, types, and purposes, along with some suggested tips and techniques. December 30, 2005

Framing Out a Shaker-Style End Panel
Thoughts on detailing the end panel of a cabinet to look like the Shaker doors on the front. July 31, 2009

Out-of-Whack Floor Cabinet Installation Choices
Cabinet installers discuss leg levelers and other methods of installing base cabinets when floor levels vary. December 27, 2008

Getting Cabinets Level and Plumb
Common-sense tips on cabinet installation. April 30, 2009

Dowel Construction Advice
A cabinetmaker who has just invested in a horizontal boring machine gets help making the transition to dowel construction. August 22, 2013

Choosing a Joinery System for Knock-Down Cabinets
Cabinetmakers discuss alternative setups and systems for creating knockdown cabinet packages. September 23, 2013

Radial-Arm Saw Cutting Technique
Radial arm saws have their place, some cabinetmakers say. Here, they discuss blade choice and cutting technique. November 25, 2005

Necessary Equipment for a Start-Up Cabinet Shop
Most respondents did not take the original poster seriously in this thread. But a few cabinetmakers did provide a list of basic equipment for a start-up shop.June 16, 2014

Making Interlocking Shelves
Constructing sets of shelves with fitted parts. October 20, 2004

Melamine Versus Plywood for Kitchen Cabinets
It's an apples-to-oranges comparison, but one that sets off a thoughtful exchange of views about workability and performance in this thread from the Cabinetmaking forum. June 28, 2005

Sliding-Table Shapers for End Tenoning
Cabinetmakers talk equipment for machining tenons. May 11, 2011

Corner Cabinet Miter Joint Options
Cabinetmakers discuss various ways of making a nice 45-degree joint when constructing face-frame corner cabinets. March 9, 2008

Removing Studs Without Damaging Back-Side Drywall
Here are tips for surgically removing a short section of wall stud from a bathroom wall to create space for installing a medicine cabinet, without damaging the artistically painted drywall in the adjoining room behind the wall. August 15, 2011

Drawers Vs. Shelves for Kitchen Base Cabinets
Drawers can be more useful, and also a better money-maker for the cabinet builder. August 8, 2005

Hinge Drilling and Pressing Machine Options
A cabinetmaker gets advice on his choices when shopping for a second-hand Blum Minipress machine. August 27, 2013

Crown on face-frame cabinets
An alternative to notching stiles when applying crown moulding. May 15, 2002

Lazy Susan Alternatives
Tips on the more practical ways to build a Lazy Susan cabinet. February 26, 2007

How many confirmats?
Determining how many fasteners to use per joint in frameless cabinetry. April 2, 2002

Compressors and Random-Orbit Air Sanders
Pneumatic sanders are air hogs — you need a high-capacity compressor rated for continuous duty. July 16, 2008

Supporting Overhanging Granite
Building a structurally sound kitchen island. November 22, 2004

Clear Alder Versus European Beech
A cabinetmaker who finds that clear Alder looks good, but scratches too easily, discovers a satisfying alternative: European Beech. April 9, 2008

Shop Layout Advice
Here are some useful tips on making scale mockups of a shop floor plan, along with advice about how to best use the available space.July 8, 2014

Checking for Face Twist when Installing Cabinets
Advice for installers on how to make sure the face of a built-in cabinet isn't being pushed out of flatness by irregular, out-of-plumb house walls. November 5, 2013

Keeping Cabinet Boxes Square
Plywood often has a bow in it. There are tricks for keeping cabs square, but you may also want to use non-plywood sheet goods. September 7, 2006

Sliding Table Saw Tips
Sliders are a little different for those used to working on a standard table saw. January 24, 2005

Widebelt Sanding Schedule -- for Doors
Grits and removal sequences for a smooth surface. February 28, 2004

Wood Distressing Tips and Tricks
Making wood rough ain't easy. Here are some techniques that work. January 26, 2009

Upper-Cab Moulding and Irregular Ceilings
Pros share perspectives and ideas on dealing with out-of-level ceilings. August 29, 2005

Keeping Cabinet Assembly Organized
Cabinetmakers discuss ways to keep track of jobs and avoid confusion. November 21, 2006

Cabinet Leveling: Rear Levelers Versus a Ledger Strip
Cabinet installers compare the cost and efficiency of different methods for leveling the back side of cabinets. June 12, 2014

Cutting Dadoes on a Sliding Table Saw
Many sliders will accept a dado blade set. You'll have to consider the riving knife when using one for that purpose, though. August 17, 2006

Pricing Cabinet Installs
This thread on installation pricing takes an interesting approach: Compare with what the big-box stores charge. December 2, 2006

Trash Pullout Install Hassles
Advice on making the necessary minor tweaks and adjustments to get a trash pullout operating correctly. August 31, 2009

Supporting Framework for a Built-In Concrete Countertop
Cabinetmakers share their structural intuition concerning a light built-in-place framework designed to support a concrete countertop.March 13, 2014

Plywood and Lumber Rack Ideas
Thoughts, suggestions, and examples of shop-built material storage racks. September 26, 2009

Cabinets over outlets and cables
Options for installing over electrical outlets and computer cables. July 9, 2002

Sheet Materials for a Cat Condo
What do you use to construct temporary accomodations for cats? April 21, 2011

Melamine And Water
Is melamine safe for cabinet interiors under sinks? April 18, 2006

Stiffening Long Cabinet Shelves
Pros discuss details for beefing up shelf edges. June 4, 2009

Ripping an Acute Angle
For a tricky millwork installation, the woodworker needs to rip a 65-degree angle on a plywood edge. Colleagues offer solutions. November 10, 2006

Overnight Shop Temperatures — How Cold Is Too Cold?
Freezing and relative humidity are the prime concerns when you turn your shop heat off overnight. April 20, 2011

Keeping Cabinets on the Wall
Sturdy construction and strong attachments are key safety factors. May 4, 2005

Cabinet Scribes
Cabinet installers swap opinions on store-bought and field-rigged scribing devices. November 19, 2006

Outfeed Table Plan
Construction ideas for an outfeed table with mounted router. March 14, 2004

Joining cabinets - at a 45 degree angle
Cabinetmakers offer illustrated tips on joining a line of cabinetry which incorporates a 45-degree-angled unit. April 3, 2002

Case Clamp Workflow Setup
Tips on labor-saving arrangements for integrating a case clamp into your production setup. April 12, 2011

Installing Separate Toekicks
Methods of attaching separate kicks. January 6, 2005

Cutting "Edge-Installed" Crown
This "stand up" crown requires some adaptations to "normal" installation procedures. February 8, 2005

Cutting Miters Precisely
Equipment and methods that help produce a better miter cut. November 15, 2011

Supporting a Giant Lazy Susan
A brainstorming session on the mechanical aspects of a super-sized-and-customized Lazy Susan. January 21, 2007

Skilled Labor and Old-School Arc Drawing
The quickest path between two ideas is never a straight line, Einstein. January 2, 2012

Face Frame Efficiency
Avoiding bottlenecks in face frame construction. September 20, 2004

Cabinets and Heating Vents
When a new cabinet covers an existing heating or cooling register, warm air needs a new path. Here are tips on installing toe-kick vents for those situations. August 8, 2006

Rubberized Pressure Rollers for Edgebanders
Edgebander owners discuss custom roller tweaks for improving performance. December 7, 2008

Fine Points of Torsion Boxes
A torsion box is a clever way to create a strong, lightweight, flat surface for shelves or worktables. Here's some info on materials and assembly. September 23, 2006

Climb-Cutting for Stiles and Rails
Cabinetmakers suggest equipment and techniques for creating sharp-edged grooves with minimal tearout. May 22, 2006

Watts, Volts, Amps, and Step-Up Transformers for the Shop
Here's a discussion of using power transformers to supply machines that need higher voltage. July 31, 2009

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

Trimming real wood edgeband
Tricks for avoiding tears. April 17, 2002

Screw Length and Dado Depth
Basics of dadoed cabinet joinery. March 20, 2006

Wood Edge Detail for a Laminate Countertop
Laminate trimming, edge attachment, and rounding-over technique for a wood edge on a laminate counter or table top. January 24, 2006

Disposing of Cabinetmaking Waste
Once your volume gets high, disposing of waste (and reducing it) becomes a priority. Here's a discussion. August 19, 2013

Laying Out a New Shop
So brilliant, it's simple: Use full-size cardboard cutouts to mock up your layout on the shop floor before you decide. February 1, 2011

Leg Levelers 101
A beginner learns the basics about adjustable cabinet leg hardware. August 3, 2005

Glue Injection Techniques
When laminate or veneer is lifting, you can make a slit, inject adhesive, and clamp for a clean repair. Here are some detailed tips on getting the glue where it needs to go. February 20, 2008

Documenting Work
Taking photos of your cabinet installs could help you out some time, in case someone else comes along and disturbs or damages things. May 11, 2011

Rip Widths for Raised Panel Glue-Up
A discussion of esthetic and practical aspects of ripping lumber for gluing up into cabinet door panels. November 8, 2008

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

Tweaking Island Height
A cabinetmaker gets advice on raising an already installed island by two inches. September 23, 2006

Supporting a Granite Countertop Overhang
Under a thin granite slab top, a plywood subtop is needed — for support and to attach legs. August 7, 2006

Plastic Laminate Cabinet Tips
Advice for a first-timer who is tackling an all-plastic-laminate kitchen job. July 3, 2006

Replacing Sliding Saw Subrollers
Tips on an often-overlooked maintenance task. June 5, 2006

Flat-Screen TV Over the Fireplace?
Some people hate the idea, but some customers are asking for it. Here, cabinetmakers discuss solutions (and personal taste). August 11, 2009

Installing Built-Ins Over a Pocket Door
How do you fasten a bookcase to a wall when there's a pocket door in the wall? Very carefully. June 11, 2014

Cabinet Back Options
Half-inch plywood, or quarter-inch plywood and cleats? March 17, 2005

Cabinet Install: Before or After Tile?
Installers have various views about whether to schedule the cabinet install before ceramic floor tiles are set, or after. August 31, 2009

Cabinet Back Construction
Cabinetmakers share views on the appropriate thickness for cabinet backs and nailer strips. October 22, 2005

Finding a College-Level Woodworking Program
Educational choices versus the school of hard knocks. June 18, 2005

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

Plywood Inconsistencies
Advice on shopping for cabinet-grade plywood with a consistent thickness. October 13, 2010

Checking a Steel Square for Squareness
The simple method explained, with some additional discussion. April 24, 2014

Working with Pre-Finished Plywood
A little extra care is needed to prevent scratches, but the convenience can be well worth it. November 11, 2005

Flat Doors for an Appliance Armoire
What materials would you use for flat-panel doors on a cabinet that will hold a mini-fridge and coffeemaker? February 27, 2015

Shop-Built Cabinet Lift Photos
Detailed images of a jack designed to help with cabinet installation. December 21, 2008

Sanding face frames properly
The proper tools and techniques to avoid rounding edges. October 30, 2002

Extension Table Advice
Tips on setting up and using an Aigner adjustable extension table with multiple machines. April 2, 2015

Making Your Own Cabinet Jack
Whether you buy one or go to the trouble of making your own, a nice cabinet jack will make you wonder how you used to get along without it. September 10, 2008

Upgrading Sliding Table Saw Fences and Stops
Woodworkers discuss ways to build advanced table saw fences or adapt standard parts from other saws. December 31, 2013

Pricing Feedback on a Built-In Entertainment Center
Cabinetmakers offer their guesstimates on a reasonable price for a typical built-in. April 21, 2008

Laying Up Radius-Curve Door Panels
Cabinetmakers describe ripping, joining, and planing techniques for building barrel-stave curved door fronts. September 7, 2006

Tricky TV Cabinet Problem
Entertainment centers can pose awkward dilemmas. Here, cabinetmakers tackle a doozy: The flat-panel TV has to swivel, and it needs pocket doors. November 12, 2005

Cutoff Switch for Microwave Power Receptacle
A cabinetmaker wants suggestions for a safety switch for an unconventional microwave cabinet, but instead he receives warnings about the wisdom of the whole idea. June 16, 2014

Minimizing melamine chip-out
Why do specialty melamine blades cut chip-free for so short a time? July 3, 2001

Construction Boring Patterns
Is there a way to set up a construction borer so it can drill dowel holes for both upper and lower cabs, without a lot of changing of bits? April 18, 2011

Decorative Epoxy Inlay Tips
Advice on choosing a pourable or flowable material for decorative inlay work. March 13, 2014

Teamwork Versus Solo Work on the Shop Floor
Cabinetmakers discuss efficiency on the shop floor. When should people work in pairs, and when should handle tasks alone? June 23, 2014

Leg Leveler Tips and Tricks
Pros compare methods for leveling cabinets with leg-leveler feet. August 29, 2006

Cabinet Details for an Apron Front Sink
"Farmer's" sinks have an apron front that overhangs the cabinet face. Here, cabinetmakers discuss the difficulties that can arise, and how to address them. February 28, 2006

Cabinet Hanger Cleats
Ways to install back-panel cleats for attaching cabinets to walls. June 18, 2005

Finishing a Wood Cabinet in a Shower Area
A commercial job in a wet area calls for extra-special care. December 6, 2011

Optimizing Frameless Cabinet Construction for Materials Saving
Cabinetmakers kick around design ideas for minimal materials use in a frameless cab. May 27, 2008

Fastening Scribe Stiles
Cabinet installers discuss ways to attach scribe stiles to cabinets when space is tight on all sides. May 6, 2006

Troubleshooting Magnetic Switches on Equipment
A cabinetmaker complains that a piece of equipment keeps shutting down for no reason. "Off" switches can be finicky, explain those who have had similar problems. March 1, 2006

Tooth Marks from an Upcut Saw
A cabinetmaker troubleshoots a cut quality issue with an upcut saw. April 2, 2015

Stiffening Long-Span Shelves
Woodworkers discuss torsion boxes and steel-angle reinforcement for long-span shelf situations. November 11, 2005

Hinge Choices for Face Frame Cabinets with Full Overlay Doors
A cabinetmaker seeks advice on a simple and versatile hinge system for full overlay doors on face-frame cabinets. December 27, 2008

Cabinet Toekicks — Integral Versus Field-Applied
Using a loose toe-kick that applies in the field provides versatility and flexibility — but is it worth it? June 12, 2014

Termite Infestation — Is Imported Plywood to Blame?
Termites need a source of water to survive, so they are unlikely to arrive in plywood shipped from overseas. August 19, 2013

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

Order of Operations for Making Door Stiles
When making rails and stiles for cope-and-stick doors, do you shape the ends or the long sides of the pieces first? Cabinetmakers have different ways, and for different reasons. February 9, 2006

Cabinet Installation Advice
Pros give a newcomer tips on putting in his cabinets properly. January 11, 2007

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

Drawer Box Doweling
Pros share tips for dowel construction of drawer boxes. May 10, 2005

Running Face Frames to the Floor
Ideas for a custom look with face-frame cabinetry. December 6, 2006

Edgebanding with Veneer
A cabinetmaker gets advice on applying quartersawn cherry veneer as edgebanding. January 26, 2008

Pivoting Bookcase Show and Tell
Photos and video of a unique project: a bookcase that pivots to hide a client's master bedroom. June 15, 2014

Painting a Concrete Shop Floor
Advice on cleaning and applying a rugged coating to a shop floor. March 4, 2006

Door Clamping Jigs and Tricks
Shop-rigged methods for fast clamping given a limited equipment budget. June 23, 2014

Tall Box Dilemma
How to build cabinets with sides higher than 8 feet, without any unsightly plywood joints. March 1, 2006

Pros and Cons of Used Edgebanders
It might cost more to get a used edgebander up and running than to purchase it. But even at that, the results could be well worth it. October 19, 2014

Door-Sample Carrying Case Ideas
Woodworkers discuss ways to haul a few sample doors around for showing clients. April 20, 2008

Overheating Table Saw
Is it the belts? The pulleys? The motor? Pros help troubleshoot a too-hot saw. November 12, 2005

How to Secure Floating Panels
Using spaceballs versus pinning panels at top and bottom center points. January 22, 2006

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

Rounded Outside Corner Moulding Construction Method
A cabinetmaker puzzles over ways to construct a cabinet with rounded corners and applied crown moulding. August 12, 2014

Managing Pesky Clients
When clients are living in the home while cabinets are installed, sometimes they take a little too much interest in the work. In this thread, installers suggest tactful ways to deflect their attention eslewhere. October 22, 2005

Cabinets Over a "Floating" Floor
Can cabinets be installed directly on a floating floor, or should the flooring be cut away? August 29, 2005

Installing Cabinets On Top of a Floating Floor
There are at least two ways to do it so that the floor is free to expand and contract. However, water damage to flooring is still a risk to consider. November 19, 2005

Choosing Hinges
Press in, dowel, or Inserta? Speed and convenience are factors in the decision. April 16, 2009

Edge-Banding Issues with Laminated Doors
Minor thickness variations in shop-laid laminate doors cause the edgebander to scuff the laminate. What's the fix? May 10, 2005

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

Wine Cubes
Experienced hands describe ways to design and assemble wine storage cabinets. June 13, 2005

Portable Power Planer for Shop Use?
Cabinetmakers tend to be dissatisfied with the performance of small hand-held power planers. For cabinet work you need real shop machinery. February 20, 2008

Whether to Reverse Planer Blades
Short answer: Don't do it. Long answer: Take a look at spiral cutterheads or a widebelt sander. July 10, 2009

Three-Sided Shapers Versus Multiple Machines
For making doors, what's better: an expensive dedicated machine that cuts all the profiles, or a setup using multiple basic shapers? February 2, 2011

Patching a Plumbing Hole Drilled by Mistake
Two extra holes in a sink cabinet bottom ... and 10 good ideas for fixing or hiding them. December 2, 2010

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

"Standard" Cabinet Dimensions
Cabinetmakers discuss the fine points of "standard" cabinet sizes. October 1, 2005

Considering Bifocals
As we age, some of us need bifocals for good close-up and distance vision. In this thread, cabinetmakers who've switched to bifocals discuss the fine points of different types. September 21, 2005

Solid Wood Countertops
Advice on allowing for movement with solid wood countertops. October 13, 2010

Calculating Radians/Chords
Formulas to help do the figuring. February 28, 2004

Orbital Sander Tips
Cabinetmakers give advice on avoiding swirl marks. July 22, 2005

Installing refrigerator end panels
The search for better methods. April 3, 2002

Fine-Tuning a Dowel Boring Machine
Setup tips for accurate boring and assembly. September 7, 2006

Fridge Panel Head-Scratcher
When a cabinetmaker is asked to make refrigerator panels without ever seeing the appliance — for a job that's a long drive away — he feels the need for some advice. January 26, 2008

Proper Dimensions for Frameless Base Cabinets
A discussion of the standard depth for frameless cabinets. July 21, 2006

Is It Necessary to File Edgebanding by Hand?
Most shops still have to do some hand work, even if they're equipped with an expensive edgebander. February 17, 2014

Fitting Drawers to a Racked Euro-Cab
The frameless cabinets were put in place twisted, so now the drawers don't fit properly. What to do? June 11, 2014

False Back for a Large Media Center
Ways to construct and attach a false back for a TV and stereo cabinet, for wiring convenience. February 17, 2006

Flooring First, or Cabinets?
Cabinet installers discuss whether they'd rather set base cabs before or after the tile flooring is laid. October 25, 2006

Household Chemicals and Hardware Corrosion
Household chemicals, pool chlorine, and other common substances can tear up brass or chrome fixtures. Here's an example. June 15, 2009

Vomit-Like Odor of Bacterially Infected Wood
When cabinets or wood smell like vomit, a likely culprit is bacterial infections in the trees the wood was made from. Unfortunately, there is no known fix. April 20, 2008

Fitting Frameless Cabinets Between Two Walls
Thoughts on using filler strips to make the transition where frameless cabs fit into openings. September 27, 2009

Getting Started with a 32mm System
Advice on learning about True 32, KISS 2, and Blum methods for standardizing Euro frameless cabinet construction around a 32mm module.October 20, 2013

Corner Cabinet Ideas
Pros and cons of Lazy Susans versus corner pull-out drawer options. April 20, 2008

Using Beech to Build Cabinets
It's a beautiful wood, but is American Beech too unstable for cabinets? Not necessarily, say those who've tried it. August 21, 2006

Raised-Panel Ends on Upper Cabs
Fast and classy construction. March 14, 2004

Setting Yourself Apart from the Crowd
What makes a cabinetmaker's offerings special for high-end customers? February 12, 2009

Full Height Cabinets: Figuring Ceiling Clearance
Figure the diagonal using math, or draw the piece full size, or check it in AutoCAD. Do this before you build it. January 26, 2008

Troubleshooting an Out-of-Whack Jointer
Woodworkers discuss what could make a jointer create taper on boards. January 10, 2006

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

Should a Cabinetmaker Take Up Finishing?
A cabinetmaker considers bringing finish operations in house, and get advice both pro and con. May 11, 2006

Removing Moisture from Air Lines
Tips on getting good moisture removal from shop air lines using a filter/dryer. June 15, 2014

Down-Stroke Jigsaw Blades for Laminate
Thoughts and experiences on cutting laminate on site without chipping it out. November 19, 2008

Reducing Ding and Dent Damage During Material Handling
Tips for smart setup and careful material handling that can help you avoid costly labor for filling and sanding damaged surfaces. April 12, 2011

Getting Tight Joints with a Corner Stapler
Corner staplers make fast work of frame assembly. For joints that are tight on the front face, elevate the pieces on blocks and clamp carefully. April 20, 2008

Formaldehyde Irritation in Work Van?
An installer reports a reaction triggered possibly by panel products stored and transported in his work van. April 30, 2009

Efficient Face-Frame Shop Process
Thoughts on making face-frame beaded inset-door cabinets efficiently, relying mainly on a CNC router. October 27, 2008

Edgebanders
General description of edgebanding equipment. November 11, 2008

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

Shop-Built Sliding Table Saw Jig
A cabinetmaker displays his low-cost self-built alternative to a sliding table saw. February 2, 2011

Troubleshooting Glue Spillage on an Edgebander
When the glue starts to spill or spatter, and banding isn't getting fully glued on, it's time for a little careful cleaning. March 20, 2014

Refrigerator Cabinet Installation Details
Pros share tips and tricks. May 4, 2005

Hanging Upper Cabinets on Out-of-Plane Walls
Advice on how to fit cabinets to twisted walls. April 24, 2014

Joinery for True Divided Light Doors
Woodworkers discuss the best way to attach muntins to door stiles and rails for true divided light cabinet door construction. June 2, 2009

Phase Converters for a Small Shop
Downsizing from a big-iron shop to a basement-based setup. Is it worth holding on to some three-phase machinery and installing a phase converter? April 27, 2011

Tumble Sanding for Toy Parts
Advice on how to cobble together a tumbling drum arrangement to sand small wooden items. March 12, 2015

Warp-Free Hardwood Doors
How do you keep large doors flat? Cabinetmakers discuss materials, construction methods, and finishing. July 21, 2005

Should I Make My Own Crown Moulding?
Is it worth investing in a moulder for the convenience of making your own crown moulding sometimes? April 20, 2008

Rolling Carts for the Shop
Descriptions and photos of shop-built carts on wheels or casters, used for moving cabinets or materials around the shop. October 28, 2014

PVC Banding Inside Round Cutouts?
Advice on how to apply edgebanding to the inside of cutouts in door panels. August 19, 2013

Cabinet warranty period
What is a reasonable warranty period for a custom cabinet installation? July 24, 2001

Setting Up a Dovetail Machine
Tips on the tricky parts of dialing in an OMEC dovetail machine. October 15, 2010

Radius Cabinet Fronts
Advice on making (or outsourcing) radius-front cabinets. July 30, 2009

Edgebander Options
Cabinetmakers discuss the advantages of different edgebanding materials and equipment. September 21, 2005

Pocket Screw Machine Slow Operation
Maintenance and cleaning tips that may restore a multi-head pneumatic pocket screw machine to its former quickness. August 15, 2011

Fastening Stone Countertops
Ways to hold marble tops in place. May 10, 2005

Using a Widebelt Sander
Cabinetmakers explain the advantages of widebelt sanders, and explain how and why they hand-sand with the random orbital sander after belt-sanding. July 5, 2006

Effective Shop Lighting
Let's get some light in here so we can see what we're doing. February 8, 2008

Managing Battery Drills
Useful thoughts on labeling and organizing multiple drill/drivers in the shop, plus an epiphany about turgid nomenclature. September 26, 2009

45-Degree Corner Cabinet Options
Ideas for making use of spaces created by 45-degree bends in a kitchen floor layout, caused by a window bay. December 7, 2008

Plywood Holiday Ruins a Cabinet
A cabinetmaker's cautionary tale of how a cabinet was ruined when his router dropped into a void in a piece of plywood leads to a few comments about materials and tools. June 15, 2014

Doors for a Wide Entertainment Center
Designing doors to hide an extra-wide TV. May 10, 2005

Design Ideas for Roll-Out Shelves
Cabinetmakers offer tips and methods for constructing pull-out shelving so that stored items don't fall off the edge. March 1, 2006

Construction Boring Machines: Top Versus Bottom
Considering the pros and cons of boring from the top or the bottom. November 15, 2011

Straight Edge Options
Jointer bed too short to handle that long piece? Here's a grab bag of jigs, rigs, and tricks for making long straight edges. July 21, 2005

Vanity Height — Preference or Rule?
Thirty inches high is traditional for bath vanities, but many customers may prefer something taller. March 5, 2007

Face-Frame Bookcase Assembly on Site
Here are several suggestions for how to assemble a built-in bookshelf cabinet on site, focusing on face frame issues.July 29, 2014

Point Air-Conditioning for Shops
Advice on providing cooling to work stations rather than to the entire shop. September 17, 2014

Door Clearances for Cabinets by the Fridge
Advice on a door swing clearance problem next to a refrigerator. February 13, 2009

Troubleshooting Edgebander Cutting Issues
Keeping the knife well sharpened and lubricated helps. So does keeping the air lines and filters clear. September 16, 2013

Confirmat Screws and Drill Guides
Detailed info on assembling cabinets with confirmat screws. March 6, 2006

Desireable Features in a Line Boring Machine
A cabinetmaker gets advice on shopping for a line-boring machine that wil productively meet his needs. June 16, 2014

Installing Drawer-Type Dishwashers
Drawer-style dishwasher units don't always require a cabinet, but attaching the faces and installing controls can be tricky. April 18, 2006

Supporting an Overhanging Granite Countertop
What sort of fastening and support will make a projecting granite bar top rock solid? Pros provide advice. November 21, 2005

Defining Quarter-Sawn and Rift-Sawn
There are both formal and informal definitions for "quarter-sawn" lumber. Here, cabinetmakers and the Wood Doctor discuss the fine points. July 5, 2006

Installing a Cabinet Over Carpet
Should you install cabinets over carpet, or cut the carpet out? Opinions vary. June 11, 2014

Practicality of CNC-Cut MDF Doors
With opaque finish, MDF doors are hard to tell apart from wood raised-panel doors. Here are some cabinetmaker experiences and photos. February 18, 2011

Cabinet Bottom and Sides Material
Cabinetmakers discuss the materials they use for parts of a cabinet that don't show. October 22, 2005

Shelf Edging Options
Pros and cons of solid wood shelf edging as compared to edgebanding. November 24, 2006

Thick Butcher Blocks
A discussion of construction methods and wood movement issues for a six-inch-thick butcher block top. April 11, 2008

Upper Cabinets Adjacent to a Microwave
A 14-inch deep microwave stands a little proud of the nearby 12-inch upper cabs. Here are some design suggestions for deeper cabinets to bring the faces flush. April 18, 2006

Hanging Cabinets from Masonry Walls
What to do when the wall is cement board on furring strips over concrete block. April 25, 2006

Clamping Octagon Joints
Taping the joints and folding them together works the best. November 26, 2006

Design Question: Stove Adjacent to Refrigerator
Is it okay to have the stove right next to the refrigerator, when a small kitchen space is a challenge? February 19, 2008

Face-Frame Scribing Ideas
Various ways to scribe for a snug fit where a cabinet butts to a wall. October 9, 2006

Installing European Cabinets in a Log House
Here's advice on attaching cabinets to a log-house wall in a way that allows for shrinkage movement of the logs. January 23, 2009

Troubleshooting Belt Loading when Sanding White Pine
What makes sander belts gum up, and how can you get them clean? Shop operators share experiences and ideas. June 28, 2005

Sliding Cabinets Around in the Shop
From glides to dollies to conveyor belts, cabinetmakers describe how they move cabinets around the shop during fabrication and finishing. July 18, 2013

Re-Configuring Existing Cabinets
Five out of five doctors agree: tearing out and reassembling existing cabinets is just not worth it. September 23, 2006

Frameless Shelf Spans
Cabinetmakers discuss the span limits of 3/4-inch shelf material, and share tips on mid-span supports and a stiffening valance. December 28, 2005

Single Phase Wide-Belt Sanders
Single-phase wide-belts top out at about 10 horsepower. Most woodworkers seem to prefer the beefier models that run on 3-phase power. September 7, 2006

Drum Sander Sandpaper Choices
Simple tips on finding and attaching sandpaper for your drum sander. March 25, 2008

Sanding Disk Preferences
Woodworkers discuss abrasive and backing characteristics that make various brands of sanding disk useful in particular applications. March 12, 2015

Toe-Kick Drawer Details
A few more tips on toe-kick drawers. June 5, 2006

Pinned Mortise and Tenon
Orienting the grain in pins on shaker-style doors, according to tradition. December 26, 2004

Vacuum Panel Lifter
Here's some basic info on vacuum panel lifters — how they work, setup, and use. April 21, 2011

Cabinet Shop Lighting
Pros share advice on bulbs and fixtures for bright, even light. May 10, 2005

Crown Moulding for Frameless Cabinets
Installers explain various ways to apply crown moulding to the tops of frameless cabs. November 10, 2006

Warming Drawer Installation Issues
Getting a warming drawer to fit into an already-built cabinet as a change order calls for some creative tweaking. February 26, 2007

Laser Layout for Out-of-Whack Rooms
Here's a good description of how to use a laser level to set benchmark plumb and level layout lines on a room that's not built square, plumb, level, or true. July 12, 2008

Casters for Heavy Machinery
Advice on using heavy-duty casters or a pallet jack to make large equipment movable around the shop. December 17, 2014

Garage Cabinet Details
Pros discuss ways to fit cabinet bottoms and kicks to the sloping concrete floor of a garage. June 12, 2005

What's the Best Pencil for Woodworkers
A few jocular comments notwithstanding, this is a serious question for the professional woodworker. December 28, 2014

Sink Tip-Out Hinge Choices
Cabinetmakers discuss hinge option for sink-front tip-out trays. June 23, 2006

Locating Radiant Tubing Within a Slab
How do you find those tubes so you won't puncture them when you're anchoring down equipment? March 26, 2008

Doweling Machine Choice: CNC or Not?
When is it worth having CNC capability in doweling operations? December 2, 2011

Wall Oven in a Base Cabinet
Mixing and matching oven units and cooktops is tricky. Here, pros supply advice and cautions. July 21, 2006

Cubby Construction Methods
Advice on joinery methods and veneer application for storage cube shelving. July 15, 2014

Under-Mounting a Top-Mount Sink
Installer gets advice on mounting a new-fangled "hybrid-mounting" sink. June 17, 2005

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

Panel Gluing and Clamping
To keep staves in a panel from slipping as they set, use moderate amounts of glue and clamping pressure. May 20, 2006

Troubleshooting Burnt Glue in the Edgebander
Glue selection, heating element performance, and temperature settings all come up for discussion when an edgebander seems to have a burnt glue problem. December 27, 2010

Cutting a Circle on the Table Saw
With the right jig, it's quick and slick. March 17, 2005

Unloading and Handling Panels
Techniques and equipment for getting sheet goods off the truck and into the shop. August 15, 2006

Troubleshooting Melamine Chip-Out Around Bore Holes
Drill bit type and drilling speed control can reduce chipout on two-sided melamine panels, and there are also touch-up solutions for minor chipping problems. February 26, 2007

Kitchen Corner Cabinet Ideas
Pros share ideas, designs, and photos of Lazy Susan corner solutions. June 28, 2005

Entry Level Line Boring Equipment
Cabinetmakers explain the advantages of buying a used piece of serious machinery, rather than buy a less-capable machine new. January 13, 2009

Shelf Edge Treatment
Alternatives to edgebanding for plywood shelf edges. May 22, 2006

Door Choices for an Appliance Garage
A cabinetmaker explores the options for doors that will get out of the way to allow access to appliances in the cupboard. May 15, 2014

Leveling Cabinets Runs Containing Appliances
Cabinet installers consider the problems involved when floors slope and there are ranges and dishwashers involved. July 10, 2009

Specialty Scribing Tools
Cabinetmakers and installers consider the value of specialized jigs for scribing cabinets to fit tight spaces.September 25, 2014

Casters for an Island Cabinet
Here's a look at how to equip an island with casters, while providing for it to be held fixed when necessary. August 12, 2014

Keeping Plywood Flat
Pros discuss causes, cures, and prevention of warping in plywood. July 9, 2005

Where cabinets meet sloped floor
How to properly disguise the gap that appears during installation. August 25, 2003

Sensor Color Sensitivity Problem with Edgebander
Infrared lights and sensors in some edgebanders need to be calibrated to the color of the edgebanding, or they won't trigger when they're supposed to. December 8, 2010

Fastener Choice for Applied Mouldings
It comes down to a choice: V-nails from the back side, or 23mm micro-pins from the front. August 15, 2011

Finishing Backs of Face Frames
Is it worth the trouble to finish the back of a cabinet face frame? Cabinetmakers swap opinions and methods. October 13, 2005

Cabinet Installation and Trim Carpentry
Installers discuss how trim carpenters and cabinet installers should work out the kinks where their workflows intersect. July 3, 2006

Connecting Face Frame Cabinets
Ways to pull adjoining face frames tight when setting a run of cabinets. April 18, 2006

Peel and Stick Edgebanding
Occasional users discuss the pros and cons of peel-and-stick edgebanding. June 23, 2014

Glue Pot Rebuild: Buy or Do in Shop?
When an edgebander glue pot fails, you can spend money on a replacement, or spend your own time and aggravation rebuilding it yourself. September 26, 2009

Murphy Bed Hardware Comparisons
A comparison of various types of Murphy bed hardware, with sources of supply. March 28, 2015

Should a Widebelt Sander Have a Platen?
Some thoughts on what a widebelt sander's platen contributes to performance. June 16, 2014

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

Tuning an Edgebander
Advice on dialing in the variables of an edgebander's operation, one step at a time. October 19, 2014

208-Volt to 240-volt Machinery Conversion
Woodshop owner moves from a shop with 240-volt power to a shop with 208-volt power, and has to figure out how to adapt some older machinery to the new situation. March 3, 2009

Soft-Starting a Compressor
A properly located buffer tank in the air line can keep a compressor from stalling or tripping the breaker on start-up. June 13, 2011

Mobile Machinery and Power Cords
Shop owners exchange ideas for putting tools on wheels and feeding power from overhead. August 8, 2005

Material for Doors with False Drawer Fronts
Furnituremakers discuss whether to use solid wood or MDF and veneer for a set of vanity doors with fake drawer fronts. April 27, 2011

Crown Molding With Staggered Cabinets
Making a smooth transition from cabinet to cabinet. July 20, 2004

Rip and Crosscut Saw Blades
A brief discussion of saw blade types and quality considerations. October 26, 2005

Fixes for Stripped Screw Holes
Ways to make screws fit tight and hold permanently, even after the screw hole is damaged. July 5, 2011

Drawer Box Tolerances with Undermount Slides
A discussion of drawer dimensions, material thickness, and slide specifications. December 7, 2008

Powder Post Beetles in Plywood
Amazingly, the bugs are not killed by plywood manufacturing methods, and can lurk inside plywood for years. October 27, 2011

Hardware for Flip-Up Pocket Doors
Suggestions for hardware for a door that flips up and slides into a pocket. June 16, 2014

Drum Sander Tips and Tricks
Advice on how to get good performance from a drum sander. October 13, 2008

Condensate Drain Problems
Ideas for keeping your air tank dry during operation. December 7, 2008

Melamine Drawers
Melamine makes an economical drawer box, but what's the joinery? Pros share methods in this thread from the Cabinetmaking Forum. July 9, 2005

Fat Cabinet Sides and Shelves
Details for built-in shelf units with extra-thick built-up sides. May 14, 2006

Hinge Solutions for an Obstructed Cabinet Door
Recommendations for a situation where a windowsill will stop a cabinet door from opening freely. April 19, 2015

Packing Cabinets and Tops for Delivery
Advice on packing and shipping for a large shipment of cabinetry. November 29, 2014

Hiding Pocket Screw Holes
Fill the holes, or apply a panel? May 4, 2005

Working with HDPE Sheet Goods
Tips on cutting, machining and joining high density polyethylene (HDPE) sheet goods for cabinet fabrication. July 27, 2008

Fastening Pilaster Moulding Over a Face-Frame Seam
Cabinetmakers trade attachment tips and tricks for an afterthought moulding placement. March 20, 2006

Door Company Accuracy
Cabinet door suppliers only promise accuracy within 1/16 inch — but in reality they usually do better than that. January 26, 2008

Protecting Floors During Installations
How to keep finished floors safe from dropped hammers and related hazards. April 25, 2006

Drawer-Style Dishwashers and Frameless Cabinets
Tips on fitting drawer-type dishwashers into frameless cabinets. December 7, 2008

Placing an Outlet on an Island Cabinet
Tips on code issues and esthetic concerns for the required electrical outlet on an island cabinet. February 26, 2007

Paint Finish on Melamine
Will paint adhere to melamine? With scuff sanding, yes, say people who have tried it. July 22, 2005

Vocabulary for Frameless Cabinet Parts
"What do you call that thing?" The terminology used to describe the various structural elements of a frameless cabinet appears to vary widely throughout the industry. June 16, 2014

Matching the Stain on Manufactured Cabinets
Large suppliers can supply you with the same stain they used on pieces you purchase. December 30, 2005

Upper Cabinet Height Quandary
A homeowner found the upper cabs too high — after they were installed. So the cabinetmaker lowered them, but now he needs to make it look right. "It's a lesson for us all," says one pro. November 11, 2005

How to Support "Floating" Base Cabinets
These cabinets are supposed to have a deeply recessed toe kick so they appear to be floating above the floor. What about the structure? November 19, 2006

Door Panel Glue-Up Workflow
Does anyone lay up door panels in long lengths and then cut down the blanks into multiple doors? October 26, 2013

Laying Out Sink Base Cabinets for Plumbing Stubs
Creative cosmetics, advanced math, and inspired guesswork are all it may take for you to punch perfect plumbing holes every time. November 19, 2008

Troubleshooting an Edgebander Pre-Heat Fence
The pre-heating fence on an edgebander is a seldom-used accessory. It may be repairable with off-the-shelf components. January 2, 2012

Running Frameless Cabinets to the Ceiling
The ceiling joint is a tricky detail for full-height frameless upper cabinets. Here, pros suggest ways to handle it. August 29, 2005

Gang Ripping on a Moulder
Tips for making short work of multiple rips. February 27, 2005

Miter Saw Blade Cut Creep
Saw blades pulling on the work can pull cut angles slightly out of whack. Here, craftsmen suggest solutions for accurate cutting. March 20, 2006

Residential ADA Cabinets
Here's some invaluable first-hand advice: a paraplegic woodworker describes the accessible designs that work in his own kitchen. September 3, 2011

Layout for Appliances in a Tight Kitchen
Advice on fitting a cooktop, oven and microwave into a wall bank of custom cabinets. February 26, 2007

Maple and MDF for Raised Panel Doors
After considering the advantages of stability and uniformity, a cabinetmaker opts for MDF raised panels — and he's glad he did.December 2, 2011

Pocket Hole Joinery with Melamine Cabinets
A cabinetmaker tries pocket screws for assembling melamine cabinet carcases, and discovers that it doesn't work. July 21, 2006

Sourcing Cabinet Box Parts
What are the options for a company that only wants to assemble parts, not cut them? August 29, 2005

Pricing for Cabinet Refacing
Pros discuss how to price cabinet refacing work. November 11, 2005

Staining with Spaceballs in Door Panel Grooves
Causes and prevention for staining related to door panel spaceballs, and a discussion of alternative products. February 16, 2014

Wide Glass Doors
Cabinetmakers consider glazing options for large doors, including tempered glass, polycarbonate, and plexiglass. December 28, 2005

Ingenious Hidden Pantry Idea
This technique for disguising the doors to a walk-in pantry as a large cabinet is as slick as a whistle. March 6, 2006

Troubleshooting a Backsplash Gap
Floor framing shrinkage might cause cabinets to drop, opening a gap between the countertop and backsplash. August 7, 2006

Plywood Face Veneer Grades
A question about a spec for "AA" face veneer on cabinet sheet goods leads to a discussion of industry grading standards for face veneers. July 2, 2008

Troubleshooting Split-Fence Accuracy
A split fence on the shaper allows for quick setup, but it takes time to learn how to set the fences accurately. August 29, 2006

Cabinet Back Strategies for CNC
A discussion with drawings of ways to machine cabinet backs and sides for convenient and strong assembly. May 15, 2011

Quality Control for Five-Piece Doors
Basic information on achieving acceptable dimensional tolerances and fit when making cope and stick raised-panel doors. January 2, 2014

Cabinet Scribing Hows and Whys
Basic tips on fitting cabinets to floors and walls. November 11, 2005

TV Concealment Door Ideas
Design concepts and hardware suggestions for a moving door to cover a large TV in a built-in wall cabinet. December 27, 2010

Curing Time for Glued Door Joints
If you plane or sand door panels too soon after gluing, you might experience various defects. September 15, 2011

Pre-Finishing Edge Banding
Cabinetmakers share ideas for applying finish to plain wood edgebanding before use. September 22, 2005

Mirrored Medicine Cabinet Door Details
A range of suggestions (and one nice photo) for medicine cabinet door construction details. February 19, 2011

Wheelchair-Accessible Vanity Details
Heights, construction details, and other considerations for a wheelchair-accessible bath vanity. October 13, 2005

Upper Corner Cabinet Dimensions
For his first time building one, a cabinetmaker gets help figuring out an upper corner cabinet with a lazy Susan. September 23, 2006

Sanding Face Frame Joints Flush
Advice on finish sanding methods and joinery for face frames. February 21, 2011

3/4-Inch Material for Cabinet Construction — Pros and Cons
After a switch to CNC production, a shop-floor mechanic looks for advice on moving to 3/4-inch material as a standard. October 25, 2006

Softening Silicone Adhesive
A cabinetmaker seeks help with loosening a silicone joint. July 31, 2009

Hanging Cabinets from Concrete Walls and Steel Studs
A discussion of fastener choices when installing cabinets on concrete, masonry or steel-framed walls. June 23, 2006

Frameless Sink Base for a Farmhouse Sink
Tips on constructing the base cabinet for a farmhouse sink. January 13, 2009

File Drawer Hardware
Cabinetmakers discuss how to build custom file drawers, without that clunky off-the-shelf hardware. August 29, 2005

Installing a Kitchen Island over Tile
How to attach a cabinet base to a tile floor. July 2, 2008

Cabinet Assembly: Clamping for Screwing Butt Joints
Quick and simple ways to hold pieces where they belong while assembling a cabinet carcase. March 9, 2008

Protecting Finished Cabinets While Transporting and Installing
Cabinetmakers discuss how protect cabinet edges from chips and dings during handling. September 8, 2008

Evaluating a Used Sliding Table Saw
A cabinetmaker gets advice on what kind of wear and tear to look for on a used slider. March 1, 2006

Jobsite Tool Carts
Installers share ideas for keeping tools and materials organized on site. March 18, 2006

Powder Post Beetle Worries
Will powderpost beetles found in a piece of furniture spread elsewhere in the house? April 21, 2011

Moisture-Related Door Expansion
It's not surprising for doors to "grow" when humidity increases. This thread offers some insights into the problem. January 26, 2009

Supporting an Elevated Countertop
Tips for supporting a cantilevered counter on one side of an island. March 3, 2009

Working with Red Birch
Red Birch is the heartwood of Yellow Birch. Here are tips on how it behaves. August 15, 2006

Softening/flattening burl veneers
Step-by-step instructions. July 22, 2003

Working with Lyptus
Cabinetmakers share experiences working with the tropical hardwood Lyptus. July 22, 2005

Sawing Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is hard to cut. Specialty blades can handle it, but it may be best to have a metal shop handle the task. February 6, 2007

Eliminating Cross Grain Scratches
Tips on detecting and preventing cross-grain scratches created during sanding. October 25, 2006

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

Shopping for a Phase Converter
Woodshop owners offer opinions on phase converter choices in the market. February 1, 2015

Making Tambour Doors
Tambour door construction basics. December 28, 2005

Refacing Vinyl-Wrapped Cabinet Face Frames
A contractor gets advice on quick, effective ways to tackle a tricky refacing detail. December 28, 2005

Drawer Pull Drilling Jigs
Buy a manufactured one, or make your own? January 26, 2008

Fastening to a Marble Floor
Tips on careful drilling and attaching for setting island cabinets on a stone floor. June 16, 2005

Dowels Versus Pocket Boring for Cabinet Assembly
A cabinetmaker considers assembly options in light of his planned CNC purchase. September 25, 2014

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

Facing frameless melamine cabinets
Facing and finishing melamine carcasses to attain a high-end, traditional look without face frames. April 2, 2002

Working with Hickory
Hard, dense, and splintery, Hickory does not take finish well either. You might want to consider Butternut as an alternative. November 15, 2011

Recreating the Look of Rough-Sawn Lumber
Finding or creating rough-sawn lumber for rustic cabinetry. August 31, 2009

Uneven Ceilings and Cabinet Crown
How to fit crown moulding to a badly out-of-level ceiling. July 31, 2009

Hinge Boring Dust Collection
Custom design of a dust collection system for a hinge boring machine. January 25, 2005

"Installer-Friendly" Cabinets
Installers sound off on how cabinet-makers can make their lives easier. August 29, 2005

Rebuilding Existing Cabinets
Bottom line: it's not worth modifying existing cabinets when you can build new ones more easily. September 7, 2006

Removing the Glue Pot from an Edgebander
Photos and description of getting a gunked-up old glue pot loose from a Brandt KD 54 edgebander. December 2, 2011

Fitting Sheet Goods in Dadoes
Irregularities in panel materials can cause trouble with dado fits. Here, cabinetmakers discuss solutions. September 22, 2005

Whether to Finish Hidden Cabinet Ends
Cabinetmakers discuss whether to finish the ends of cabinets that abut slide-in appliances. April 9, 2008

Island Cabinet Clearance
Thirty-six inches is minimum, and forty-two is better. November 11, 2005

Using a Skid-Steer as a Forklift
Considering whether a skid-steer could load and unload cabinetmaking materials in addition to doing other useful work. December 27, 2010

Calculating Remaining Edgebanding
Formula to determine how much is left on the roll, with a nod to Archimedes. March 14, 2004

Rotary Screw Compressors Pros and Cons
Pros and cons of this advanced compressor technology. January 2, 2014

Powered Fence Pushers for Sliding Table Saws
Woodworkers speak highly of automated fence setups on sliders. September 26, 2009

Sanding Methods for Face Frames
Is it worth using the wide-belt sander, or will a random-orbital sander get the job done? Pros share opinions and experiences. July 22, 2005

Toilet-to-Cabinet Allowable Clearance Tolerances
Cabinet makers and installers discuss the allowable distance between a toilet and a bathroom vanity, and consider how to make adjustments when the space gets tight. November 19, 2005

Troubleshooting a Wide Belt Sander Oscillation Problem
Info on dealing with electric eye issues and sander belt tracking. June 12, 2014

Soundproofing Between Office and Shop
Advice on quieting down your machines and on isolating the office from shop floor noise. November 14, 2011

Wall Cabinet Undersides
Should they match the face frames? Or be a lighter shade to reflect light? Does it even matter? Cabinetmakers discuss the options. July 9, 2005

Lock Mitering Cabinet Corners
Practical advice on the process of lock-miter joinery for cabinet corners. October 28, 2014

Matching Sun-Darkened Cherry
Color-matching new work with old is tricky when the wood is Cherry, because of the way Cherry darkens when exposed to light. May 24, 2006

Lining Drawers with Felt
Tips and warnings on a tricky custom touch. June 5, 2006

Who Should Caulk the Backsplash to the Wall?
Whose turf is the caulking between a backsplash and a wall on? Countertop installer or painter? March 3, 2009

Designing a Two-Sink Vanity
Cabinetmakers discuss drawer layout and other characteristics for a wide, double-bowl bath vanity. November 12, 2005

Finished Ends With Separate Kickers
Preferred methods of construction. August 7, 2004

Upcut Saws for Precision Work
Upcut saws can be used for items like door parts, but you need a good one. March 12, 2015

Shelf Life of Widebelt Sanding Belts
How long are widebelt sanding belts supposed to last? Here's a closer look at why a belt might fail early. June 16, 2014

Cabinet Hanger Helpers
A quick rundown on the tools you can buy or make to help you set wall cabinets by yourself. April 4, 2011

Compressed Air Line Piping Material
A discussion of copper, black iron, and PEX/aluminum air line tubing. March 28, 2015

Woodshop Heating Options
More thoughts on the many ways to heat a woodshop. August 31, 2005

Using Double-Face Tape
Pros discuss a wealth of applications for specialty double-sided tapes. July 9, 2005

Joinery and Assembly for Cabinet Miters
Using tape and glue to hold and secure long miter joints. December 2, 2011

Dealing with Planer Tear-Out
Craftsmen discuss tooling and operator techniques for minimizing tear-out from planing lumber. November 12, 2005

Wood Countertop with a Drop-In Cooktop
Cabinetmakers consider the risks of putting a cooktop in a wood countertop, and discuss the best finish for that situation. August 19, 2013

Flexible Countertop Templating Material
With plastic material you can roll up after the template is built, transporting the template is easier. September 30, 2009

Panel Saw/Slider Comparison
Cabinetmakers compare the advantages of vertical panel saws and sliding table saws, with special reference to ripping. November 11, 2005

Solid Surface Popularity
Some cabinetmakers say stone and laminate are edging solid surfacing out. November 12, 2005

What's the Easiest Wood to Work ?
Woodworkers rate wood species on machinability, looks, and stainability. December 14, 2005

Shop-Rigged Task Lighting
Ideas for task lighting that is there when you need it, out of the way when you don't. August 21, 2006

Magnetic Chalkboard Solutions
Suggestions for providing a magnetic bulletin board that the customer can also write on with chalk. February 27, 2015

Fabricating Tambour
You can patch, or even make, tambour — if you know how. Cabinetmakers share the secrets in this thread. July 9, 2005

Replacing Electronics for Big Iron
Here's a tip: shop around for parts or components before you buy a whole new touch screen, display, controller, or similar electronic element for shop machinery. You could save a bundle. January 2, 2012

Substitutes for Mahogany
Either lyptus wood or luan (also called "meranti") may be an acceptable lower-cost alternative to mahogany in cabinets. March 12, 2006

Dowel Hole Layout for CNC Boring
A CNC gives you flexibility in dowel-hole spacing. So what do you choose? March 9, 2008

Cutting Out Toe-Kick Notches
Suggested jigs and methods for notching out cabinet sides for toe kicks. July 12, 2008

Can I Pocket-Screw Melamine?
Seems to work fine — here are a few tips. February 20, 2008

Hinge Size and Frame Dimensions for Full-Overlay Face Frame Cabinets
Wider frames need bigger hinges; there's choice with regard to both. April 16, 2009

Fastening Cabinet Legs to Tile over Radiant Heat
Can't penetrate a floor? Silicone adheres well to tile. April 12, 2011

Frameless Cabinet Dimensions and Countertops
A newcomer to frameless asks how much room to leave at cabinet tops for cabinet overhangs. Opinions vary. October 1, 2005

Troubleshooting an Edgebander Glue Application Problem
Problem: no glue on the first bit of edgebanding through the station. Solution: adjust the glue roller.June 16, 2014

Soundproofing a Shop
Tips on wall construction to keep noise from leaking out of your shop. February 12, 2009

Raw Wood Showing at Panel Edges
Advice on preventing tell-tale raw wood from showing when door panels shrink over the dry season. December 28, 2014

Right-Sizing Pocket Doors for an Entertainment Center
When ordering pocket doors from an outside shop, making a mockup out of scrap before ordering the real thing can eliminate the uncertainty. December 27, 2008

Sharpening Vibrating-Head Saw Blades
Did you know you can sharpen the blades for those vibrating-head detail-sander saws? You can also make your own replacement blades. December 6, 2006

Doubling Up Compressors or Fans
When you link two fans or compressors together, what's the effect on pressure and airflow? January 18, 2007

Crown Moulding Reveals at Ceilings
You can get a nice effect with cabinet crown by holding it down 1/8" from the ceiling. April 29, 2011

Hardboard Drawer Bottoms
Woodworkers report that hardboard drawer bottoms seem to perform well in service. October 27, 2011

Flush Joining Plywood to Hardwood Edge to Edge
Woodworkers suggest ways to make a plywood-to-hardwood edge joint smooth and flush. June 18, 2009

Pocket Hole Joinery for Face Frames
Tips on using pocket hole screws to assemble and attach face frames. October 22, 2005

Cabinets in a Wide-Angle Corner
Thoughts on building adjoining frameless cabinets to fit into a 135-degree inside corner. November 10, 2006

Lift-Up Pocket Doors for Appliance Garages
A discussion of how to design and make a cabinet door that lifts up and slides back into the cabinet like a garage door.November 5, 2013

Corner Cabinet Height Puzzle
When the corner cabinet is higher than the wall cabs, how do you detail the transition? Pros share tips. June 12, 2005

Speaker Cloth Choices for Entertainment Centers
Good speaker cloth has better acoustic properties than regular cloth. April 4, 2011

Machining and Stability Characteristics of Birch
A few facts and some hands-on impressions of Birch as a cabinetmaking material, compared to other similar woods. July 8, 2014

Detail for the Base of a Fluted Pilaster
Pilasters flanking a sink cabinet need some sort of base detail. But what? April 6, 2011

Waiting Period Before Sanding Doors after Glue-Up
Wood porosity and moisture content can influence the time needed for a cure in PVA glued joints before sanding a door. October 16, 2013

Restaurant Bar Dimensions
Advice on the proper height and depth for a commercial bar. May 4, 2005

Installing a Vanity with No Front Supports
Pros consider ways to attach a vanity to the wall so that it needs no front legs or toe kick for support. December 27, 2008

Scribing to Cultured Stone
This situation should have been avoided with prior planning — but since it was not, here's advice on scribing cabinetry to a rough stone wall.August 15, 2011

Mounting Slide Hardware on CD Storage Shelves
Advice on how to deal with non-standard drawer-slide installation for tall pull-out CD shelves on an entertainment center. July 21, 2006

Flip Stop Choices
Advice on shopping for aftermarket stops. May 31, 2014

Radial Arm Saw Blade Issues
With the wrong blade, radial-arm saws will grab the work piece and "self-feed" it in. May 20, 2009

Cabinets for a Bank
A cabinetmaker gets advice on creating specs and drawings for cabinetry for a bank, including teller work-stations. December 27, 2008

Troubleshooting Bowed Hollow-Core Doors
A set of custom door panels made with plywood glued over honeycomb came out with a half-inch hump. What could have gone wrong? March 1, 2006

Edgebander Knife Not Traveling Full Stroke
Tips on keeping your edgebander tuned so the knife cuts all the way through the tape when it's supposed to. April 4, 2011

Custom Coloring Cabinet Installation Screws
If the colored-head screws you need don't come in the right size, here are suggestions on how to color the heads of off-the-shelf screws in the right size.November 14, 2014

Part Labeling Tips
Advice on how to label cabinet parts for assembly on a very large production order. April 30, 2009

Long-Span Shelves
Ideas and resources for dealing with long shelf spans. December 30, 2005

Sliding Table Saw Tolerances
How perfect a cut should you expect? Pros share thoughts. September 20, 2005

Thicknessing Face Frame Stock
Cabinetmakers discuss how they dimension rough stock for face frames. October 13, 2005

Melamine Quality Issues
Cut-price melamine from the big-box DIY stores doesn't match up to professional-grade material, say the pros. December 28, 2005

U.S. and Canadian Cabinetmaking Standards
A brief discussion of AWI standards and Canada's AWMAC standards. July 21, 2006

Copper Countertop Tips
Copper is tricky to work with. Here are a few thoughts on using it for countertops. April 17, 2009

Removing Veneer from Backer
A cabinetmaker wants to pull the backer off of some backed veneer. Others provide advice. August 29, 2006

Re-Roughening Power Feeder Tires
Aftermarket replacement tires give the best grip. But here are tips for sanding old tires to improve their surface friction. December 27, 2008

Layout Dilemma: Lazy Susans Versus Blind Corners
Cabinetmakers puzzle over the question of fitting a sink and storage into a tight space. April 18, 2011

Electric Motor Starting Problems
When the motor sits and hums instead of starting, the problem could be in a switch or in the starting capacitor. March 3, 2009

2x4 Base Under Base Cabinets
Constructing ladder bases. December 26, 2004

Particleboard Warping in Cold Weather
Dry shop air can cause some materials to dry out and warp. August 12, 2014

Fixes for Misplaced Shelf Holes
Shelf pin holes need to move half an inch. What to do? February 28, 2006

Edge-Banding for Prefinished Plywood
Cabinetmakers discuss the advantages of various edge treatments for prefinished plywood. July 9, 2005

Using Adhesive to Attach Cabinet Crown to the Ceiling
Advice on using adhesive for attaching pre-finished crown, to avoid the need for hiding nail holes. February 26, 2007

Cabinet Dimensions for Sub Zero Appliances
Sub Zero refrigerators and freezers require you to build deeper cabinets if you want the fronts to be flush. January 19, 2011

Securing Glass in True Divided-Light Doors
Tips on how to attach glass into mulled door frames. August 15, 2006

Calculating Springback
Simple formula for determining amount of springback in bent solid wood. April 18, 2004

Exterior Cabinetry Materials Choices
Cabinetmakers suggest woods, synthetic materials, and finishes for cabinets exposed to the elements under cover. February 21, 2011

Temporary Door-Pull Expedients
Before the customer chooses knobs, you've got to use your imagination. Blue tape is just the beginning. February 20, 2008

Refrigerator Cabinet Depth
High-end fridges may need cabinet depths that stick out past the rest of the cabinet faces. Here's advice on making things blend. January 26, 2009

Is Walnut Toxic?
Walnut knowledge overcomes Walnut fear in this informative and humorous discussion. June 8, 2008

Constructing Bookshelves Above a Baseboard Heater
Thoughts on providing airflow for hydronic baseboard heat while supporting a shelf unit above the heat source. February 26, 2007

Corner Cabinet Tips and Ideas
Suggestions for a cabinetmaker getting into building his first corner sink base. January 13, 2009

Warming Drawer Depth and Frameless Cabinetry
Tips on making cabinets the right dimensions to fit warming drawer units. December 1, 2010

Metric Hole Saws
Workarounds for when you need a round hole to accomodate a metric-sized insert. September 5, 2006

Joints in Solid Wood Edgebanding
How to detail the intersection where one piece of rounded-over solid wood edgebanding butts into another. March 28, 2015

Floor Underlayment Particle Board for Cabinetry?
Particleboard comes in different grades; floor underlayment is softer and less dense than cabinet-grade material. April 18, 2011

Torch-Cutting a Granite Countertop
It's possible to trim the edge of a granite slab by applying heat from a propane torch. February 8, 2008

Tuning Up a Sticky Pocket Hole Cutter
Cleaning and lube advice for a pocket hole cutter that's getting creaky. April 6, 2011

Glue for Dado Joints in Prefinished Ply
Yellow glue is effective for dado construction using prefinished panels. August 29, 2006

"Upper Upper" Cabinet Concepts
Design ideas for a third tier of cabinets right at the ceiling of a high-ceilinged kitchen. March 3, 2009

Pull-Out Trash Can Drawers
Turn a drawer upside down, stick a trash can through the bottom, and screw a cabinet door to the front — presto! January 26, 2009

Leg Levelers for Carpeted Floors
Tips on using leg levelers when installing cabinets on a carpeted basement floor. June 12, 2014

Plywood Shelf Deflection
Thoughts on plywood shelf thickness, ways of reinforcing shelves, and othe ideas. February 26, 2007

Concrete Countertop Cement Choices
Advice on materials choices and some tips on technique for a first-time concrete countertop job. June 12, 2014

Selling Wide-Belt Sander Time on the Side
A wide-belt sander can help pay its way with occasional odd jobs for other woodworkers. May 13, 2005

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

Sliding Breadboard Ideas
Cabinetmakers suggest options for building slide-out breadboards in limited space. September 20, 2005

Mounting a Dishwasher Under a Granite Countertop
Solutions to a common problem: mounting a dishwasher in cabinets topped with granite. December 27, 2006

Shop-Built Cam Clamps
A cabinetmaker shows off his aluminum and maple cam clamps, and explains how they work. August 8, 2005

Pros and Cons of Evaporative Coolers
"Swamp coolers" only work in dry climates, during the dry season. December 27, 2008

Pre-Glued Dowel Advice
Pre-glued dowels seem to hold well if holes are precisely drilled, but don't save a lot of time except in an automated setup. January 2, 2012

Line Boring with Through Bits
A discussion of bit choice for a line boring block. Can you do all your boring with through bits? June 16, 2014

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

Removable Upper Cabinet Bottoms
Cabinetmakers consider how to make upper cabinet bottoms detachable for access to undercabinet lighting wiring. August 24, 2008

Edgebanding "White Out" Problem
Dark edgebanding sometimes turns white at ends where it passes through the cutters. Applying heat will restore the color — but what's a fast way to do it? April 4, 2011

Wide Belt Sander User Tips
Use the wide-belt sander's drum for stock removal, and the platen for finer-grit finish sanding. July 21, 2006

Frameless Box Tolerances: Decks Versus Gables
Is it worth cutting tops and decks just a hair shy, so as to avoid revealing end wood in case of inaccuracy? March 13, 2014

Small Trucks and Plywood
The search for an economical rig that will haul a few full sheets occasionally. January 22, 2006

Gluing Steel Panels to Wood
Tapes and adhesives that can hold steel plate to wood, even if the plate is slightly sprung. July 8, 2014

Roller Stands for Sheet Goods
Shop owners discuss various kinds of roller stands, rolling tables, and stationary outfeed tables for handling sheet goods. December 28, 2005

Countertop Bolt Systems
Cabinetmakers compare experiences with different undercounter bolt and clamp systems for securing countertop joints. April 29, 2011

Trimming Pocket Hole Plugs
Router and hand methods briefly described. November 20, 2005

Hinge Insert Dowel Tightness
Troubleshooting loose hinge attachment. October 3, 2011

Sanding Drawers After Construction
Ideas for sanding distinctive hardwood drawer boxes after building them, without distorting the corners. November 26, 2008

Disclaimer for Cabinet Installation
How should a cabinet installer cover himself when he notice defects in the cabinet finish before starting the installation? August 8, 2008

Dishwasher Compatibility with Unconventional Toe Kick Height
A cabinetmaker and installer searches for a workaround for dishwasher installation when a designer has specified a three-inch-high toe kick.March 28, 2015

Designing Banquette Seating
Advice on seat height, table height, seat back slope, et cetera, for built-in banquette seating at a table. September 25, 2014

Tambour Door Tips
More good ideas for tambour door construction. March 3, 2009

Finishing Cabinet Interiors
Depending on the use, cabinetmakers may match the exterior stain color, or go with melamine or a light wood and clear finish. October 1, 2005

Choosing Dado and Groover Blades
The voice of experience on different cutter brands. June 18, 2005

Corner Cabinet for an Out-of-Square Wall
Pros exchange tips for installing a corner cabinet into a non-square corner. August 29, 2005

Scribing a Laminate Countertop
Order of operations for scribing two edges of a countertop for setting into a corner. February 17, 2011

Fabricating Two-Inch-Thick Hollow Shelves for a Built-In
Ideas on making thick hollow shelves to contain wiring and puck lighting. January 28, 2009

Upper Cabinet Heights with Nine-Foot Ceilings
Cabinetmakers consider the options for cabinets heights in rooms with high ceilings. September 27, 2008

Microwave "Trim Kits" and Accurate Specs
Cabinetmakers discuss the problem of making a built-in microwave fit seamlessly into the cabinet you build for it. February 26, 2007

Frameless Installation Tips
A few basic tips on installing frameless cabinets. August 29, 2006

Fabricating a Seamless Tambour Door
Advice on veneer layup and cutting for making a seamless (or "invisible") tambour door. December 7, 2008

Wooden Tray Divider Installation Ideas
Suggestions for a customized, adjustable cabinet component that lets homeowners stack cookie sheets and trays on edge. January 19, 2011

Troubleshooting Wide-Belt Sander Tracking Issues
Some wide-belt sander sanding belts don't reflect light properly to the automatic tracking sensor. Here's a fix. May 15, 2014

Speaker Materials that Sound Good
Some quick insights into building speaker cabinets with pleasing acoustic performance. April 17, 2009

Widebelt Sander Drum Dressing
Advice on returning a damaged wide-belt sander drum to uniform smoothness. May 15, 2014

LED Under-Cabinet Lighting Ideas
This thread about LED kitchen lighting includes a look at a nifty custom solution. March 12, 2015

Machine Setup for Lock Miters
Lock miter setup requires a lot of fiddling, so a permanent dedicated machine can be most efficient. April 6, 2011

Handheld Edgebanders
A few quick thoughts on whether a handheld edgebander is a worthwhile tool for a serious shop. April 19, 2015

Loose Biscuit Problem
When biscuits fit too loosely to align pieces accurately, the cutter may be the problem. June 15, 2009

Strong Joints for Mitered Doors
Cabinetmakers discuss corrugated miter fasteners, through splines, pocket screws, dovetail bowties, and other ways to strengthen miter joints. November 20, 2005

Suspending a Vanity from the Wall
Cabinet installers describe various ways to attach a heavy, unsupported vanity to the bathroom wall. August 19, 2013

270° Hinge Swing
It takes special hinges to get a full 270° swing. September 22, 2005

Gloves for Saw Operators
Woodworkers suggest some tough, skin-tight, high-friction gloves for use around power equipment. April 21, 2011

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

Sliding Table Saw Slider Elevation
Why the slider is positioned slightly above the main table, and how to compensate when using the machine to rip hardwood. February 26, 2007

Troubleshooting the End Trimmer on an Edgebander
Tips for adjusting an edgebander for accurate trimming of the banding material. February 17, 2014

Hanging Cabinets on Adobe Walls
Quick tip for installing support blocking for cabinets into an adobe wall. September 5, 2006

Moving Machinery
Cabinetmakers suggest ways to roll heavy machinery around in a small shop. October 1, 2005

Ironing Plywood
A cabinetmaker has success straightening out bowed plywood with a hot iron. December 28, 2005

Edgebanding for Two-Piece Countertops
How do you apply edgebanding so that the joint between two countertop parts isn't banded? May 26, 2011

Line Boring Accuracy
Troubleshooting a 2 millimeter discrepancy when boring long panels in the 32mm system. February 26, 2007

Upper Cabinet Heights
Suggestions for upper cabinet dimensions in a kitchen with high ceilings. May 10, 2005

Lips on Lazy Susan Trays
Cabinetmakers share ideas for making the edge lip for a lazy Susan tray. October 8, 2005

Leg Leveler Hole Size
Smaller-diameter leg leveler pins are convenient, but may not be as strong. August 29, 2006

Shopping for a TV Lift
A little info on television lifts for cabinets, and how they work. June 12, 2014

Gaps Opening Up After Cabinet Installation
When base cabs seem to pull away from walls, the culprit is usually moisture-related movement of the house framing lumber. December 2, 2006

Oil Finishes for Food Prep Counters
Natural oils or waxes make a good finish for stable wood counter-tops in kitchens. April 30, 2006

Securing Island Cabinets with Leg Levelers
Installers share thoughts on the best way to lock island cabinets into place when set on leg levelers. September 4, 2005

Installing Cabinets in Log Homes
Ways to install cabinets in log homes that allow for the movement and shrinkage of log walls. May 6, 2006

Optimal Bit Size for Template Routing
Advice on bits for routing holes in cabinets. August 31, 2009

Pull-Out Drying Racks
Ideas for drying racks for laundry-room cabinets. December 30, 2005

MDF for Detailed Concrete Formwork
Advice on building forms using MDF. September 3, 2011

Heavy Backs for Upper Cabinets
Cabinetmakers briefly describe construction and wall attachment methods for cabinets using 1/2-inch. 5/8-inch, or even 3/4-inch prefinished plywood backs. November 12, 2005

Cooling Fans for Computer Cabinets
Computers generate a lot of heat and need cooling. Here are some basic ideas for cooling computer cabinet built-ins. May 22, 2006

Tiny Oak Trim
06/10/2012

Hanging a 12" Cabinet Between Studs
Suggestions include toggle bolts, adhesive, and tying into the flanking cabinets. April 25, 2006

Radiant Tube Heater Tips
Info on radiant gas tube heating systems. January 24, 2006

Tapered Rollers on an Edgebander
Users and service techs differ on the usefulness of tapered pressure rollers on an edgebander. October 19, 2014

Poplar Is a Hardwood, but Is It Hard?
As a deciduous tree, Poplar is classified as a hardwood. Here's some hard info about just how hard it is (or isn't).November 15, 2011

Scribing the Back of a Frameless Cabinet
Scribe moulding, a filler strip, or the judicious use of caulk are the top remedies for a gap between the cabinet back and the wall. November 19, 2005

Hinging for a Bifold Door Retrofit
Thoughts on hinge choice for bifold doors to be installed on a wide opening for an existing entertainment center. October 26, 2011

Inset Corner Sink Cabinet
Ideas and tips on sink cabinets located in corners. August 29, 2006

Caulking Moulding-to-Cabinet Joints
Ways to get a decent color match with caulk and nail-hole filler on painted cabinet trim. September 11, 2006

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

Corner Cabinet Construction Tips
Workable corner cabinet face frame details. February 26, 2007

Working with Silver Maple
Like Red Maple, it's a type of Soft Maple. Machines easily, but with a tendency to fuzz. August 29, 2006

Portable Display Panels for a Cabinet Showroom
Here's advice on a setup to mount cabinets for display that you can use in the showroom, or haul to trade shows. July 8, 2014

When to Change Blades and Cutters
Tips on how to tell when a blade is getting dull. October 26, 2005

Clamp Wear and Tear
A discussion of how and why bar clamps wear out, and what to do about it. February 17, 2006

Peg-Hole and Dowel Drawer Bottoms
Ideas for how to detail this popular new feature: holes for movable vertical pegs in drawers, used to organize plates and such. February 20, 2008

Sliding Table Saw Hold-Down Options
Advice on shopping for after-market air clamps or similar clamping systems for a sliding table saw.

Replacing a Planer Cable with an Auto Speedometer Cable
It turns out that the cable driving a readout on an old planer is replaceable with an automobile part. March 13, 2014

Making Odd-Angle Templates
For out-of-whack shapes (like shelves for irregular closets), assembling templates with hot-melt glue does the trick. September 22, 2005

Suspending Cabinets from an Angled Ceiling
It's a tricky detail, but there are several ways to get it done. June 23, 2006

Drawer Face Adjustment
Tips on fine-tuning drawer faces that last sixteenth of an inch. April 30, 2009

Mitering Rubber T Moulding
Sharp corners are harder to detail than radius corners when applying T moulding. December 28, 2014

Joinery for KerfKore FlexBoard
Advice on how to fasten flexible material to stiff structural backing. July 15, 2014

Contour Edgebanders — Enough for a Small Shop?
A contour edgebander is okay for occasional work, but too slow for full production banding lots of straight edges in a busy shop. October 3, 2011

Tight Miters for Laminate Countertops
Installers suggest ways to draw the joint tight. August 29, 2005

Caster Hardware for a Mobile Kitchen Island
Heavy-duty industrial casters are recommended, but nylon slides may also work. November 22, 2005

Moving Cabinets to Site
Ideas for getting cabinets to the job site and into the building. December 7, 2008

Gas Fired Radiant Tube Heat for the Shop
Shop owners give these gas tube radiant heaters high marks for convenience, safety, and heating effectiveness. January 10, 2006

Crown Moulding Detail for Frameless Cabinets
Quick tips on mounting crown mouldings to the top of a frameless cabinet. February 15, 2015

Mitered Face Frame Joints
Tips for joining face frames of adjacent cabinets together at a 45-degree angle. May 22, 2006

One-Horsepower Versus One-Half-Horsepower Power Feeders
What can a half-horsepower power feeder accomplish? August 3, 2009

Easing MDF Edges
Sanding techniques and tool options for gently rounding over the edges of MDF door and drawer faces. July 5, 2006

Kitchen Layout Problem: Range in the Corner
Advice about how a kitchen stove can be located in the room corner, with the front facing into the room. December 27, 2010

Protecting Stacked Sheet Goods from Warping Under Infra-Red Heat
In a cold shop heated by radiant infra-red heaters, you need to cover your materials so they won't get overheated on one side. May 28, 2008

Troubleshooting Widebelt Sander Tracking Problems
You have to keep the tracking sensor clean. May 6, 2014

Flipper Door Hardware for Passage Door
Advice on choosing hardware for built-in doors that open and slide back into a recess. December 28, 2014

Cutting a spiral groove
Suggestions on how to cut a clean spiral groove. June 13, 2001

Trying to cope
and how to do it. May 15, 2002

Outsourcing Kitchen Finishing
Thoughts on whether and how to farm out cabinet finishing. March 1, 2006

Dressing Power Feeder Tires
Old power feeder rollers that have gotten too glazed to grip can be restored to softness by cleaning, sanding, or re-covering. October 27, 2011

Shelf to Support an Oven
Thoughts on the connection detail required for a shelf that supports a built-in oven. February 26, 2007

Door Hinges, Door Dimensions, and Sagging Concerns
A cabinetmaker worries about whether a set of doors mounted on concealed hinges will sag over time. January 9, 2015

Laminate Over Plywood for Cabinet Boxes
Cabinetmakers report their results using laminate on plywood for cabinet carcases. August 8, 2008

Dry Feet for a Bathroom Cabinet
Options for protecting the bottom edge of a wood cabinet from water in a wet location. August 29, 2005

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

Epoxy and Sawdust for Filling Checks
Advice on blending epoxy to fix cracks. January 19, 2011

Power Feeder on a Table Saw
Advice on setting up a power feeder to handle wide and narrow rips with a table saw. June 23, 2006

Upgrade Charge for 3mm Edgebanding
3-millimeter edgebanding is a little more expensive, so maybe you should charge a little more. June 15, 2014

Protection on the Assembly Table
Suggestions for soft surface coverings for the assembly table to protect delicate cabinet surfaces during assembly. December 9, 2013

Constructing a Large Inset Cabinet Door
An oversize plywood slab is likely to warp, but there are alternatives. December 30, 2005

Warming Drawer Basics
Kitchen pros discuss the details of installing a warming drawer. November 20, 2005

Recessed Sink Base Details
A recessed sink base cabinet has doors set into a small face frame set back from the main cabinet front. September 23, 2006

Jig for beaded faceframes
Photographs of a shop-built jig. June 4, 2003

Troubleshooting an Edgebanding Gap
What could account for edgebanding joints that aren't tight? Pros suggest problems to check for. January 24, 2006

Investing in an RF gluer
Is it worth it? Pros share opinions. May 10, 2005

Substitutes for Cherry MDF
There are more economical choices when grain is not an issue. May 10, 2005

Cabinet Catches for a Motor Home
Standard hardware suppliers have hardware that will work for cabinetry in a van conversion or motor home interior, but specialty hardware is also widely available. January 2, 2012

Machining Muntins for Glass Doors
Advice on making small pieces for a glass cabinet door. April 18, 2011

Edge-Banding Without an Edge-Bander
For an occasional job, regular glue and clamps can work for applying edge-banding. December 14, 2005

Whether to Finish Toe Kicks in Commercial Work
If resilient base will be applied by others after cabinets are installed, don't finish the kicks. December 27, 2008

Using MDF-Core Plywood
Cabinetmakers discuss their experiences with MDF-core plywood panels. March 26, 2009

Centering the Belts on an SCM Sandya 3S
Keeping sanding belts on track requires knowing about a particular set screw and fitting. June 15, 2014

Installing Cabinets on a Log Wall
Log homes experience major log shrinkage, so you have to allow for that somehow. February 8, 2008

Hanging on a Floating Shelf
Here's a fun addition to the Knowledge Base collection on floating shelf attachment: a woodworker demonstrating how a small shelf will support his own weight. May 15, 2011

Metal Liners for Wood Range Hoods
Wood range hoods must have non-combustible liners. May 22, 2006

Pantry Pullout Details
A couple of photo examples of tall, narrow pullout pantry shelf units, and some thoughts on materials and hardware. May 26, 2011

Edgebanding Dadoed Parts
A cabinetmaker who uses blind dadoed construction gets advice on modifying his edgebander to handle the dadoed material. August 29, 2006

Power Feed Slipping with Melamine
Melamine is so slick, you may need to tweak the power feed, or even buy better wheels. July 27, 2008

Loading Heavy Machinery Into a Trailer
Advice on how to get a massive woodshop machine loaded into a trailer for storage. June 15, 2009

Cupping of MDF Doors
Depending on the nature of the particular MDF stock, machining one side may relieve surface stress and cause the finished piece to deform. December 27, 2008

Lightweight MDF for Desks or Tables
With MDF, weight is related to strength and durability. November 10, 2006

Spice Racks on Doors
Tips for building spice racks into door backs. May 14, 2006

Wire Management in a Moving Cabinet
Products and a shop-built solution for enabling wiring for lights to follow a cabinet that extends and retracts in use.February 16, 2014

Uses for an Overhead Router
Overhead routers are an old technology, but they have their uses. June 5, 2006

Dovetailers, Louver Equipment and Drawer Manufacturing
Basic info on dovetailing machinery. November 11, 2008

Platen Hardness and Wide-Belt Sander Performance
Different platens combined with different belt grits can help you fine-tune your sanding results. August 8, 2008

Dehumidification Versus Cooling for a Wood Shop
An undersized air conditioner will dehumidify effectively as it cools the shop. August 24, 2008

Hardware for a Flip-Down Door
What you need are "flap stays." November 29, 2014

Matching Toekicks
Toekicks should usually match the cabinets, not the floor. January 10, 2006

Edgebander Lubrication Schedule
Edgebanders need frequent cleaning and greasing. December 7, 2008

Edgebanding on a Curve
Hand-application tips and machinery recommendations for applying edgebanding to a curved edge. September 15, 2011

Hardware for Doors Concealed as Wainscot Panels
Thoughts on slide, pull, and latch choices for doors disguised as paneling. December 27, 2008

Infrared Controls and Speaker Cloth
Will an IR remote control device work through speaker cloth? March 1, 2006

Rebuilding or Servicing an Edgebander Gluepot
Advice on glue pot maintenance and service. June 16, 2014

45-Degree Frameless Door Hinge Problem
A cabinetmaker gets input on making a five-knuckle hinge work with frameless cabs that meet at 45 degrees. December 27, 2010

Routing a Curved Edge on Thick Butcher Block
To profile 2.5-inch-thick butcher block, you need to use a template and cut from both sides. September 27, 2008

Hardware for Spice-Rack Pull-Outs
Slide choices for spice racks. March 26, 2008

Making Your Own Solid Wood Edgebanding
In a pinch, making your own edgebanding is no big deal. Here's how to do it. April 20, 2008

Countertop Choices for a Farmer's Sink
The way farmer's sinks are installed, there's usually an exposed edge where the countertop meets the sink. For that reason, durable countertop materials are preferred. March 1, 2006

Using a Pin Router
They're just the ticket for one-off custom parts. June 4, 2009

Under-Shelf Lighting Options
A few tips on strip LEDs and LED and halogen puck lights for lighting under shelves. February 15, 2009

Specs for the Taper on Classical Round Columns
Quick advice on information sources for laying out classic architectural shapes and forms. January 9, 2015

Installing Frameless Cabinets Square
If plumb and level are right, cabinets faces should be square within an easy hinge adjustment. February 26, 2007

Telescoping Gates for Pets and Toddlers
Ideas for safety gates built into a kitchen cabinet. January 2, 2012

Vertical Lift Door Hardware
Tips for installing a cabinet door that pulls out and then raises up. December 7, 2008

Calibrating a Contractor's Table Saw
Loosen three nuts and nudge it (hint: replace the washers with better ones). March 14, 2006

Packing Cabinets to Ship Overseas
A quick rundown on wrapping, loading, and securing cabinets for container shipping. February 26, 2007

Formica Ideal Edge
06/21/2012

Pocket Hole Bit Breakage
Hold-down pressure and belt tightness adjustments can stop bits from snapping while drilling pocket holes. June 2, 2009

Glass Doors and Remote Controls
Will a glass door on an entertainment center block the TV remote? Apparently not. December 14, 2005

Cleaning Wide Sander Belts
Tips for de-gumming sanding belts. August 8, 2005

Trimming T Moulding
Tips for quickly and easily trimming T molding for laminated countertops. August 7, 2006

Tiger Stop Stretched Belt
The belts on an automated stop system may stretch in service over time and require replacing to maintain accuracy. January 9, 2015

Fat Shelf Concepts
Construction ideas for thick torsion-box shelves. January 24, 2006

Making Speaker Cloth Doors
Tips on stretching and attaching speaker cloth to door frames. November 15, 2011

Height of Closet Poles
Where to set closet poles. March 3, 2009

Fastening Upper Cabinets to Granite Countertops
When upper cabs run all the way down to a stone counter, how do you connect the two? Pros share ideas. October 8, 2005

Slide-Mounting a Heavy Pull-Out TV
Hardware suggestions for a difficult entertainment center problem. May 12, 2008

Sanding Inspection Lighting Ideas
Quick thoughts on lamp choices and construction for a shop-rigged inspection light at the sanding table. July 15, 2011

Replacing an Old Frequency Generator Converter with a Solid State Inverter
Advice on replacing a failed component in an older edgebander with more modern and advanced equipment. January 1, 2012

Troubleshooting Edgebander Adhesion Problems
In this case, it appears that the adhesive is too cold. June 30, 2014

Pulling Out Dings and Dents
Tips for fixing the damage when the plumber, electrician or some other trade dents a new cabinet. October 22, 2005

Miscellaneous Machinery
Descriptions of various machinery types that fall outside the main categories. November 12, 2008

Space for Space Balls
Quick info on tolerances for space balls in raised-panel doors. January 10, 2006

Sixty-Inch Versus Seventy-Five-Inch Widebelt Sander Belts
Longer belts stay cooler and last longer than shorter belts, as you would expect. October 19, 2014

Corner Cabinet Conundrum
Another take on fitting a corner sink cabinet into a tight space (this time in frameless). February 26, 2007

Storing Cabinets in a Shipping Container
Moisture and rust might be concerns when you use a shipping container for temporary overflow storage. November 5, 2013

Pricing for Built-In Shelf and Media Center Units
Cabinetmakers consider how materials, finishes, and installation may affect the value of a representative built-in unit. April 11, 2008

Where to Mount a Power Feeder
Convenient adjustment and smooth operation are considerations when you mount a power feeder on a table saw or shaper. January 26, 2008

Kitchen island height
What is the standard height for a kitchen island countertop? June 24, 2001

Cabinetry Materials for a Van Conversion
Tips on lightweight materials and construction for a mini-motorhome buildout. December 28, 2005

Gluing Wood to Melamine
Adhesive choices for gluing wood face frames to melamine carcase board edges. April 4, 2011

Wood Choice For Exterior Cabinets
07/10/2012

Frameless Cabinet Connectors
Fastener suggestions for connecting adjoining cabinets during installation. June 15, 2009

Peel-and-Stick Stainless Steel
It's a refacing option for appliances. June 23, 2006

Hanging Glass Shelf Directly Onto Drywall
05/12/2012

Cabinet Lifts
06/13/2012

Circular Arch Radius Formulas
A little basic math, plus some links to on-line calculators for figuring arch radius numbers. January 19, 2011

Fraction Conversion Chart
This measurement conversion chart shows inch system fractions and decimals with their metric system equivalents. January 3, 2007

Installing crown moulding
Calculations and tools for cutting crown angles. May 17, 2003

Cope and Stick Joinery with a Router
Tips on door construction using a router table and sled, and an extended discussion about outsourcing doors versus building them in house. June 28, 2007

Tooling Up to Make Doors
An extended discussion of the best investment in equipment for a cabinetmaker who wants to start making his own doors. March 26, 2010

Setting Shop Temperature
A long discussion about how warm (or cool) to keep a shop, whether to turn the heat down at night and over the weekend, and the effect on costs, productivity, and quality of different practices. December 24, 2012

High-Quality Cherry Slab Doors
An extended discussion of the advantages of various ways to make slab doors. October 25, 2006

More About Sanding
And some more about sanding. Then, a little more about sanding. Finally, just a little more about sanding. June 5, 2006

Chip-free dovetailing in plywood
Building dovetailed plywood drawers without chipping; European and American approaches. April 24, 2002

Quality Control in Cabinet Door Fabrication
This conversation starts with a question about adhesive choices for frame and panel door construction, but broadens out into a discussion about the acceptable incidence of defects across a range of door quality measures. December 9, 2013

Vacuum Veneered Drawer Faces
Vacuum laminating is ideally suited for creating curved surfaces. May 23, 2006

Solar Power for a Wood Shop?
Solar panels or a windmill can supplement your shop's electric usage, but you're not going to run big iron on it without the grid doing most of the work.. June 4, 2012

Organizing Tight Shop Space
A start-up cabinetmaker is working in cramped conditions. Other chime in with space-economizing ideas for workflow and storage. August 29, 2005

Determining CNC feeds and speeds
Where to begin in a world with no standards. June 19, 2003

How to Prevent Sanding Swirl Marks
There is more to power sanding than you might think. Here, pros discuss the fine points. December 26, 2006

Getting Mahogany Flat
Very hard woods with alternating grain patterns sometimes develop waviness when sanded with wide-belt equipment. Here's an extensive discussion of the characteristics of Mahogany, and of ways to approach it using both hand tools and power equipment. November 12, 2005

Stabilizing Details for a Mahogany Island Top
Concerned about wood movement, pros consider options including threaded rod reinforcement, sliding dovetails, or thin-sawing the wood. December 10, 2008

Darkening existing finishes onsite
Setting up shop in the customer's home in order to modify a finish. October 9, 2002

Curling of a Cutting Board Set in a Concrete Countertop
Woodworkers attempt to cure a problem created by placing wood in a moist situation on one side. No easy answers here. June 18, 2009

Melamine Wall Cabinet Design
Sturdy construction with an unfamiliar material. July 20, 2004

Dowel Joint Design, Strength, and Precision
A long discussion on tweaking dowel and hole size to get good alignment and a strong joint. January 19, 2011

Small Shop Case Construction
More back-and-forth on how to assemble cabinet carcases. April 6, 2007

Clamping Techniques for Flat Panels
Tips and tricks for gluing wood door panels up nice and flat. September 27, 2009

Choosing and Using a Pocket Hole Jig
Thoughts about what entry-level pocket-hole system to choose, and how to get the best use out of it. March 26, 2008

Compressor Noise
Thoughts on choosing a quieter air compressor, or muffling a noisy one. April 18, 2006

Joints and Connections for a Heavy Cabinet
Beginner gets advice on constructing an entertainment center cabinet. May 10, 2005

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

Drawer Construction
Choosing an efficient method over farming out the work. June 4, 2004

Upper Cabinet Construction
Humorous but insightful thread on cabinet joinery. June 16, 2010

Dovetail Drawer Boxes: Make or Buy?
This thread about whether to make your own drawers includes some details about materials, joinery, equipment, and assembly methods. October 15, 2012

Pocket Cutter Machines Versus Pocket-Hole Jigs
Pros discuss the advantages of pocket joinery, and talk about their equipment. July 6, 2005

Installing a U-Shaped Countertop
Pros study the awkward problem of installing a big, heavy laminated countertop into a space that is enclosed on three sides. September 5, 2006

Case Construction Basics
Advice for a new shop owner on whether to dado the parts for face frame cabinets. February 26, 2007

Gluing Face Frames onto Cabinets
Many cabinetmakers glue and clamp face frames on, with no other fasteners. In this thread, pros discuss options and techniques. October 20, 2005

Raised Glue Joints on a Wood Countertop
Detailed analysis of why glue joints may show up as visible bumps or grooves on a wood surface in a location subject to moisture changes. April 24, 2009

Particleboard Versus MDF
Cabinetmakers discuss materials choices. September 3, 2011

Face frame clamping options
Woodworkers discuss their clamping systems and share pictures of what works for them. July 24, 2001

Gluing face frames
Is glue alone enough to attach face frames to 3/4-inch plywood cabinets? July 29, 2003

Finishing Before Assembling — Tips and Tricks
Cabinetmakers who assemble cabinets after finishing discuss their methods. July 31, 2009

Wide Belt Sanders and Phase Converters
Stepping up to a large widebelt and three-phase power brings a big boost in capacity and efficiency. January 1, 2012

Teak Finish on Kitchen Cabinets
Teak may be naturally water resistant, but in a kitchen environment, even this tough lumber needs some help. February 26, 2005

"High End" Ready-to-Assemble Fasteners
Furnituremakers take a look at Lamello's new line of knockdown assembly connectors for cabinetry and furnishings. March 28, 2012

Pin Nailers Versus 18-Gauge or 23-Gauge Nailers
Installers discuss the relative usefulness of various fastener sizes and types for attaching prefinished crown moulding to cabinets. February 21, 2006

Steel Support for an Overhanging Granite Countertop
Advice on the use of structural steel to support a stone counter, without overkill or excessive weight (and cost). April 9, 2008

Router Overheating
Woodworkers discuss how hot router bits and collets should be expected to get during normal operation, and what might cause them to overheat. September 7, 2006

Compressor Issues with Air-Powered Sanders
Pneumatic sanders use a lot of air, and can strain the capacity of some compressors. January 19, 2012

Material Movement with Recessed Flat Panel Doors
Cabinetmakers discuss door panel materials and attachment methods. September 22, 2005

Durable Joints For Crown Molding
The fine points of gluing and pinning crown molding copes and miters. February 25, 2005

Tips on Working with Walnut
A little advice for a cabinetmaker about to build a countertop using Walnut. October 11, 2012

Fine Points of Pin Nailers
Tips on avoiding jams and increasing counter-sink depth. October 26, 2005

Glue Choice for Butcher-Block Wood Counter
Thoughts on adhesive choice and also in-service care and maintenance for a solid wood countertop. January 20, 2011

Working with Solid Ebony
Tips on how best to handle this scarce and costly wood. November 10, 2006

Tear-Out when Dovetailing Baltic Birch
Observations on router tear-out when dovetailing plywood, and advice on how to prevent it. July 5, 2006

Springback formula for bent laminations
Calculating springback of laminated parts. October 2, 2001

Glue Applicator Choices
Cabinetmakers discuss efficient, non-messy ways to apply glue to solid wood staves when making up door panel blanks. July 10, 2009

Door Gluing and Clamping Techniques
Leave the doors in the clamps while they set, or pin nail and remove? Here's a sampling of the various ways cabinetmakers make time with door assembly. December 27, 2007

Cabinet Doors Tips and Tricks
A start-up cabinet door manufacturer gets some advice on production methods. October 2, 2007

Face Frame Cabinet Construction Sequence
Another discussion of fastening, alignment, and order of assembly operations with face-frame cabinets. February 12, 2009

Strong face frame assembly
Methods for attaching face frames to cabinets. September 25, 2002

Mitered Door Joinery
Some cabinetmakers say mitered doors are just a bad idea, but others have tips for improving the joints. October 9, 2006

MDF for Built-In Closet Shelving
A discussion of MDF's structural suitability for closet shelves and upright shelf support frames. March 3, 2009

Pneumatic Versus Electric Brad Nailers
Pros compare notes on air-powered and electric brad nailers. December 14, 2005

Sloppy-Fitting Biscuits
A primer on what's too loose, too tight, and just right. February 25, 2005

Pin Nailer Choices for Door Construction
Cabinetmakers discuss the good points of different pin nailers for building doors. September 16, 2013

Equipment for Beaded Face Frame Door Fabrication
Thoughts on machinery and methods for making beaded face frames for doors. July 28, 2012

Characteristics of Lyptus Wood
Cabinetmakers discuss the properties of this lesser-known but increasingly popular wood species. February 28, 2006

Tools that Have Gone the Distance
Interesting thread about old tools that just keep on going. June 16, 2010

Gluing On Cabinet Trim
Tips on fastener-free techniques to attach mouldings to cabinets. January 22, 2006

Knotty Alder Bar
Is the softness of Knotty Alder a problem in a bar situation where the wood could encounter some abuse? July 28, 2012

Cleaning a Rusty Table Saw
Tips for getting rust off a table saw surface. April 30, 2009

Edgebanders Capable of Applying Solid Wood Edging
Info on equipment and methods for edgebanding doors with 1/8th-inch and thicker wood strips. May 13, 2013

Shaper Bits in a Router?
Just don't do it. It's not worth it. April 21, 2011

Using a Hand-Held Radio Frequency Gluer for Door Assembly
Small hand-held RF gluing devices can speed low-volume production, but may not be the most efficient method for higher-volume production. December 31, 2013

Small Compressor Versus an Air or CO2 Cartridge
A cheap one-gallon compressor wins the voice vote for job-site convenience and reliability. August 30, 2011

Door-Frame Clamp Time with Fast-Tack Glue
A cabinetmaker's door-assembly process is so quick, he's worried that he may not be allowing glue enough time to set before removing clamps. September 5, 2006

Evaluating Lipping Planers
Woodworkers discuss the good and bad points of various lipping planers. February 28, 2006

Stationary Biscuit Joiners
Advice on modifying or adapting biscuit joining equipment for use as a stationary machine. November 10, 2006

Reducing Door Glue Clean-Up
Careful application of glue to cope-and-stick door joints can reduce the time spent cleaning up squeeze-out. June 29, 2008

Patching Scratches in Pre-Finished Plywood
Thoughts on scratch repair, cutting, gluing, and prices for pre-finished plywood. March 1, 2006

Goat Skin Cabinets?
Yes, goat skin parchment is used to veneer cabinets. Here's how it works. May 13, 2005

Capabilities of a Pocket Hole Machine
When drilling a screw hole in a stile, how close to the edge can you get? May 10, 2005

Wood Countertop Construction and Care
Advice on building and maintaining butcher-block countertops. June 28, 2007

Cutting Aluminum Closet Rod
The right blade on a light chopsaw makes quick, clean work of it. April 10, 2012

Ipe For Cabinet Construction
Ipe's coloration, oiliness, irritating dust, and density are disadvantages when it comes to building cabinets. October 27, 2009

Edge Bander Trimmer Adjustments
How to adjust an edge bander. November 20, 2008

Fastening Wood Edging to MDF
Advice on fastening 3/4" by 3/4" solid wood to the edge of an MDF panel. Is anything besides glue required? August 29, 2006

Repairing an Edge-Banding Defect
Looking for a fix for an edge-banding failure on a built-in desk. April 20, 2011

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

Gluing UV-Prefinished Plywood
Scuffing might help (with the right glue), but you're probably going to need screws. October 9, 2006

Copper-Clad Table Top
Ideas for wrapping and fastening copper sheeting over a plywood table top. January 7, 2010

Joinery for a Melamine Box with No Doors
Advice on how to connect the top and sides of a pass-through mailbox made of melamine. June 17, 2012

Exterior Kitchens
Tips on materials and methods for building outdoor kitchen cabinets. April 8, 2008

Fabric for Tambour Doors
You can use canvas, silk, or — old T-shirts? October 19, 2005

Problem: Oven Melts Edgeband Glue
Some glues soften from heat after setting, others don't. January 2, 2014

Interruptions During Glue-Up
When you notice a problem you need to fix, is it okay to take apart a piece you are in the middle of assembling, clean it up, and then glue it together later? October 15, 2012

Compressor Burnout
A post about a smoking air compressor kicks of a discussion of quality characteristics of compressors, and whether they can be repaired. March 16, 2015

Edgebanding a Round Table
Here's a list of steps for applying edgebanding to a round laminate tabletop. April 8, 2013

Mixed-Wood Countertop Details
A discussion of glue-up, sanding, and fastening issues for a countertop made with alternating strips of maple and mahogany. March 1, 2006

Lamination Thickness for Curved Door Rails
Advice on specifying the laminations for gluing up a curved (bow front) door rail. June 16, 2014

Gluing Dado Joints in Pre-Finished Cabinets
Lacquer in the dado may inhibit the adhesion of the glue. May 14, 2006

Glue Choices for Sizing
Use a soft, easy-to-sand inexpensive white glue to mix glue sizing. May 28, 2010

Water-Activated Glue Dowels
A user testimonial for a convenient product. February 28, 2006

Edgebander Glue Pot Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Getting into the nuts and bolts of an underperforming edgebander. April 10, 2012

Inset Cabinet Door Clearance
Three thirty-seconds of an inch ought to be about right... March 6, 2006

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

Cutting a Stainless Steel Vent Hood Chimney
If a range vent hood is too tall to fit, you can't fudge it. Here's advice on trimming the metal to size. August 8, 2008

Techniques and Equipment for Long-Grain Miters
Cabinetmakers who like to miter their face frames to their end panels discuss table-saw and shaper setups, joinery, and gluing techniques. September 28, 2006

Shop-Built Custom Shapers
Advice on motor and pulley sizing for a dedicated-purpose shop-built shaper, plus a discussion of the alternatives to making a special-purpose tool. March 3, 2009

Troubleshooting Cut Quality on Door Profiles
A cabinetmaker's knives are wearing out too quickly. The discussion leads into various aspects of door profile machining. September 17, 2008

Machining MDF Raised Panels
Four out of four doctors agree: you can run MDF door panels in one pass on the shaper, if your cutters are sharp.January 2, 2014

Shaper Choice for Making Door Panels
A 5 horsepower shaper gives you some extra power when you need it, but you can get by with 3 horsepower. Here's an extended discussion of the options. April 16, 2009

Choosing and Setting Up Insert Cutters for a Shaper
A woodshop owner gets advice on how to make insert tooling work properly with his equipment. July 11, 2007

Raised-Panel Door Machine Choices
Thoughts on machinery for making door panels. May 20, 2009

Machining Mullions for Glass Doors
Advice and a step-by-step how-to for making those pesky mullions. May 14, 2006

Halving Dowels
Techniques and jigs for sawing round dowels in half lengthwise. July 9, 2009

MDF Raised Panel Doors
MDF works well for five-piece cope-and-stick raised-panel doors. Here, craftsmen contribute advice and tips. August 29, 2005

Dimensioning Door Tenons and Space Balls
For raised panel doors, tenon size, mortise depth and space ball size are a small but tricky detail. September 21, 2005

Dowel Equipment
Basic info on dowel-making and dowel-inserting machinery. November 11, 2008

Lock Miter Joints for Face Frame Cabinets
It's a little more work, but it makes a nice-looking corner. June 17, 2009

Carbide Versus HSS Tooling
Basic info on the differences between carbide and high speed steel cutterhead knives. August 15, 2011

Shaper Jigs for Small Door Panels
Cabinetmakers describe ways to hold and guide small panels through the shaper. October 13, 2008

MDF and Tooling
MDF dulls tooling quickly, so craftsmen tend to keep a set of cutterheads dedicated to MDF. March 28, 2015

Edge Sanding Doors
Quick tips for efficient smoothing to remove saw marks from door edges. October 26, 2011

Shopping for a 4mm-Kerf Saw Blade
Suggestions for tooling to cut a 4mm slot for spline joinery. January 12, 2012

Staining Edgebanding for Prefinished Plywood
Ways to make edgebanding match drawer and door faces when using prefinished plywood to build frameless cabinets. December 30, 2005

Corner Chisel Fine Points
Tool choice, sharpening methods, and hand techniques for cleaning out mortise corners. November 13, 2009

Hinge and Slider Hardware for Rollout Shelves in Frameless Cabinetry
It's a little tricky to install slide-out shelving so that the shelves clear the doors in a frameless cabinet. Here's a discussion. August 31, 2010

Parts Handling Flow
Ideas for carts or conveyors to handle parts in a busy closet shop. April 9, 2008

Hanging Cabinets on Plaster Walls
Cabinet installers discuss the classic old-house problem: finding some meat behind the plaster. March 18, 2006

Crown Moulding and Ceiling Movement
Here are some tips on installing crown so that it will keep looking good despite seasonal moisture-related movement of the house structure. December 26, 2007

Torsion Box Details
A conversation about ideas for a torsion-box flat work surface for the shop. August 31, 2010

Shop Maintenance and Cleaning
How to get your crew behind the idea that "a clean shop is a safe and happy shop." May 6, 2006

Equipment For New Cabinet Business
Equipment and other advice for a beginning businessman. August 26, 2004

Small Shop Struggles
A one-employee cabinet shop owner gets wide-ranging practical advice on managing his fledgling business. The voice of experience, from pros who have been there. August 29, 2005

Melamine: Why?
If you think melamine is for cheap manufactured imported cabinets, think again. This discussion explores the varied character of melamine, including its appropriate use in some top-dollar projects. August 16, 2012

Proper Size for a One-Man Shop
Bigger is better, woodworkers agree. April 6, 2007

Tools and Methods for Beaded Face Frames
Cutting the beads and the miter joinery could be a CNC deal, a table-saw and jig deal, or a hand chisel and shooting block deal. Here's the debate. April 15, 2011

Drawer Slide Options
A discussion of the latest in drawer slide technology. October 25, 2006

Fine-Tuning Inset Drawers
Advice on getting and keeping a consistent fit for drawer faces in full-inset cabinetry. October 27, 2008

Inset Door Hinge Adjustment and Stops
A discussion of ways to make inset doors close flush using Euro hinges. January 13, 2008

Cabinet Specs for Value and Durability
Cabinetmakers recommend material and hardware choices for a school project. April 14, 2010

What Do You Call That Space Behind the Hinge?
From aperture to void, woodworkers consider the appropriate term for a part of a cabinet that has no name. January 19, 2012

Shopping for a Used Hinge-Boring Machine
Here's detailed advice on what to inspect when considering a used hinge boring machine. August 15, 2011

Low-Tech Frameless Cabinet Construction
How can a face-frame cabinetmaker switch to frameless, without investing in a lot of equipment? April 20, 2008

Hanging Cabinet Doors
The efficiency of hanging doors before or during install. January 28, 2004

Pricing for Refacing Versus Replacement for a Vanity
If refacing isn't cheaper than replacement, it might still have advantages for the customer that make it a sellable option. January 25, 2013

Cost Factors in Adding Face Frames to Frameless Cabinets
Another take on how a frameless shop can add face frames to their repertory without adding too much cost. April 20, 2008

Mirrored, Frameless, Full Overlay Door Details
Here's a good discussion of assembly methods, adhesive application, and hinge and catch details for a vanity door with a full-face mirror on the front. January 1, 2012

Cabinet Hinge Options
Cabinetmakers discuss the advantages of different hinge types. November 12, 2005

Euro Upper Corner Cabinets
Here's an advanced discussion of design and construction details for frameless corner cabinets, focusing mostly on the operation and appearance of doors. June 16, 2014

Efficient Drilling for Hinge Placement
Cabinetmakers discuss how to streamline door drilling for Euro-style hinges. March 1, 2006

Door-Building Productivity
How fast can you make cabinet doors? Cabinetmakers discuss manpower, machinery, and door construction speed. July 5, 2006

Whether to Hinge-Bore Before Finishing, or After
A close vote, with comments, on when to bore doors for hinges. January 19, 2011

Corner Cabinet Dimensions and Crown Moulding Transitions
Advice on figuring out how to size a corner cabinet so crown moulding on the straight runs dies gracefully into the side of the corner cab. April 10, 2008

Door Stops for Inset Cabinet Doors
Cabinetmakers discuss door stop options and preferences. November 6, 2007

Where Doors and Panels Meet
How various cabinetmakers deal with the relationsihp between overlay doors and the adjacent edges of finished end panels. January 24, 2005

Mounting Plates for Cabinet Hinges
A discussion of mounting hardware and hinge positioning for Blum hinges. June 17, 2013

Hinge Choice for Larger Overlay
Advice on designing face frame cabinets with overlay doors that are very close together at the edges. June 22, 2010

Euro Hinges with a 1/4" Overlay
A cabinetmaker wants to switch to Euro-style hinges, but isn't sure how to work with his doors' one-quarter-inch overlay. Here's how he solves the problem. May 22, 2007

Positioning Inset Doors with Euro Hinges
Jigs and techniques for tight-tolerance positioning. October 3, 2011

Defining "Full Overlay" on Face-Frame Cabinets
It's a Euro look on a face-frame cabinet — so who's to say what's right? Here's a look at the question from several perspectives. October 2, 2007

Jigs for Hinge Plate Layout
Advice on efficient hinge boring layout when using hand drilling methods. March 28, 2015

Euro-Style Hinges for Frace Frame Cabinets
Advice and information about hinges that work in the Euro manner but look good with overlay doors in face frame cabinets. September 3, 2014

Coping beaded face frames
Efficient methods, plus hinge suggestions for face-frame cabinetry. January 3, 2003

Restricting Cabinet Door Swing
Options for restricting cabinet door outswing to prevent collisions. May 15, 2012

Cabinet Door Warping Problems
Job-site humidity can warp cabinet doors. To reduce problems, some would recommend avoiding Poplar in favor of Maple, or even MDF. October 27, 2011

Drill Press Stops that Register Off the Face of the Workpiece
Here's a shop-rigged solution for drilling to a pre-set depth in any panel, regardless of panel thickness. August 30, 2010

Convenience Store Cabinet Materials
Advice about durable materials for a cabinet in a convenience store. June 4, 2012

Touch/Push Latches and Spring-Activated Hinges
Pairing latches and hinges for a situation where the customer wants hidden hardware and positive latching action on the door. May 15, 2011

Cabinet Face Dimensions
Thoughts about choosing practical and attractive dimensions for face frames, cabinet door stiles and rails, and drawer fronts. April 18, 2006

Door Hinges for a Frameless Upper Corner Cabinet
Cabinetmakers explain how to hang the door in a frameless corner cabinet. August 15, 2006

Door Dimensions and Hinge Requirements
Door geometry and size can dictate the number, spacing, and capacity of the hinges needed. January 29, 2014

Solid Surfacing for Vanity Doors
Advice on fabricating practical cabinet doors using solid surface material. vAugust 8, 2008

Hinge Types and Door Overlay
A cabinetmaker wants closely spaced doors on face-frame cabinets, and gets advice on specialty hinges that can help him achieve that result. December 30, 2005

Pull-Out Drawer Shelves, Concealed Hinges, and Door Interference
When the pull-outs bump into the doors, you have to think about re-sizing the openings, shimming the drawer slides, or both. September 30, 2010

Frameless Corner Cabinet Design and Hinge Options
Companies make hinges for frameless corner cabinets, but the cabinets need to be put together just right for the hinges to work properly. August 29, 2006

Installing Frameless Upper Cabinets
Installers discuss how to keep frameless cabinets stiff, square and well aligned during installation. August 23, 2006

Troubleshooting Salice Soft-Close Hinges
An expert provides some insight into factors affecting the performance of soft-close hinges. March 12, 2015

Hinge-Boring Machine Compatibility
A discussion of retrofitting hinge-boring equipment to handle different companies' hinge screw patterns. July 21, 2006

MDF Versus Plywood for Cabinets
Cabinetmakers discuss the characteristics of MDF, and describe assembly methods. September 22, 2005

Twist in Plywood Doors
Troubleshooting tips for twisty plywood doors, and advice on choosing MDF core instead. April 16, 2009

Restricting Euro Hinge Swing
A cabinetmaker gets advice on preventing a glass door from swinging too wide and contacting an appliance. September 23, 2006

Slides for Very Wide Drawers
Hardware is available for a five-foot-wide drawer, but it's a little stiff in operation. June 17, 2012

Corrosion-Resistant Hardware for Beach Houses
Cabinetmakers discuss the risk of salt air, and suggest product choices for a salt-air environment. August 19, 2013

Cabinet Knob Drilling Guides
Cabinetmakers discuss store-bought and shop-rigged drill guide jigs. January 24, 2006

Using Euro-Style Hinges On Face-Frame Cabinets
Pros share tips and methods for a tricky problem: using "Euro" hardware with face-frame cabinets. December 28, 2005

Jig for Setting Hinges and Doors
Cabinet installers swap ideas for making door setting easier on the arms and joints. January 7, 2010

RTA Fittings for Fat Shelves
Suggestions for "ready-to-assemble" hardware suitable for thick shelving material in a built-in project. March 13, 2014

Unequally Sized Doors on a Corner Cabinet
Is it okay for the doors on a corner cabinet to be slightly different widths? Opinions here say yes. November 23, 2012

Hinge Mounting Tips and Tricks
Low-tech and high-tech ways to quickly and accurately set adjustable Euro hinges. March 3, 2009

Mortised Hinge Alternatives
Tips and ideas for using non-adjustable hinges with exposed pins for beaded-frame inset-door cabinets. March 1, 2006

Oversize Frameless Cabinet Design
A newcomer to frameless construction gets advice on designing and building a large, four-bay, floor-to-ceiling closet cabinet. December 28, 2005

Side-Mount Soft-Close Ball Bearing Drawer Slides
Side-mounted soft-closing drawer slides have a spotty reputation. January 23, 2014

Dummy Finial Hinges for Inset Doors
A cabinetmaker wants to use Euro hinges for the real hinge, but apply a fake half-hinge to the door surface for looks. January 13, 2009

Euro Hinge Bore Locations and Door Reveals
Detailed advice with drawings on laying out hinge locations to achieve the desired door gaps. May 4, 2011

Fitting and Mortising Butt-Hinge Doors
Quick tips on making butt hinges work in out-of-square openings. June 16, 2005

Getting Value from a Vintage Hinge-Boring Machine
The purchaser of an outmoded MeplaMat 3000 boring machine gets advice on how to use it in modern work. September 25, 2014

Design Ideas for a Short, Wide, Over-the-Fridge Cabinet Door
Ways to handle door design for a cabinet with oddball dimensions. December 27, 2006

Spring-Loaded Touch-Open Toe-Kick Drawers
but the hardware is available. May 22, 2007

Veneer Substrate for Bathroom Vanity Doors and Drawers
Searching for a substrate that will hold hinges well and be tolerant of bathroom humidity. July 29, 2012

Self-Closing Non-Euro Hinges?
A quick tip on adding a soft-close option to a door with traditional butt hinges. February 27, 2015

Hinges for Thick Cabinet Doors
Finding sources for hinging a 1.5-inch-thick inset cabinet door. January 19, 2011

Strengthening Commercial Cabinet Door Hinge Connections
Advice on preventing or repairing screw pull-out where hinges are attached to particleboard doors. December 27, 2008

Limiting Cabinet Door Swing
Options for restraining a door's swing so it won't bang into the next cabinet. April 29, 2012

Soft Close Hinge Adaptors
Adding the soft-close option to existing hinges is becoming more and more convenient. March 28, 2015

Training a Cabinet Installation Crew
Advice based on experience about how to teach a pair of promising shop employees how to install cabinets in the field. November 26, 2007

Proper Depth for Frameless Cabinets
In a long discussion, cabinetmakers share observations, opinions and experiences about the dimensions of frameless cabinets. December 14, 2005

Stile and Rail Sizes for Doors and Drawer Faces
A thoughtful discussion on whether and how to vary the stile and rail proportions when designing and detailing cabinets with larger doors and smaller drawer faces. July 13, 2010

Fitting Cabinets to Bowed Walls
Cabinet-hanging and scribing tips for installations in kitchens with irregular wall surfaces. April 18, 2006

Maximum Cabinet Door Width
The industry standard is 24 inches, but cabinetmakers have reason to prefer even narrower doors. February 9, 2006

Repairing Scratched Melamine
No repair is perfect, but here are some pretty good options for a surface gouge in a melamine cabinet interior. September 23, 2006

Refrigerator Cabinet Dimensions
A discussion of the practical and esthetic choices around boxing in a refrigerator. April 29, 2012

What Thickness of Material for Cabinet Backs?
Cabinetmakers discuss whether they use 3/4-inch, 1/2-inch, or 1/4-inch plywood for cabinet backs, and the reasoning behind their preferences. July 11, 2013

Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Doors
Here's a detailed and lively discussion among cabinetmakers and door specialists about the key issues in outsourcing doors, including schedules, quality, efficiency, cost, and making good on mistakes. October 26, 2007

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

Farm Sink and Granite Countertop Install Mismatch
Troubleshooting a countertop installation gone wrong. May 6, 2010

The CAD Learning Curve, Version Upgrades, and Paper Drafting
Here's an interesting discussion of the learning process for design draftsmen and the influence of technology on the process of getting a vision down on paper. May 28, 2010

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 Saws — Choices and Alternatives
A discussion about upgrading the panel cutting capabilities of a shop with limited floor space. July 28, 2012

Choosing a Standard Method for Cabinet Construction
A supervisor helping a new cabinet company establish its standard production system gets feedback about the pros and cons of many different assembly methods, from a variety of perspectives. July 11, 2013

Should I Specialize in Door Production?
These days, the cabinet door industry is highly competitive and has low margins. Here's a discussion of the realities of starting a door-making business. March 25, 2007

Efficient Drawer-Front Installation
In this long, detailed discussion, cabinet pros swap techniques for attaching drawer fronts and discuss how to improve efficiency and accuracy of this fussy and time-consuming step. September 8, 2007

Innovative Design for Ergonomic Kitchens
Cabinetmakers discuss ways to move beyond the conventional kitchen characteristics such as counter height. October 13, 2012

Frameless Cabinet Carcase Fastener Choices
Kicking around a timeless topic again: What's the best way to put a cabinet together? April 10, 2012

Speeding up the Work with a Value Stream Map
Drawing a map to visualize the steps in the production process helps cabinet shops streamline their processes and focus on productive activities instead of on moving parts around. October 2, 2007

Chordal's Letters Considered by Today's Shop Men
A discussion of a century-old book about shop craft, "Chordal's Letters" by James Waring See, available today as an on-line archive. February 6, 2010

Metric Versus Imperial
Point oh six of one, half a dozen percent of the other ... February 13, 2013

When Cabinets Fail
Like the poet said, "Everything falls apart." Here's a long discussion of common cabinet failures and the nature of cabinet repair work. June 28, 2007

Lean Production of Raised Panel Doors
A discussion of tricks for evening out workflow, such as: to speed up the whole job, move labor to the bottleneck from downstream activities. June 28, 2013

Drilling Long Holes in MDF
An MDF shelf made of two panels glued together poses a special edge-drilling challenge. October 2, 2007

Edgebander or Small CNC?
A part-time garage-shop cabinetmaker gets advice on whether his next investment should be a CNC or an edgebander. Good thoughts on both sides in this long thread. October 11, 2007

Kitchen Cabinets and Floors — Which Should Be Installed First?
The decision affects both trades, and there's more than one well-reasoned opinion posted here. May 6, 2007

Relationships with Edgebanders
No two ways about it, edgebanders are temperamental. Here's an extended discussion on getting through the working day with your useful but finicky mechanical partner. December 7, 2007

Unpainted MDF Filler Strips Near a Dishwasher
Is it safe to have a cut MDF edge located close to a dishwasher? Cabinetmakers talk about materials, water resistance, and the meaning of "quality." July 9, 2007

Equipment Choices for Door Fabrication
What kind of shop equipment will speed up door production, for a reasonable cost? November 13, 2009

Figuring Out Woodshop Power Requirements
Amps, volts, watts, horsepower, and all that jazz: here's an instructive thread on how to figure out if a building's power supply will support your plans for shop equipment. July 9, 2007

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

Compressed-Air Piping for a Woodshop
Copper is considered the safe choice, but here is a discussion of some alternatives, and tips on a workable setup. April 21, 2007

Custom Cabinets for an Out-of-Whack Room
Pros discuss ways to make cabinets fit "right" in a room that's wrong. April 20, 2007

Is There Any Future in Woodworking?
A young shop owner starts an informal survey of whether it's a field that's worth spending your life in. October 13, 2010

Screw Through a Water Pipe: Whose Fault?
It's a typical snafu: the cabinet installer hits a water pipe with a screw. This thread is a collection of examples, with descriptions of who covered the repair cost. August 16, 2012

Cabinet Carcase Fastening Method Debate
Here's an enthusiastic slam-and-jam discussion of preferences concerning how to assemble cabinets. April 14, 2010

Fine-Tuning for Accurate Cross-Cuts
starting with zeroing in your square itself. July 28, 2007

Problems with Chinese Plywood
Cabinetmakers report widespread quality and performance problems with hardwood plywood imported from China. May 22, 2007

Machining Face Frame Stock
A cabinetmaker gets advice on improving his process for planing and dimensioning face frame material — or whether to buy pre-milled stock instead. October 12, 2007

Scribing a Template to Fit A Countertop Between Three Walls
Here's a long, detailed thread about scribing a custom template for cutting and fitting countertops into tight spaces. December 27, 2007

Edgebander Glue in Small Lots (and Related Issues)
This thread starts with simple Q&A about getting particular glue colors in small-job quantities, but goes on to explore many aspects of edgebander setup and maintenance.February 17, 2012

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

Home Shop Pros and Cons
Cabinetmakers describe what it's like to have your shop next to (or underneath) your house. April 13, 2012

Design, Construction, and Pricing for a Bar
Advice on building a bar, starting at the conceptual phase. March 26, 2010

Vertical Versus Horizontal Grain and Material Optimization
Is it okay to run the grain horizontally on some cabinet sides, in order to use up extra material? December 14, 2009

High-Volume Cabinet Install Jobs — Is It Worth It?
Cabinet installers discuss the potential pitfalls of a 50-kitchen installation contract, and share tips for making a success of it. March 20, 2007

Edgebanders: Glue Pot Versus Cartridge Versus Hot Air
Here's a detailed discussion of edgebander characteristics, for a shop owner who's trying to make a purchase decision. May 28, 2010

Cabinet-Hanging Tips and Tricks
Ideas for cleats, shop-built "third hand" rigs, and scribing panels for installing upper cabinets. April 6, 2007

Installation Comparison — Face Frame Versus Frameless
Are the efficiencies of frameless construction canceled out by installation difficulties? There is more than one point of view on the question. April 21, 2007

Squaring Up Cabinets
What's the best way to keep cabinet carcasses square — and is it worth it? Cabinetmakers share techniques and opinions. August 14, 2007

Whether to Mill Your Own Cabinet Mouldings
Is it practical for a cabinetmaker to mill his own mouldings? Shop owners say that depending on your situation, investing in a moulder might be worth it. July 29, 2007

Straight Line Ripping on Two Edges
Cabinetmakers discuss the difficulty, cost, benefits, and drawbacks of buying lumber that has been straight line ripped on two edges — or buying the equipment and doing it yourself. October 13, 2012

Preventing Back Pain
Seasoned cabinetmakers discuss shoes, boots, floor mats, exercise, and other back-pain prevention strategies. November 30, 2009

Finished Versus Unfinished Cabinet Installations
In some areas, cabinets are often delivered unfinished and sprayed on site, but in other markets that's practically unheard-of. Here, cabinetmakers discuss the pros and cons of both approaches. May 23, 2007

Driver Choices for Cabinet Assembly Confirmat Screws
Cabinetmakers discuss the options in cordless, corded, and air-powered drivers for cabinet assembly using Confirmat screws. June 17, 2012

Miter Joinery in a Wood Countertop
In principle, a miter joint in wood is problematic because of moisture-related expansion and contraction. But some installers say that if the whole countertop is left free to move, the joint will be okay. January 25, 2013

DeWalt 3521 Radial Arm Saw
A collector and reseller of old American-made tools discusses a classic radial arm saw. March 26, 2013

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

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

Cracking at Door Panel Corners
Cabinetmakers trace the source of a cracking problem in raised-panel doors. January 25, 2010

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

Depth Adjustment on a Pocket Hole Machine
A woodworker gets advice on setting the depth of plunge on an old model of the Kreg Foreman pocket hole machine.June 17, 2013

Should Raised Panels be Proud of the Door Frame?
The evolution of shop equipment has changed what is usual, but that doesn't make the new way standard. July 25, 2010

How Deep Should an Audio Cabinet Be?
Understanding what kind of space is appropriate for systems that can be cranked up to eleven. April 20, 2007

Troubleshooting a Tablesaw Starter Switch
Dirt and wear can interfere with starter switch performance. Here's advice on cleaning and maintenance. February 19, 2013

Jointing Door Stock Twice
Is a shop worker being too careful and creating double work? How much trouble is it worth to be extra sure that door parts are precisely milled? January 19, 2012

Choosing a Phase Converter
Here's advice on choosing a phase converter to bump up two-phase power to supply three-phase motors, with some explanation of how those gizmos actually work. January 31, 2012

Solid Mahogany Countertop Details
Cabinetmakers discuss glue-up, attachment, and finishing methods for a solid mahogany kitchen countertop. May 23, 2007

Cabinet Pocket Doors and Adjustable Shelves
A construction problem: how to build a cabinet with adjustable shelves, inset into a wall, with doors that open out and slide back into recesses next to the cabinet. August 30, 2010

Constructing and Installing Banks of Bookshelves
Library jobs typically call for multiple built-in bookcases, installed shoulder to shoulder. Here are descriptions and photos of different solutions to the construction problem. April 29, 2012

Frameless Layout Systems and Granite Countertops
A discussion of how frameless cabinet dimensions can accomodate granite countertop specs (or vice versa). March 25, 2007

Cabinet Side-to-Bottom Joint Design
A discussion of whether to let cabinet sides run past the bottom and top shelves, or sit above and below them. October 14, 2009

Whether to Finish the Undersides of Upper Cabinets
Cabinetmakers discuss whether cabinet undersides should be finished. November 30, 2009

Machinery for Sanding Wood Veneer Doors
Drum sanders aren't precise enough for finish sanding veneer — instead, choose a high-quality random orbit sander. April 20, 2007

Moving and Unloading Machinery
Practical advice for getting a large, heavy, and expensive piece of industrial equipment off the truck and into place in the shop. October 12, 2007

Troubleshooting a Cracked Beechwood Countertop
A good case example of the inevitable cracking that occurs when wood moisture-related movement is not allowed for — this time, in a counter of solid wood glued to plywood. February 11, 2010

Optimizing Cut Quality on a Door-Making Shaper
With a specialized machine designed for profiling door parts, it can be tricky to adjust RPMs and feed rates for a good, clean cut. July 11, 2007

Curling Problem with Peel-and-Stick Veneer
Pros suggest solutions to a problem with veneer that curls as it dries after finish is applied. August 14, 2007

Good Size for a Start-Up Shop
Shop owners tell how much space they have — and whether it's enough or not. January 10, 2008

Finishing Wood Edges of Laminate Tops
Suppose you want to edge-band laminate tops before finishing the edgebanding? Here are some creative ideas for protecting the laminate top from overspray while finishing just the edge. May 22, 2007

Tablesaw Lubricating Advice
Tips on lubricating a sticky mechanism for raising and lowering the blade on a cabinet shop table saw. April 18, 2010

Flute Size and Spacing
A discussion of the subjective esthetics of fluted pilaster layout and style. February 11, 2010

Stabilizing a Flimsy Cabinet
Ideas for reinforcing and/or anchoring a topheavy cabinet design with inadequate bracing. January 11, 2008

Sizing a Phase Converter for the Load
Advice on matching the capacity of a rotary phase converter to the demands of the equipment it serves. May 28, 2010

Making Concrete Countertops
Fabricating concrete countertops is not rocket science, but it takes practice — and it isn't cheap. March 26, 2007

Free Span Limits of Cabinet Shelving
For wide cabinets with double doors and no center stile, how far is too far for the shelves to span? Here are suggestions for stiffening wide span shelving. March 27, 2012

Fine-Tuning an Edgebander
Detailed advice on tweaking the edgebander so that edges don't require hand-trimming or sanding. November 30, 2009

Pressure-Sensitive Versus Iron-On Edgebanding
Which is the better economical choice for low-volume, occasional edgebanding needs? March 25, 2007

Shoes Off in the House?
Woodworkers discuss the practicality of working in socks, and the alternatives for protecting floors in high-end residential work. October 14, 2009

Sanding Face Frames
Cabinetmakers discuss whether to sand face frames before or after assembling them, and other fine points of sanding technique. October 2, 2007

Troubleshooting Sanding Swirl Marks on Five-Piece Doors
A door manufacturing shop gets advice on methods to eliminate swirl marks without laborious hand sanding. February 11, 2010

Sub-Zero Fridge Installation
Putting in a Sub-Zero? Cabinet installers feel your pain. But the big, heavy units have their defenders too. February 27, 2013

Quality Control for Veneered MDF Panels with Solid Wood Edgebanding
Here's a complicated discussion about whether veneered MDF panels require multiple plies of veneer, and whether or not they must be laid up oversized and then trimmed to fit. October 15, 2012

Gluing Up Face-Frame to End-Panel Miters
Cabinetmakers discuss a fussy assembly technique: joining a face-frame to an end panel. October 2, 2007

Lighting the Sanding Table for Quality Control
Ideas for how to supply raking light on the workpiece to make sanding imperfections easily observable. June 28, 2007

Lubricating a Sliding Table Saw
Views on how to stop a slider from squeaking. December 10, 2007

French Cleat for Wall Cabinets
Custom-built and manufactured options for hanging cabinets from the back. August 30, 2010

Spot Checking for Drill Hole Placement
For high-volume production work, a simple gauge is the best way to check for consistent drilled hole location accuracy. July 13, 2010

Standardizing on One Panel Thickness
Cabinetmakers discuss the idea of making all cabinet parts out of 16mm plywood. December 31, 2012

Table-Saw Power-Feeder Tips
Detailed advice on setting up and using a power feeder with a table saw. July 9, 2007

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

Kitchen Design Clinic
Cabinet pros look at a problematic kitchen design and suggest some improvements. January 11, 2008

Should I Supply Cabinets for a Countertop Display?
Cabinetmakers mull over the idea of supplying a countertop dealer with cabinets for a showroom. December 9, 2007

Value Engineering in Custom Cabinets?
Cabinetmakers discuss ways to shave costs to make and install custom cabinets in a competitive economy. December 24, 2012

Cabinet Levelers: Worth It?
Opinions vary about whether cabinet leveling hardware is worth buying. April 29, 2012

Case Construction Methods
Thoughts on the benefits of dadoes and screws for cabinet carcase assembly. December 10, 2007

Kitchen Design: Symmetry Versus Functionality
Here's a nice exercise in cabinet design: Whether to choose cabinet sizes for symmetrical appearance, even though it will call for special hardware to make a trash pull-out work.January 31, 2012

Outsourced Door Tolerances
Fine accuracy is achievable if a producer cares to put in the effort. September 8, 2007

Lumber for Cabinetmaking: Air-Dried Versus Kiln-Dried
Cabinetmakers explain why they prefer kiln-dried, skip-planed stock for solid wood cabinetry. April 13, 2010

Measuring-Tape Accuracy
Finding an accurate tape measure is a challenge. Ensuring an accurate match between two different tapes is even more challenging. July 11, 2007

Must-Haves for Edgebanders
Which attributes and capabilities matter most when you're comparison-shopping for an edgebander? December 31, 2012

Powering a Slider with a Rotary Phase Converter
Assessing whether a phase converter has the capacity to power a piece of equipment, and avoiding damage to the electronic controls of the machine. March 27, 2012

Solid Wood Cabinet Backs and Wood Movement
A cabinetmaker considers, then rejects, the customer's request for an 8-foot-long solid wood back for an island cabinet. July 25, 2010

Compressed Air Lines in a Shop
Advice on material choices and layout strategies for compressed-air supply lines in a woodshop. March 28, 2010

Recessed Scribes for Frameless Cabinet Installation
Advice on accurate scribing for scribe strips against walls, when the strips are set back slightly from the cabinet face. February 11, 2010

Getting a Good Bond with HPL Edgebanding
Good priming and a warm working temperature are important for good adhesion when applying high pressure laminate edgebanding. May 12, 2013

Mitering End Panels to Face Frames
Advice on machining and fastening the long joint where an end panel meets a face frame. July 25, 2010

Laptops for Sales Presentations
Some cabinetmakers get good results by bringing a laptop computer with them to client meetings. April 20, 2007

Cork Flooring: Install Before or After Cabinets?
A discussion of the practical issues with cabinets and a floating cork floor. November 30, 2009

Counter-Boring for Cabinet Assembly
Is there any way to speed up the process of drilling pilot holes for screw assembly of cabinets? July 28, 2007

Edgebander Operating Tips
Advice on how full to fill the glue pot, glue selection, adjustments, and other factors that affect edgebander performance. January 20, 2010

Plain Sliced Alder Plywood Characteristics
Cabinetmakers advise on what to expect from sliced-veneer Alder plywood. June 3, 2007

Structural Concerns for Boat Cabinetry
A proposal for a free-standing entertainment center on a boat sets off a discussion about appropriate technology in nautical cabinetry. July 30, 2007

Considering Forklift Choices
Shop owners discuss forklift capacity, tire type, propane versus electric, and related considerations. August 31, 2010

Door Finishing and Wood Movement
Thoughts on how to prevent bare wood from being exposed when door panels and frames shrink during dry seasons. November 13, 2009

Weaver Door Shaper System
A small cabinetmaker shops for a door production setup. June 17, 2013

Lazy Susan Door Fit Issues
Door tolerances and operation can create problems at the time of installation with lazy Susan corner cabinets. November 13, 2009

Riving Knife Choices and Use
A discussion of the use of riving knives on the table saw, and of sources of aftermarket riving knives. March 22, 2013

The Revolving Door Lazy Susan (She's Trouble)
A revolving-door Lazy Susan is kind of like a bad dream. But there are ways to cope with it. October 2, 2007

Rotary Screw Compressors for Intermittent Use?
Rotary screw compressors are best for high volume continuous operation. What about situations with more stopping and starting?October 13, 2012

The Advantages of Construction Boring and Dowel Assembly
January 29, 2010

Choosing a 32mm Hinge Drilling Jig
Shopping for a jobsite hinge-boring guide? Here's some advice from users. September 30, 2010

Pre-Glued Banding Versus a Glue-Pot Edgebander
Thoughts on the bond quality of pre-glued edgebanding, and tips on how to apply it. August 31, 2010

Rigging an Outboard Fence for a Shaper
A discussion of the best way to make a shop-built back fence for a shaper. July 11, 2013

Cantilevered Shelf Supports
Practical idea for wall attachment and support for shelves that project straight out from the wall with no visible means of support. July 29, 2007

What's Easier to Install: Face Frame or Frameless?
Each way has its pros and cons. To make the best time with frameless, use the whole system for hanging as well as building. September 30, 2010

Kitchen Cabinets with Legs or Arched Aprons
Advice on building and leveling cabinet fronts with feet. July 25, 2010

Very Heavy Stainless Steel Cabinets
Cabinetmakers discuss materials sourcing for an unusual job: 3/8-inch solid stainless steel cabinets. October 15, 2009

Materials for Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinetmakers discuss Starboard, Extira, and sawn Cypress for outdoor cabinetry. June 28, 2013

Using Up Waste Off-Cuts with Cutlist
The Cutlist optimizing software lets you organize the process of saving and using and scrap drops. Here's how one cabinetmaker takes advantage of that capability. June 3, 2013

Pre-Drilled Shelf Hole Spacing for Bookcases
When customers don't know where they really want the shelves, it's time to fire up the line boring machine. March 25, 2007

Clamping and Fastening Mitered Cabinet Corners
Advice on tape, clamping jigs, and the like for holding mitered corners in place for careful, accurate fastening. July 13, 2010

Pre-Mill Capability on an Edgebander
Advice on how to take best advantage of the pre-mill function on a new edgebander. May 23, 2007

Wrapping Cabinets for Transportation
The pros and cons of bubble wrap, cardboard rolls, newsprint remainders, shipping blankets, et cetera. March 21, 2012

Tambour Doors for a Media Cabinet
A few thoughts on the quality issues with tambour doors, and some nice pictures of a related router jig setup. November 23, 2012

Dressing a Wide-Belt Sander Drum
Here's a quick, full explanation of how to re-dress a worn drum on a wide-belt sander. January 18, 2012

Ripping Stock Straight
Shop machinery and techniques for ripping straight stock with glue-joint quality edges. April 16, 2010

Job Site Toolbox Ideas
Installers tell how they transport and organize their tools on the job. December 9, 2007

Choosing a Widebelt Sander
A discussion of widebelt sander capabilities, the function of the platen, and more. November 6, 2007

Cabinet Crown Moulding Blocks and Jigs
Cabinetmakers discuss the use of "crown blocks" to hold and fasten crown moulding into position.October 11, 2012

Standard Height for Base Cabinets
Cabinetmakers discuss the standard height of cabinets, and reasons to make an exception. November 13, 2009

Setting Up for Lock-Miter Joints
Setting up machines for efficient production using lock-miter joinery. March 27, 2012

Edgebander Glue Level and Maintenance
A cabinetmaker who has acquired a used edgebander asks about how best to care for the glue pot. August 16, 2012

Edgebander Guillotine Retraction Issues
A detailed troubleshooting report about solving problems with the guillotine device on a Holz-Her edgebander, with good info on sources for parts and support. June 22, 2012

Widebelts, Drum Sanders, and the Budget
Widebelts are generally preferred among cabinetmakers, but there are votes (with reasons) for double drum sanders and stroke sanders. January 12, 2012

Crafting a Curved Range Hood
Buying is easier than building if you want a curved range hood. But here are some tips on building it anyway.August 16, 2012

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

Finish Before or After Hinge Insertion?
Press-in hinges raise the question of whether to spray cabinets before or after installing the hinges. November 6, 2007

Ideas for Cabinet Feet
Cabinetmakers discuss style ideas for feet on a kitchen sink cabinet. November 30, 2009

Starting Large Motors with Alternative Power Sources
Woodworkers consider the problem of starting up big equipment in a solar-powered and wind-powered cabinet shop. November 30, 2009

Hand-Drilling Jigs for Confirmat Screws or Dowels
If you're doing more than an occasional piece, an entry-level low-end line boring setup beats any hand method, even with a jig. November 27, 2012

Cabinet Door Clamping Options
From shop-built jigs to specialty clamps to clamping tables, there's a range of solutions for clamping doors when gluing up. March 25, 2007

MDF Doors: One-Piece Versus Two-Piece
This discussion about fabricating MDF doors includes a closer look at why MDF warps, and about the difference between premium and commodity-grade material. July 13, 2010

End Panel for a Dishwasher in a Frameless Cabinet Run
When the dishwasher falls at the end of a run of frameless cabinets, what's a good end panel detail? Here are several suggestions. June 17, 2010

Production Capacity of a One-Man Shop
Can one man working alone knock out two custom kitchens a month — and run the business too? It's debatable. January 13, 2008

Standing Tall Cabinets
Another take on the problem of maneuvering those too-tall cabinets into their spot. August 14, 2007

Pneumatic Motor Freeze-Up
Air-powered motors need regular oiling, or they stop working. October 11, 2007

Corner Cabinet Joinery
Here are several suggestions for ways to build 22.5-degree corners for a face frame for an inside corner cabinet.. March 27, 2012

Kitchen Design and Oversized Refrigerators
Deep refrigerators add complexity to cabinet layout and installation. April 20, 2007

Stepping Up Shop Voltage
More powerful machinery may need higher-voltage power. There's more than one way to obtain that. August 22, 2007

Corner Sink Base Ideas
Advice with drawings for building a corner sink base cabinet. October 11, 2007

Scribing Face Frames To The Wall on Two Sides
Tricks for scribing both ends of a small cabinet to fit against walls on either side. November 19, 2006

Lift Truck for a Small Shop
Contractors discuss ways to get heavy materials up to and down from an upper-floor loft in the shop. July 11, 2013

Trimming Edgebanding on a Curved Edge
Good suggestions for clean, efficient trimming of edgebanding applied to a flat surface with a curved perimeter. June 21, 2012

Troubleshooting a Slippery Widebelt Feed Belt
Here's how to dress a slippery feedbelt on a new widebelt sander. July 13, 2010

Removing and Reassembling Pocket-Holed Parts
Can you pocket-screw a face frame to a cabinet, remove it, and re-attach it successfully? April 21, 2007

Production Gains from a Horizontal Boring Machine
Properly put to work, a boring machine make better use of your skilled labor, keep your shop cleaner, and help with build quality of your cabinetry. August 16, 2012

Twin Tablesaw Setups
Two cabinetmakers describe (with pictures) how they set up left-tilt and right-tilt Delta Unisaws shoulder to shoulder in the shop, for versatile cutting ability in a tight footprint. July 12, 2012

Managing Layout for Mechanicals
Who's responsible for marking the locations of pipes, wires, et cetera during a kitchen remodel? Cabinetmakers discuss the reasons that some will take on managing this problem, and others won't.February 27, 2013

Keeping Your Cell Phone Handy on Site
Installers share ideas for keeping your cell phone handy on site, but safe from being dropped or lost. May 28, 2010

Long-Spanning Shelves
A deep hardwood edge on plywood shelves creates a stiffer beam effect. August 14, 2007

Hidden Dowel Joinery for Closet Shelf Assembly
Advice on how to assemble a closet shelf system on site with no visible fasteners. January 20, 2010

Limitations of a Hot-Air Edgebander
Thick edgebanding does not tend to work well with a hot-air edgebander because of the limited glue quantities on the pre-glued banding. July 11, 2007

Oops! Can't Stand Up that Too-Tall Cabinet
Suggestions for recovering on site from a bonehead cabinet design error. December 9, 2007

Crown Moulding Attachment Details
Methods for mounting crown moulding on frameless and face-frame cabinets (with clear, useful drawings). April 13, 2010

Protecting Cabinets from Shipping Damage
Cabinets often suffer damage if shipped by truck or rail. Here's advice on packaging for protection. October 12, 2012

Gluing Painted Glass to Wood or MDF
Woodworkers discuss colored coatings for glass, and adhesives that will reliably fasten the coated glass to a wood fiber substrate.July 12, 2012

Running Small Raised Panels on the Shaper
Advice on accessories, methods, and jigs to safely machine small pieces on a powerful shaper. March 26, 2010

Troubleshooting Puck-Light Dimmers
Cabinetmakers consider what might be making low-voltage lighting dimmers malfunction. May 7, 2007

Index Pin Accuracy on Line Boring Machines
Index pin setups let you extend the line of holes you bore, but there is debate about how accurate they allow you to be. October 2, 2007

Hiding Holes for Pocket Screws
Ways to mask pocket screw holes, or at least make them inconspicuous. January 11, 2008

Glue-Pot Issues, Maintenance, and Edgebander Performance
In this case, slow heating and glue burning were caused by blown heating elements. But there are other things to be aware of that can help or harm an edgebander glue pot's performance and longevity. June 17, 2012

Fitting a Lazy Susan Into an Out-of-Square Corner
Solutions for adapting the fixed geometry of a corner cabinet to an out-of-whack space. November 13, 2009

Refinishing Failed Thermofoil Doors
Is there a reliable way to strip and paint RTF doors that are delaminating badly, or is it wiser just to buy new MDF doors and start from scratch? May 12, 2013

Cabinet Cleanup Options for Ink and Glue
Tried using an orange peel? Cabinetmakers discuss less-noxious cleaning alternatives for on-site work. January 25, 2013

Sourcing Dry-Erase Materials
A look at product choices for making dry-erase fixtures, furniture, and accessories. April 29, 2010

Hinge-Boring Bit Choices
Cabinetmakers discuss how to set up for boring Euro hinge holes in hard materials. August 31, 2010

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

Door Clearance Issues with Euro Cabs
Occasionally you need fillers or spacers to address door swing conflicts in frameless cabinetry. March 27, 2012

Phase Converters and Machinery Electronic Controls
A discussion of using phase converters to power shop machinery that has complicated or sensitive onboard electronic circuitry. March 22, 2013

Ultra-Light MDF for Cabinetmaking
Cabinetmakers are succeeding with ultra-light MDF. Here's more info. February 19, 2013

Troubleshooting SawStop False Trips
Saw Stop blade brakes rarely activate without reason. But in this case ... February 17, 2012

End Panels Inset into a Face Frame
Cabinetmakers discuss construction methods for a nice end-panel detail: panels set into a face frame, with a slight reveal. March 25, 2007

Detailing File Drawers for Hanging Folders
Hardware choices and woodworking methods to equip file drawers to hold hanging folders. May 13, 2013

Corner Cabinet Basics
Tips for a beginner on building corner cabinets. February 11, 2010

Slide-Out Table Details
Cabinetmakers try to figure out how a large slide-out table works. August 31, 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

Narrow Spice Rack Door Ideas
Cabinetmakers kick around ideas for detailing the door on a five-inch-wide pullout spice rack. January 11, 2008

Half-Round Cabinet Joinery
Thoughts about how to construct and join the shelves and face frame for a curved-face open-shelf cabinet. September 6, 2012

Line Boring Bit Recommendation
Debating the advantages of brad-point and V-point bits for production boring. January 12, 2012

Hanging Cabinets on a Brick Wall
Tips on installing to brick, including advice on trouble-free Tapcon installation and a method involving epoxy and threaded rod. August 28, 2010

Table Extension Ideas
Folding and sliding table extensions for machinery that sometimes requires support for a long workpiece. March 26, 2010

Wall Nailing Hard Spot Mystery
Sometimes it takes a little detective work to figure out why fasteners won't penetrate at one particular spot. January 11, 2008

Dadoed-In Back Panel Case Construction Methods
A back panel glued into a dado on cabinet sides contributes to a rugged case, and one that can be quick to build. Here are some thoughts on the details. December 27, 2007

CNC Bits for Cutting HPL Laminate
High Pressure Laminate is rough on tooling. Here's advice for choosing a bit that might last a little longer. November 27, 2012

Polishing Granite
This thread covers a helpful topic: polishing scratches out of granite tops. June 18, 2010

Safe Materials for Museum Storage Cabinets
Wood's acidity and release of volatile substances make it a risk to stored artifacts, including paper art work. Here's advice on "art-safe" materials for museum storage or display cabinetry. November 13, 2009

Hot Air Edgebander Choices
A cabinetmaker gets advice on selecting the right edgebander. July 11, 2007

Modifying an Existing Cabinet Face Frame
Advice on how to remove a center stile from a cabinet face frame to make room for retrofitting wide drawers. June 28, 2007

Telescoping Extending Closet Pole Ideas
Hardware thoughts for a tight closet problem. January 20, 2010

Upper Cabinet Height Standard
Conventions and codes for upper cab height have changed over the years, with some practical implications. July 28, 2012

Yellow Cedar Characteristics
Not a true Cedar, Yellow Cedar grows mainly on the northern Pacific coast of North America. Here is some info about its useful properties. April 2, 2013

Overhanging Granite Countertop
You should consult the granite supplier, but here are some support methods that have worked in the past. July 29, 2012

Glass Shelf Span?
Advice on glass thickness for a wide shelf span. February 17, 2012

Wiring a Fan Motor
Advice on figuring out whether a motor, purchased second hand, is correctly wired. August 16, 2012

Dowel Joinery Glue Application Techniques
The standard method is to place a metered amount of glue into the hole, then insert the dowel. November 23, 2012

Pre-Finished Plywood and Wood Edgebanding
Advice on assembly and finishing of a cabinet made with prefinished plywood interiors and solid wood edgebanding. October 13, 2012

Shop-Made Fence Stops for a Line Boring Machine
Here's a look at a shop-rigged adjustable stop system for a Ritter R-46, with brass bolts for fine adjustment. April 29, 2012

Hanging Cabinets on Metal Stud Walls
Thoughts on fastening cabinet backs to light-gauge metal stud walls. April 14, 2010

Is a Drum Sander Worth $400?
Even if the drum sander is cheap, some people would say to stick with random orbit sanding. May 15, 2012

Xenon Versus Halogen Cabinet Lighting
Comparing the cost, performance, and availability of halogen and xenon lights for cabinets and display casesJanuary 9, 2008

Edgebanding with No Edgebander
Alternative ways to apply edgebanding to small runs of laminate doors when you have no edgebander. September 23, 2006

Dadoed Carcase Joinery
Cabinetmakers discuss using dado joinery for cabinet assembly. October 11, 2007

Gang Rips Saws and Glue-Ready Edges
A gang ripsaw or straight-line ripsaw should yield a glue-joint ready edge, but only with proper blade sharpening and maintenance. January 12, 2012

Solid Aluminum Edgebanding?
Information about aluminum edgebanding. March 26, 2010

Northern Versus Southern Red Oak
The characteristics of Oak vary from North to South. Here's more. April 15, 2013

Making Raised Panel Arch Valances
Advice on fabricating arches raised panel valances. June 4, 2012

Hardware Installation Jigs: Are They Worth It?
Some installers say a self-centering tape and combination square are quicker. January 25, 2013

Design Puzzle: Doors for a Wide Angle Corner
Cabinetmakers discuss solutions to an interesting design puzzle: doors that meet at the outside corner of an irregularly shaped island cabinet. August 16, 2012

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

Making Table Saw Blade Parallel to Miter Slot
Contractor's table saws are not as adjustable as a shop cabinet saw. November 27, 2007

Pricing a Small Built-In
Another instructive pricing case example — this time, a small built-in with walls on three sides. May 28, 2010

De-Glazing a Widebelt Conveyor
The standard method is to sand the conveyor with the wide belt, but you can just use a random orbital hand sander instead. October 15, 2012

Repairing Broken Abrasive Belts
Sanding belts have a shelf life, and once the joint tape fails, it's not easy to fix. February 16, 2012

Shopping for Panel Clamps
Several different suppliers offer clamp systems that hold boards in a flat alignment while applying pressure for the edge glue joints. August 31, 2010

Repairing a Screw Hole in a P-Lam Desktop
Repair options for a punctured plastic laminate desk. January 14, 2013

Cutting Installed Chair Rail
With the right tools, surgically removing existing trim before setting a new cab can be the simplest course. September 30, 2010

Cutting Sink Holes in Laminate Countertops
Introductory tips for a new installer on cutting laminate countertops. May 22, 2007

Supporting the Front of a Farmhouse Sink Cabinet
"Farmhouse" sinks have issues when it comes to support and access. August 14, 2007

Pocket Hole Machine Maintenance
Slow operation and a gravely, rough, grinding sound could be caused by junk in the gears. July 28, 2012

Fridge Panel Dimensions
Refrigerator panel dimensions provided in the manufacturer's manual should be checked against the actual appliance measurements, because sometimes things change. February 17, 2012

Stapling Cabinet Backs On
Avoiding blow-outs when attaching cabinet backs using staples. October 25, 2007

Five-Piece Drawer Front Attachment Tips
Methods for attaching drawer fronts that are secure and allow adjustment. February 11, 2010

Setting Up a Power Feeder
A cabinetmaker gets advice on adjusting a power feeder he bought second-hand with no manual. November 13, 2009

Cleaning Edgebander Glue Spreader
Fine points of getting the gunk out of your edgebander's glue spreader. March 26, 2010

Powder-Post Beetles in Cabinetry
Where could those pesky critters be coming from? June 5, 2007

Cleaning an Edgebander Glue-Pot
Cleaning the gluepot is a hassle, so it's wise to take steps to minimize fouling. September 8, 2007

Widebelt Sander Kickback
Cabinetmakers discuss why a widebelt sander kicked some boards out against the feeder belt. October 11, 2012

Snipe with a Wide-Belt Sander
Troubleshooting a wide-belt sander performance problem: it's making a "dip" in the piece. October 2, 2007

Clamp Rack Size Considerations
Advice on choosing and using a clamp rack. December 11, 2012

Rebuilding Cordless-Tool Batteries
The cells in a cordless tool battery pack can be replaced with aftermarket versions. But is it worth doing? May 22, 2007

Crown Moulding on Frameless Cabinets
Full-overlay doors on frameless upper cabinets make it tricky to apply crown molding at the ceiling. October 9, 2006

Making Fluted Accent Columns Useful
Fluted accent columns add a custom look. Here are some ideas for making them earn their keep as doors or pull-out fronts, too. September 8, 2007

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

Outdoor Kitchen Advice
Here's a laundry list of issues to address if you build an outdoor kitchen. October 13, 2012

Cabinet Floor-Platform Terminology
Most cabinetmakers are familiar with the idea of a ladder-shaped platform for mounting base cabinets in certain situations. But what do you call the pieces of that assembly? July 29, 2007

Laying Out a Forty-Five-Degree Peninsula
Ideas for accurately placing angled cabinets on site. December 9, 2007

Hinges for Inset Doors in Deep Openings
Working on a hinge problem for recessed doors. May 6, 2010

1/2-Inch Drawer Bottoms
Cabinetmakers discuss construction details of wide drawers with half-inch bottoms, dovetail boxes and undermount slides. October 2, 2007

Mounting a Table-Saw Power Feeder
Ideas for attaching a power feeder to a table saw. October 2, 2007

Flat-Profile Crown Moulding
Some might call it a "Shaker" or "Mission" detail. Here are some examples and discussion of crown moulding with simple, flat faces. June 3, 2013

Continuous Cabinet Bottoms for Upper Cabs
Thoughts on the structural integrity of alternative cabinet construction configurations. July 29, 2012

Fabricating and Installing Curved Baseboard
Suggestions for this curved baseboard situation include using flexible stock, or clamping and laying up thin layers of MDF before profiling with a router. July 12, 2012

Full Length Flush Drawer and Door Pulls
Thoughts on hardware sources, and on the esthetics and practicality of a full-length flush drawer pull. February 14, 2010

Kerfed Slab Doors
A cabinetmaker gets advice on an uncommon customer request: slab doors with kerfs on 3-inch centers.. May 15, 2012

Shop Voltage Limits for Edgebanders
Accurately controlled AC voltage supplied to the machine is important for regulating the 24-volt DC output of the edgebander's internal transformer. October 15, 2009

Custom Closet Basics
Entry-level info on custom closets for a cabinetmaker who is unfamiliar with that kind of work. July 28, 2012

Counterweights for a Folding Door
Thoughts on how to balance the weight of a heavy folding door with vertical action. October 2, 2010

Roughing Up a Wide-Belt Feed Mat
Tips on how to roughen the surface of the feed mat on a 2-head widebelt sander to keep parts from slipping as they're fed in. February 12, 2010

Sanding an Inside Profile
Cabinetmakers don't report much luck with machine sanding to remove cutter burns. July 11, 2007

Termite-Resistant Cabinet Materials
Advice on termite-resistant wood, composites, or synthetic materials for use in tropical locations. August 31, 2010

Troubleshooting Flickering Power Supply
Poor quality power might be a site maintenance issue. April 2, 2013

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

Whether to Glue Pocket-Screwed Face Frame Joints
Most cabinetmakers use glue for joint stability even when the joint is secured with pocket screws. October 15, 2012

Edgebanding and Butt Joints
Rounded-over edgebanding creates an issue of a "soft" joint where edges butt to one another. Here, cabinetmakers discuss whether that's a problem in commercial work. April 20, 2007

Odor-Free Adhesives for On-Site Replacement of Laminate and PVC Banding
Some contact cements are very low odor. This thread also has some advice about organizing the work. September 30, 2010

Giving Away or Using Up Scrap Wood
Ideas for making use of small hardwood or plywood scrap and off-cuts. March 25, 2007

Inserts for Custom Wood Range Hoods
Advice on choosing the necessary manufactured liner for a wooden range vent hood. January 19, 2012

Installing Cabinets Over Carpet
No two ways about it — you have to cut the carpet back. August 13, 2007

Maintenance for a Martin T-71 Slider
A longtime Martin owner advises a new buyer of a vintage 1985 slider how to care for the machine. January 14, 2013

Door Ideas for Wide-Screen TV Cabinets
Examples of bi-fold and tri-fold doors give an idea of looks that work. December 14, 2009

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

Cutting Shims
Fine points of a minor, but important element in cabinet installation: the lowly shim. April 14, 2010

Edgebander Adjustments for an Even Glue Line
Maintenance tips that can help keep the edgebander from creating excessive glue build-up at the bottom of panel edges. August 14, 2007

Folding Blueprint Table
Cabinetmakers discuss folding table options for the stuff they bring along when they measure a job. December 31, 2012

Drilling Plumbing Holes in Ceramic Tile
Tips on making neat holes in existing tile for pipe penetrations. November 26, 2007

Dealing with Oversize Edge Banding
If your edgebanding is a little wider than the thickness of your panel stock, you have several options. October 26, 2012

How to Stop Inset Doors Flush with the Face Frame
The search for a high-quality detail for stopping inset doors. March 22, 2013

Install Jigs for Blum Tandembox
Which jigs are worth having, and what's the best place to get them? October 13, 2012

Solid Wood Strips in the Edgebander
Running heavy solid wood edgebanding involves some tricky steps, and can be slow. July 28, 2012

Clearance for a Microwave Above a Cooktop
Nobody seems to know the rule, but here are some individual answers. April 17, 2013

Repairing a Wide Belt Platen
If damaged, the graphite and felt pad on a wide-belt sander can be repaired with generic materials. March 27, 2012

Understanding "Blind Dado" Cabinet Construction
These illustrations and explanations help to visualize how blind dado details work to hold cabinets together. July 29, 2007

Contour Trimming 3mm Edgebanding
Advice on rounding over and trimming plastic edgebanding without melting the material. August 31, 2010

Leg Leveler Lifting Capacity
Use caution when adjusting leg levelers with a screwdriver from inside the cabinet. February 12, 2010

Waxing Machine Tops
Keep it simple. March 25, 2007

Sequencing Tasks to Optimize Workflow
Quick tips on organizing cabinetmaking tasks for efficiency. February 13, 2013

Power Feeder Wheels for Slippery Material
Stock feeder wheels may not be grippy enough to grab onto prefinished plywood or other low-friction material. January 25, 2013

Machining Arched Top Rails for Doors
Advice on shaper techniques for curved top rails, in order to avoid breaking the pointed tip of the sharp corners. November 23, 2012

Managing Edgebander Outfeed in a Small Shop
Ideas for a simple automated setup to catch parts before they fall off the end of the edgebander, without tying up a worker's time. December 31, 2012

Replacing Cabinets Without Removing the Countertop
A woodworker describes how he replaces base cabinets while leaving the top in place. June 16, 2010

Long Angle Cutting on a Miter Saw
A nice illustration in this thread shows how you can cut a 140-degree angle (for instance) on a chopsaw. June 17, 2010

Planning For Crown Molding And Trim
05/31/2012

Registers in the Base of a Built-In Bookcase
Ideas for building vents into the bases of built-in cabinets. August 14, 2007

Calibrating an Edgebander
For best results, use a straight-edge off the "glue shoe" to set the gap for the glue roller. September 8, 2007

Reducing Shaper RPMs
Advice on stepping down a shaper's drive motor to accommodate a sanding wheel. March 27, 2012

Frameless Oven and Microwave Cabinets
Tips on building frameless cabinets for ovens and microwaves. March 26, 2010

How Stable is Lyptus Wood?
Lyptus has a reputation for lots of shrinkage and twisting. March 20, 2012

Working with Zebra Wood
Zebra wood is splintery, twisty, smelly, and irritating — but beautiful, woodworkers say. January 25, 2013

Pony Clamp Pads Staining Work
Watch out: an oil-based residue in the rubber pads on a clamp can mark your work. May 28, 2010

Slat Walls -What To Charge
05/29/2012

Edgebander Choice: Hot Air Versus Glue Pot
A second-hand glue pot edgebander at a good price could be the better value. July 29, 2012

Safety Air Switch Logic for Clamps
Advice on sources for pneumatic clamps that require two-handed actuation for safety. August 30, 2010

Line Boring Bit Sharpening
Careful sharpening will renew the bits and preserve bored-hole accuracy. October 11, 2007

Shelf Supports and Uplift
An unusual shelf setup needs restraint against tipping. What's the solution? Some shelf support pins provide a way for holding the shelf down. July 29, 2007

Measurement Tools for PDF Drawings
Notes on a couple of apps that will let you pull dimensions on a PDF drawing. March 27, 2012

Shimming and Fastening for End Panels
Looking for a fast and accurate way to attach end panels flush to the face frame. May 15, 2012

Metal Hanger Rail for Closets
Searching for easy installation hardware for closet-mounted cabinets. June 16, 2010

Elevator Panel Retrofit Methods
Tips for removing and replacing plastic laminate elevator wall paneling. April 14, 2010

Understanding AWI's "Premium Grade"
Watch out — if you really have to build to an Architectural Woodwork Institute specification, you really have to know your stuff. January 10, 2008

Should You Run a Compressor in Unconditioned Space?
Compressors may suffer if operated in winter cold or summer heat. February 19, 2013

Minimum Clamping Time for Doors
How long should you keep doors in the clamps? May 15, 2012

Visible Edgebander Glue Line Problem
How to avoid or fix an unsightly glue line on edgebanded panels. October 11, 2007

Whether to Continue Baseboard onto a Bathroom Vanity
Should baseboard be installed on the sides of a bath vanity? Here are suggested bathroom trim details for that situation.

Raised Panel Door Glue-Ups: Rip First or Not?
For an 18-inch-wide door panel, is it worth ripping 10-inch-wide Mahogany down to narrower widths before gluing up, or not? July 29, 2012

Cutting Out Sink Holes in Laminate Tops
October 2, 2007

Installing Fabric into Speaker Doors
Cabinetmakers suggest ways to fasten the cloth into doors on a cabinet that will house speakers. November 23, 2012

Countertop Cutout for a Slide-In Stove
Tips on fitting a slide-in range to a counter. May 28, 2010

Drilling into Hard Concrete
Tips for making drill bits last when drilling for fasteners in concrete. May 6, 2007

Cherry Cabinets with Birch Interiors
Ideas on how to finish off the ends of cabinets built with different species of plywood for interiors and exteriors. February 26, 2007

Tips on Hanging Upper Cabinets
Here are a couple of useful ideas to making hanging upper cabinets easier. August 13, 2007

Pull-Out Bread-Board Ideas
Tricks for adding breadboard pullouts to face-frame cabinets, without losing drawer space. October 15, 2009

Corner Sink Cabinet Sizing
Corner sinks introduce some awkward space trade-offs. February 17, 2012

Thickness Adjustment for a Widebelt Sander
Here's how to calibrate the panel thickness readout on an SCM Sandya widebelt. July 29, 2012

Removing Saw-Table Rust
More tips on rust removal for tool beds. September 8, 2007

Edgebander Feed Track Control Issue
Troubleshooting a sensor trip on an edgebander that's stopping the feed track. December 14, 2009

Vertical Sliding-Door Ideas
Ideas for a creative custom install: a framed picture as a sliding door for a built-in TV cubby. July 29, 2007

Loosening Frozen Nuts
June 17, 2012

Figuring Angles: Degrees Versus Minutes
A little help with confusing geometry notation — how to convert "minutes" of angle to decimals. April 14, 2010

Cleaning Up Edgebanded Corners
Options for trimming overhanging edgebanding ends flush. October 12, 2007

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

Cabinets in Front of Windows, with Glass Doors
It may sound strange, but it can work out well. May 28, 2010

Edgebander Buffing Wheels
Advice on maintaining and using the buffing wheels on an older edgebander. January 25, 2013

Finger Pull Detail for Laminate Doors
Painting the cove detail to match the laminate is more reliable than fitting laminate to the profile. July 12, 2012

Lattice Design for Wine Bottle Storage
Lattice construction details that keep the bottle tilted so that the cork stays wet. March 27, 2012

Euro Hinge Positioning and Door Edges
Euro hinges have to be mounted very close to door edges. But here's a workaround that adds some flexibiity for face frame construction. May 13, 2013

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

Mixing Maple and Poplar
Maple and Poplar have similar characteristics, and can be combined in a paint-grade project. April 2, 2013

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

Pronouncing Exotic Wood Names
Does "Wenge" rhyme with "Ben-Gay"? Well, that depends on who you ask. November 23, 2012

Restaurant Booth Specifications
Basic information on appropriate dimensions for restaurant booth seating and tables. November 10, 2006

Cutting 45° Crown Moulding
Info on cutting crown of various spring angles, and what to do if the walls are slightly off square. July 28, 2012

Glass Shelves with Wood Frames
Tips on how to secure glass into wood frames for glass shelving. May 22, 2007

Hanging Wall Cabinets from Plaster over Block
Quick tip for attaching cabinets to plaster-covered concrete-block walls. June 28, 2007

Uses for a Wide Jointer
What good is a 24-inch jointer? December 14, 2009

Cutting Ceramic Whiteboard Material Without Chipping
How to cut ceramic board without chipping out. January 7, 2010

Lipping Planer Operator Technique
A cabinetmaker gets advice on handling a lipping planer with the right touch, so it won't tear up his panels. June 21, 2012

Cross-Grain Plywood
If you want plywood grain running up and down instead of side to side, carefully cutting and seaming the piece will usually fool the eye. July 9, 2007

Efficient Production of Drawer Parts
An idea for speeding up the drawer blank cutting process. September 8, 2007

The KISS II System: A Simplified Approach to Building Cabinets Using the 32mm System
This authoritative introduction lays out a simple road map for efficient, standardized cutting, drilling, and assembly of Euro-style frameless cabinets. September 22, 2007

Removing an Edgebander Glue Pot
Quick advice on getting the glue pot off an old SCMI edgebander for cleaning and repair. October 12, 2012

Eliminating Orbital Sander Sanding Swirls
Swirl marks from an orbital sander are mostly about technique, not tool choice. July 29, 2012

Minimum Depth of a Seating Counter
Eighteen inches is comfortable for sitting and eating from plates. February 11, 2010

Glue Pot Cleaning Tips
Thoughts on the messy business of cleaning out an edgebander glue pot.July 28, 2012

Wood Movement and Strap Hinges
Quick tips on mounting large hinges to solid wood in a way that won't restrict the freedom of the wood to expand or contract in response to ambient conditions. July 11, 2013

Drawing and Cutting Ellipses
Drawing ellipses without strings or formulas, making a jig to cut an ellipse, and cutting an ellipse with a router and jig. January 28, 2007

Multiple Cabinet Refacing
Can you reface over existing refacing? Yes, if the first layer still adheres well. December 30, 2007

Coping With Burnout
Cabinetmakers discuss how to keep interest alive and productivity up while juggling multiple roles in a one-man cabinet business. March 12, 2009

Don't Rent Your Shop to a Builder
And don't fall in love with a dreamer. And don't stick your fork in the toaster. June 23, 2006

Hanging Narrow Cabinets when Studs Aren't Available
Tips on supporting upper cabinets when sufficient nailing is not provided. August 23, 2006

Minimum Walking Space for Kitchens
In a tight kitchen, how much space do you have to allow between a wall counter and an island?April 18, 2006

MDF or Solid Wood for a Face Frame
MDF is nice for paint-grade door panels, but not so suitable for face frames. October 15, 2009

Advice about Starting a Cabinet Business
Cabinetmakers deliver several truckloads of advice to a young person with some start-up cash and a lot of enthusiasm. October 25, 2006

Adjustment Problems and Customer Care
An extended discussion of how to handle a customer who repeatedly calls about minor drawer alignment issues on custom cabinetry. December 6, 2008

Blind woodworker's story
A blind cabinetmaker tells the story of his education and career in woodworking. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) January 21, 2003

Are Solid Wood Dovetailed Drawers Worth It?
Cabinetmakers discuss the cost and value of various drawer materials and construction methods. February 28, 2012

Are Solid Wood Cabinets Practical to Build?
A long, highly informative discussion of the practical and other issues involved in building and selling cabinetry made from solid wood rather than plywood or composites. February 26, 2007

Backyard Shop Ideas
Here's lots of advice for a first-time shop builder from cabinetmakers who have been there and done that (with a side discussion about relating to the neighbors). January 28, 2009

Are Cabinet Makers Carpenters?
Mulling over the dividing line between skilled tradesmen who all build things out of wood — but in different ways. July 20, 2011

Appliance Cutouts
Standards, and a lack of, for kitchen appliace cutouts. August 7, 2004

Advice for a Young Woodworker Starting Out
Feedback from the old-timers for an ambitious youngster. September 17, 2014

Baby Steps toward More Efficient Sanding
A small shop owner considers stepping up to a drum sander or stroke sander, or just investing in more compressor capacity and some pneumatic hand sanders. October 27, 2011

Affordable Sanding Options for the One-Man Shop
In yet another take on a frequent forum topic, shop owners compare the pros and cons of drum sanders, wide-belt sanders, and stroke sanders.March 13, 2014

Emplacements de perçage des charnières Blum
Détermination du retrait du bord pour le perçage lors de l'utilisation de charnières Blum. 20 mars 2001

Collage de teck sur contreplaqué
Conseils sur la préparation des surfaces et le choix de la colle pour le collage des portes en teck et contreplaqué sur un bateau. 13 octobre 2010

Sceller le contreplaqué pour ralentir les émissions de formaldéhyde
Voici une discussion approfondie sur l'opportunité et la manière de sceller le contreplaqué afin de réduire les émissions de formaldéhyde (ou d'acheter un autre type de contreplaqué à la place). 27 décembre 2010

Achieving Consistent Copes
Why is it so difficult to cut copes the same every time? October 5, 2004

Blade Choices for Table Saws
Thoughts on which saw blades work best for which materials, and some general info on saw blade characteristics and maintenance. December 27, 2010

Building a Curved Door from Solid Wood
A student question about solid wood door construction draws lots of responses with descriptions of various methods. January 20, 2011

Building with Pre-Finished Plywood
Pre-finished plywood can streamline the construction and finishing workflow. Here are some tips and stories. July 12, 2012

Blum hinge drilling locations
Determining the edge setback for drilling in the use of Blum hinges. March 20, 2001

Building Separate Kicks
Different methods of building and installing toekicks. August 7, 2004

Advantages of Pocket Screw Construction
Fans of pocket screws explain why they like to use them for assembling face frame cabinets. April 26, 2006

A Curved Mahogany Bar Top
This discussion of a curved bar top job gets into wood choices, joinery, templating, fabricating, and more. February 13, 2009

Accurate Placement of Finished End Panels
Cabinetmakers describe tips and tricks for keeping end panels properly registered while fastening with pocket screws. June 8, 2008

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

Basics of Saw Blade Selection
An introduction to the important characteristics of various saw blade types. November 24, 2008

Best Method for Leveling Base Cabinets
Cabinetmakers compare installation methods for base cabs, including ledgers, ladders, and adjustable levelers. November 29, 2014

AWI Quality Standards and Balanced Lamination
Here's a long discussion of good practice for making laminate cabinet doors, and what the Architectural Woodworking Institute's quality certification standards require. September 27, 2008

Best material for bent lamination
Searching for the most suitable wood product to use with bent lamination. July 22, 2003

Advantages of Two-Piece Hinges
Cabinetmakers and suppliers compare the relative advantages of various cabinet door hinge types. August 19, 2013

Building a Stroke Sander
Craftsmen share tips about making and running this handy shop tool. October 2, 2005

Building a Custom Island out of Stock Cabinet Parts
Is it worth constructing a Frankencabinet out of repurposed stock cabinet carcasses and faces? Interesting idea ... but with drawbacks.June 17, 2013

Building Beaded Face Frames
Making beadmould application more efficient. January 14, 2004

Adjustable Hinge Wear and Tear and Maintenance
Cabinetmakers discuss the long-term performance of adjustable hinges, with tips on hardware choice, installation, and maintenance. February 13, 2009

Building a Shop
Cabinet shop owners converse about what they would do differently if they were to build their shop all over again, again. August 14, 2007

Appliance Size Specifications Rant
Here's a universal complain from cabinetmakers: it's dern near impossible to find out the dimensions of a kitchen appliance without measuring the actual appliance.November 27, 2012

Attaching Trim to a Cabinet Top
Cabinetmakers and finish carpenters discuss how to provide good nailing for large trim pieces at the top of a cabinet. June 11, 2014

Brainstorming a Modified Door Frame Joint
Is there a quicker and easier way to machine the joints for a raised-panel stile-and-rail cabinet door? Here's a handful of possibly useful ideas. May 22, 2007

Beaded Face Frame Joinery
Detailed explanations with photos and drawings of how to achieve nice jack-miter joints on beaded face frames. April 16, 2009

Attaching Bookcases to Countertops
Efficient methods from professional cabinetmakers. February 10, 2004

Assembling Cab Doors with a Pin Nailer
Lots of support here for the idea of using pin nailers to hold doors fixed during glue-up. September 18, 2014

Attaching Face Frames Revisited
Cabinetmakers kick around various ways to attach face frames to cabinets. August 15, 2006

Building a Cabinetmaker's Workbench
Pros discuss the characteristics of a good shop workbench. July 21, 2006

Are "High-End" Drawer Joints Worth the Trouble?
Cabinetmakers discuss the processes involved in dovetail joints, box joints, and simpler drawer construction joints. Will customers see value in a "better" drawer joint? February 26, 2007

Adjusting the Glue Line on an Edgebander
A thorough description of how to systematically adjust an edgebander glue line. June 7, 2011

Affordable Edge Banding System?
If you can't justify the dollars for a top-end edgebander, what are your other practical options? January 26, 2008

A Shaker Look with Frameless Construction?
A detailed thread on ways to combine Shaker style and simplicity with modern frameless construction methods. August 29, 2006

A Cabinet as a Shower Wall?
Crazy as it sounds, this question is real: In a tight-space remodel, how to build cabinets so their back side can be tiled and serve as the wall of a shower. Read and learn. May 6, 2007

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

Beaded Face-Frame Techniques
Equipment and methods for creating high-quality beaded face frames. May 22, 2006

Applied Mouldings on Cabinet Doors
Tips on how to achieve production-shop speed and custom-shop quality when applying mouldings to frame-and-panel cabinet doors. September 23, 2006

Arched raised panel doors
Using jigs to make arched raised panel doors. September 25, 2002

Attaching Cabinets to Steel Studs
Cabinet installers share tips and tricks for hanging cabs in commercial buildings where the framing is steel instead of wood. January 26, 2008

Balanced Laminating Over Melamine
Here's a detailed discussion about whether it's okay to apply laminate over just one face of a melamine door, and about various other ways to achieve the same product. October 12, 2012

A Tale of Two Grit Sequences
Sophisticated practical advice on the wise sequence of grit choices for a belt sander to optimize sanding effectiveness while removing final scratches and preventing burnishing defects. November 12, 2014

Adhesive Issues with Solid Wood Edgebanding
Cabinetmakers discuss whether and how to prime surfaces before applying solid Maple edgebanding to particleboard edges. July 15, 2011

Addressing Cupping in Solid Wood Cabinet Doors
A veneer technique would be better. But is there a way to get wide solid wood doors to stay flat? February 17, 2011

Bookshelf Weight and Stud Wall Bearing Strength
Will an extensive set of standard-and-bracket bookshelves overload the stud wall they are attached into?October 11, 2012

Boosting Air Supply
You can step up to a beefier compressor, or you can tweak your setup by adding buffer air tanks and another small compressor to work in tandem with existing equipment. October 26, 2011

Balanced Construction of Plastic Laminate Doors
Experience shows that balancing P-lam doors can prevent the occasional case of warping. Here are thoughts on how to lay up balanced P-lam panels. February 12, 2010

Accurate Placement of Drawer Fronts on Existing Cabinets
Cabinetmakers describe various ways to quickly position and fasten new drawer fronts on an existing cabinet for a refacing job. January 2, 2012

Biscuit Fit Problems
Swelling due to moisture, or narrowing of the slot due to cutter sharpening, are possible reasons why biscuits don't fit. November 13, 2009

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

Advances in Edgebander Technology
Woodworkers describe good results from applying the adjustability and programmable features of the newest generation of edgebanders. January 23, 2014

Attaching Drawer Fronts Efficiently
Quick and simple methods for quality production. April 2, 2004

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

Attaching Cabinet Backs for Strength
Will a quarter-inch cabinet back, stapled to the carcass, keep the rest of the cabinet attached to the wall? Cabinetmakers discuss. March 25, 2007

Biscuits Or Butt Joints
High-quality, high-speed cabinet joinery techniques. October 20, 2004

Choisir des lames de scie circulaire à table
Réflexions sur le choix d'une lame de scie circulaire pour couper du contreplaqué et pour refendre du bois dur. 26 mars 2010

Building Low-End Cabinets
Cabinetmakers discuss how to build inexpensive cabinets for the builder market. April 18, 2006

Beaded Face Frame Fabrication
There's more than one way to bead a frame, as this discussion proves. January 24, 2005

Attaching Partitions to Face Frames
Thoughts on how to attach face frames to center walls of cabinets. November 10, 2006

Alignment of Face Frames
The decision on making face frames flush versus leaving a reveal. February 10, 2004

Attaching Five-Piece Drawer Fronts to Dovetailed Drawers
Advice on a tricky assembly problem. January 21, 2007

Avoiding Tear-Out in Arched-Top Cope-and-Stick Door Machining
Advice on the fine points of clean joinery for arched-top cope-and-stick cabinet doors. August 31, 2009

Accurate Drawer Front Fitting and Fastening
Here's a collection of top-drawer ideas for fast and accurate attachment of drawer fronts to drawer boxes. March 28, 2010

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

Building A Raised Laminate Countertop
Building a raised 'breakfast bar' on existing cabinets. January 15, 2004

Blade and Bit Resharpening
Most cabinetmakers agree that sending blades and bits out for resharpening is a practical and economical choice. March 25, 2007

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

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

Butcherblock Countertop Finishing
Simple butcher-block counters are easy to finish on site with natural finishes. February 17, 2012

Avoiding Glue Marks on Cope-and-Stick Doors
Here's a long discussion about how to avoid fingerprints or glue stains when sanding, gluing, assembling, and finishing raised panel doors. October 13, 2012

Fixation des armoires aux montants en acier
Les installateurs d'armoires partagent des trucs et astuces pour suspendre des armoires dans des bâtiments commerciaux où la charpente est en acier plutôt qu'en bois. 26 janvier 2008

Blind Dado Joinery Versus Dowels or Confirmats
A cabinetmaker asks whether he should switch to blind dado construction to eliminate a boring and screwing step. April 24, 2014

Big-Box Cabinet Installation Pay Rates
Installing for the big boxes is a whole different business. Here are some rumors on how the setup works. January 26, 2008

Basswood Versus Poplar or Maple for Paint-Grade Face Frames
Cabinetmakers discuss the hardness of various wood species, and the way they take paint. December 7, 2008

Applying Solid Wood Edges to Plywood Shelves
What the most efficient way to put a solid wood edge on a plywood shelf? July 27, 2008

Attaching Face Frames to Cabs
Preferred methods of joinery. January 28, 2004

Air Versus Electric Random Orbital Sanders
Air-powered sanders are sweet, but they call for a big compressor — and there are electric sanders that do a nice job. July 5, 2006

Blind Dadoes Versus Dowel Joinery
A discussion of the efficiency and accuracy trade-offs involved in switching from blind-dado and screw construction to dowel joinery. August 8, 2008

A Wide-Board Mahogany Countertop
Advice on managing the wood's tendency to move. October 14, 2006

Bleeding Space-Ball Blues
Space balls have been known to exude a mysterious fluid that can show up in the finish of a raised panel door, leading to possible heart palpitations. (Not really, but it is disturbing.) February 20, 2008

Building Cabinets with Prefinished Plywood
Advice on assembly methods and other tips and tricks for building cabs with prefinished plywood. April 17, 2013

Attaching Face Frames to Corner Cabinets
Approaches to angle transitions and tips on face frame assembly for corner cabinets. December 28, 2005

Beyond the Lazy Susan: Corner Cabinet Options
Not everyone loves the Lazy Susan cabinet. Here's a discussion of alternative ways to provide easy-reach storage in corner cabinets. December 28, 2005

Applied Versus Captured Drawer Bottoms
Cabinetmakers discuss the strength, appearance, speed of construction, and perceived value of different drawer-bottom attachment methods. May 12, 2008

Adjusting Pocket Hole Machines for Different Material Thicknesses
Each machine has its own little tricks. January 21, 2007

Avoiding Twist when Installing Cabinets
Installers share their messages for getting cabinets plumb, square, and level during the installation process. March 22, 2013

Building with Prefinished Face Frames and Plywood
Cabinetmakers discuss the fine points of assembling cabinets using prefinished face frames and half-inch prefinished plywood. July 5, 2006

Basic Edgebanding Methods
Simple, low-cost tips and tricks for small-volume edgebanding work. April 16, 2009

Blind Dado Cabinet Construction
A discussion of dado joints for connecting cabinet sides and backs. February 6, 2007

Faire fonctionner deux compresseurs ensemble
Conseils supplémentaires sur la collaboration entre compresseurs (cela devient un peu délicat). 9 mars 2008

Fixation des plans de travail
Comment fixer un comptoir en panneaux de particules stratifiés aux armoires. 28 mars 2001

Adapting to an Oversize Table Saw Arbor
Ideas for modifying blades to fit an oversize arbor, or vice versa. August 21, 2006

Assembly table
A cabinetmaker shares a photo and description of his shop's assembly table. October 30, 2002

Applying Painted End Panels with a Seamless Look
Cabinetmakers work on a way to add a painted end panel to a cabinet without showing a seam where the panel meets the face frame. February 1, 2011

Attaching a Face Frame to a Plywood Built-In On Site
Tips and tricks for fastening face frames to built-ins without leaving nail holes. September 8, 2008

Building Wide Glass Cabinet Doors
Advice on construction details and hinge choices for wide glass doors. July 10, 2007

Base Cabinet Depths
Is it okay to build base cabs slightly under 24 inches deep, to optimize panel yield? May 28, 2010

Applying Frameless Concepts to Face-Frame Cabinetry
Pondering a hybrid system that would combine some of the efficiencies of frameless with the look of face-frame cabinets.March 27, 2012

Beaded Face Frame Basics
Advice on how to add the "cheese cove" or "quirk bead" detail to beaded face frame cabinets. February 28, 2012

Bits for Boring Holes in Laminate
Cabinetmakers discuss choosing a bit to drill lock holes in laminate doors. July 31, 2009

Adhesives for Cabinet Refacing
Pros discuss how to adhere paper-backed veneer to an existing cabinet. September 5, 2006

Sélection des broches d'étagère
Les supports d'étagère sont un petit détail, mais qui peut faire la différence. 20 février 2008

Arched "Furniture Toe" Cabinet Kicks
Cabinetmakers discuss arched-front cabinet kicks. June 26, 2009

Teinter le mastic de carrosserie :
Recherche d'un enduit époxy pouvant être mélangé aux couleurs, pour combler les gros trous de nœuds. 20 mars 2001

Building Bee Hive Boxes
Bee hives are mass-produced at prices the small craftsman can't easily compete with. July 12, 2012

Buying a Widebelt Sander
Advice on getting good value for the dollar when purchasing a widebelt on a budget. December 19, 2009

Buying and Using a Stroke Sander
Advice on buying a used stroke sander, and tips on making and using sanding blocks for it. July 24, 2006

Attaching Drawer Fronts to Dovetail Drawers in Frameless Cabinets
Thoughts on a tricky drawer assembly problem. November 23, 2012

Boring Clean Shelf Holes
Here's a nice selection of practical advice for getting sharp-edged shelf holes bored in questionable panel material. April 9, 2008

Appliance Panels and Floor Edge Mouldings: Whose Job?
Cabinet installers discuss their policies on dealing with end-of-job punch list items. January 26, 2008

Bent Lamination Springback
Advice on limiting springback in a laminated piece with a fairly gentle bend. July 13, 2010

Beaded Stile and Rail Cabinet Door Details
Advice (with pictures) on creating a bead detail on the inside edge of a cope-and-stick cabinet door. March 3, 2009

Biscuit joining vs. tie-bolts
Is it possible to join post-form tops and shop-built substrate with biscuits? June 24, 2001

Attaching Face Frames Without Nails
A cabinetmaker wants to avoid nail holes in the faces of his high-end product. February 11, 2010

Built-In Bookcases for a Sloping Floor
Woodworkers discuss ways to adapt a built-in bookcase to a severely sloped floor. September 5, 2006

Building Mitered Door Frames Using Stock Mouldings
If you buy stile and rail mouldings already milled, your only problem is the miter joinery. March 25, 2007

Box Truck Versus Box Trailer
Cabinetmakers discuss the best vehicle for delivering cabinets to the job. August 29, 2014

A Jig for Drawing or Cutting Ellipses
This clever but simple jig can be used with a pencil to draw an ellipse, or with a router to cut one. April 18, 2006

Bracing solid surface
When using solid surface materials, what sort of "bridgework" is needed for support? June 24, 2001

Best Equipment for Perfect Door Frame Miters
Shop owners describe their setup for making miter cuts for cabinet door frames. October 20, 2013

Buying a Used Edgebander
There's more to running a glue-pot edgebander than plugging it in and turning it on — so be cautious when buying used equipment. December 30, 2005

Building Arched Toekicks
Descriptions and images of tested techniques. September 9, 2004

All-Purpose Router Table
Tips on constructing a router table for shop and site duty. December 31, 2005

Adjusting Hinges
Up and down first, or side to side first? Or does it matter? October 3, 2006

Box Lid Alignment Issues
Problems with jewelry box tolerances may be related to moisture in finishes. December 27, 2008

Architectural Woodworking Forum -- Span Limits and Materials for Library Shelving
Furniture and cabinet makers discuss the theory and practice of bookshelf sag control. February 16, 2006

Attaching Face Frames to Cabinets
There's more than one way to do it, as this discussion proves. August 8, 2005

Assessing a Used Edgebander
Advice on checking a previously owned edgebander for typical wear and tear issues, and some complaints about the inconsistent thickness of edgebanding these days. August 19, 2013

Building Plantation Shutters
Solutions for building custom shutters, including hardware choices. February 12, 2009

Attaching 3/4-Inch Plywood Cabinet Backs
Cabinetmakers describe alternative ways of fastening cabinet backs to carcases. April 9, 2008

Attaching Upper Cabinets to Masonry Walls
A cabinet installer gets advice on ways to hang cabinets from masonry. October 8, 2005

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

Building Cabinets in a Kitchen with an Un-Level Floor
The consensus advice is to build a level base platform and let the toe-kick take up the discrepancy in cabinet heights. January 19, 2011

Aluminum Delaminating from Wood Substrate
A decorative aluminum element separates from its wood backing — probably because they move differently. November 29, 2014

Box Frame Construction for Granite Counter Top
How to provide structural support for a granite peninsula countertop extending away from a cabinet. February 12, 2009

A Jig for Producing Shelf Pin Holes
The search for equipment to make drilling holes simple and systematic. May 10, 2005

Building a Clamping Table
A woodworker considers the idea of making his own pneumatic clamping table. October 19, 2013

Alternatives to Cumaru for Cabinet Work
A client want cabinets made with Cumaru, a Brazilian hardwood. But the cabinetmaker is looking for a more practical species to substitute. Here are a few ideas. December 31, 2012

Birch for Cabinets
Yellow Birch (but not other Birch varieties) is widely used in cabinets. Here are some thoughts on its pros and cons.March 22, 2013

Beech as an Alternative to Maple
Cabinetmakers discuss Beech pricing, workability, and finishing characteristics. June 8, 2008

Baltic Birch for Slab Doors and Fronts
Is Baltic Birch stable enough to use for cabinet doors? April 15, 2013

Avoiding router tear-out
Eliminating tear-out when routing the edges of stiles. February 13, 2001

Avoiding Pipes in Bath Cabinet Installs
Advice on how not to puncture a water line when attaching cabinets to a concrete block wall. January 20, 2010

Alternating growth rings in panels
The debate between alternating growth rings and matching grain. September 25, 2002

Beaded Face-Frame Double Door Debate
A discussion of how to detail the point where beaded double doors meet in the center. March 3, 2009

Built-in Appliances and Frameless Cabinets
Methods for constructing frameless cabinets to hold ovens. May 22, 2007

Anchoring Cabinets to Concrete Floors
May 6, 2007

Applying Glue or Water to Dowel Holes
Focusing in on a small step with dowel construction: preparing the dowel hole. August 21, 2012

Air Supply Chiller Choices
Thoughts on choosing a refrigerated air supply drying setup for the shop. February 20, 2011

Attaching a Dishwasher to a Granite Countertop
Tips and tricks for installing a dishwasher beneath a stone countertop. January 26, 2008

Biscuits Versus Dowels
Which is stronger — and does it matter? Cabinetmakers exchange views and information. July 9, 2005

Building Paneled Sides on Kitchen Cabinets
Design and construction ideas for face-frame cabinet end panels. June 4, 2012

Aligning and Leveling Wall Cabinets
Installers share tips on fitting cabinets to an out-of-whack room. March 3, 2009

Building a Curved Countertop Reception Desk
Advice on structure and finish for a curved-front desk. March 26, 2010

Applying Nosing to Prefinished Plywood
The search for a satisfactory way to treat the seam where nosing meets plywood. May 10, 2005

A Corner Cabinet for a 50-inch Television
Cabinetmakers share experience with building a TV cabinet into a room corner. January 1, 2012

Applying PVC Edgebanding Without an Edgebander
PVC edgebanding can be applied by hand, but it's tricky and difficult. Here is a handful of tips and advice. November 20, 2005

Bi-Fold Pocket Doors
A discussion of hinge choices to make bi-fold pocket doors for a TV cabinet. June 23, 2006

Blotchy glue marks after finishing
How to prevent glue stains from ruining finishes. October 2, 2001

Are Dowels Necessary in Cabinet Door Joints?
Dowels add strength to a cope-and-stick joint, but it's typically overkill. May 27, 2014

Building Up a Two-Inch Trestle Table-Top Edge
Advice on how to fake a two-inch slab thickness by building up the edge of a table top. May 6, 2010

Building Cabinets with Pre-Finished Plywood
Detail tips when making face-frame cabinets using pre-finished plywood. January 20, 2007

Accomodating Flooring Thickness in New Construction Cabinet Installs
Cabinet installers debate whether to jack up cabinet heights when installing cabs before finish flooring is down. November 11, 2005

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

Bar Height and Stool Height
Thoughts on a comfortable height for a wall bar counter. June 5, 2006

Buying an Edgebander: New Versus Used
Edgebanders are finicky, but some people have done well buying used machines. February 16, 2012

Applying Laminate with an Edgebander
Yes, you can apply high-pressure laminate to panel edges using an edgebander. Here are tips on trimming and adhesives. February 16, 2012

Best Ripping Width to Avoid Cupping
A discussion of the workable range of widths for ripped lumber intended for gluing up into panels. February 16, 2014

Espacement des étagères des armoires de rangement
Idées sur l'utilité des étagères réglables et sur l'espacement pratique des étagères dans les armoires de cuisine. 8 décembre 2010

Antique Barn-Board Cabinets
A high-end home with cabinets made from weathered old barn siding? Craftsmen suggest ways to marry rustic and fine. June 12, 2005

Alternatives to Automotive Epoxy for Wood Filling
Woodworkers discuss hard, sandable wood-filling compounds. March 25, 2007

Beads on Door Frames: Machine or Apply?
Cabinetmakers discuss the options for making beaded door frames. December 27, 2010

Limites de portée pour les étagères en contreplaqué
Au-delà de trois pieds, vous risquez d'être confronté à des problèmes d'affaissement. Les professionnels discutent des limites de portée et des options de renforcement des étagères. 11 novembre 2005

A Humidity-Controlled Display Case
A cabinetmaker gets advice on appropriate details for a climate-controlled display case for musical instruments. October 8, 2005

Beating a Cabinet to Pieces
You learn a lot about the strength of various joinery and installation methods when you have to tear out a cabinet and break it into pieces for disposal. July 11, 2013

Air Piping Sizing and Material Choice
Wider diameters offer less resistance and more storage buffering. Pex is also an option to consider. April 20, 2008

Building a Honeycomb-Core Desk Top
Advice on materials and construction techniques for high-quality honeycomb-core panels. July 6, 2006

Best Panel Materials for a 32mm Frameless System
A question about plywood versus particleboard sets off a discussion about frameless layout preferences. October 22, 2005

Box Fixture Ideas for Kitchen Fluorescent Lights
An example with photo and description of a custom wood ceiling fixture for 4-foot fluorescent tube lighting. May 6, 2010

Best Router for Dovetails?
A discussion focused on woodworkers' favorite routers for cutting half-blind dovetails.

Bandsaw Tire Refurbishing Cost
New tires for an old bandsaw ain't cheap. May 13, 2005

Advice for Working with Hickory
Use extra-sharp, hard tools and expect to see some waste anyhow. September 3, 2011

Butt-Screwing Hinges to MDF
Thoughts on how to securely fasten hinges to the edge of MDF panels. July 21, 2006

Beaded Face Frame and Scribing Stick Trick
Here's a trick for detailing beaded face frame stiles, that makes scribing ends easier. February 6, 2007

Bi-Fold Pocket Door Examples
A couple of looks at cabinets with bi-fold doors that can slide back into the cabinet when opened. January 19, 2011

Baltic Birch Plywood Dovetail Tearout Problems
Dry veneers on plywood are brittle and tear out easily. These tips may improve your results, though. February 20, 2008

Bit Choices for Miter-Folding Cuts
Advice on tooling for miter-fold joint fabrication. April 29, 2011

Boring Machine Tolerances
Boring different door parts on different machines has led to some alignment problems. The solution: bore holes slightly oversize. October 2, 2007

Anchoring Commercial Sink Tops to Drywall
Quick thoughts on fastening to drywall where there are no mounting blocks within the framing. February 18, 2007

Applying a Bead to an Arched Face Frame
Several suggestions for machining a bead into an arched piece, plus the simple way: make it separately and then attach it. October 27, 2011

Building a Kneewall on Existing Cabinets for a Bar Top
Advice on framing details for an add-on kneewall. February 11, 2010

Appearance Considerations with Sapele
Sapele wood darkens over time (as do Cherry and Mahogany), and its compatibility with the look of other woods is a matter of personal preference. April 11, 2008

Adhesive for Applying Finished Skins to Cabinet Ends
A cabinetmaker seeks advice for attaching finished ends to new cabinets. May 21, 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

Attaching Finished Panels to a Bar Cabinet Back
Advice on hiding the fasteners when you attach panels to a cabinet. July 29, 2012

Attaching Faux Doors to an Island Back
Here's a handful of techniques for sticking fake doors onto a cabinet side or back. August 13, 2007

Attaching End Panels
Methods used by the pros. January 28, 2004

Best Cordless Impact Driver for Installing Cabinets
Cabinet installers name their go-to impact drivers. November 29, 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

Applying Wood Edging to a Laminate Panel
A movement-free joint, a flush surface, and a stable finish are the technical challenges. Are they surmountable? May 12, 2013

Attaching Island Cabinets to Concrete Floors
Advice on securing an island cabinet to a concrete slab floor, with attention to the issue of moisture. August 13, 2007

Attaching a Backing Panel for Wide-Screen TV in an Entertainment Center
Simple tips on assembling entertainment centers for wide-screen TVs. March 25, 2007

Boring Machine Cycle Time
They're quick. November 15, 2011

Blum's Process 32™ Manual (PDF)
October 15, 2003

Assembling Cabinets with Pre-Glued Dowels
Here are some tips and cautions on using pre-glued dowels in hand assembly of cabinets. February 18, 2011

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

Attaching Drawer Fronts to Blum Tandembox
Tips on drawer front assembly with Blum Tandembox. October 13, 2012

Breaking Quarter-Inch Shank Router Bits Using a Dovetail Jig
If your jig won't accept half-inch-shank bits, you may break a lot of bits working with plywood. March 10, 2008

Attractive Ways to Set Glass in Cabinet Doors
Tips on glazing cabinet doors for a neat, professional, stylish look. May 6, 2010

Adhesives for Cabinet Re-Facing
What's a suitable adhesive for attaching a new plywood end panel to an existing cabinet? September 22, 2005

Attaching Wall Cabinets to Steel Studs
Steel wall framing poses a particular challenge when it's time to hang upper cabinets. Here are a few installation tips. November 19, 2005

Bamboo Door Flatness
A discussion of the stability and flatness tolerances of bamboo plywood material for cabinet doors. August 31, 2009

Adjustable Height Pull-Out Shelving
Adjustable pull-out solutions using off-the-shelf hardware and shop-built alternatives. October 27, 2008

Attaching Drawer Fronts for Full-Overlay Cabinets
A cabinetmaker seeks advice on attaching drawer fronts. February 27, 2015

Bench over Baseboard Heater
Thoughts about the advisability of building an enclosed bench over an existing baseboard heater. June 15, 2009

Biscuit Joiner Comparisons
Besides the quality and price issues, not all biscuit joiners work the same way. Here's a closer look. April 9, 2008

Air Dryer Power Consumption
Refrigerating dryers for pneumatic equipment air lines consume power when they're running. Cycling models can save electricity. March 9, 2008

Appliance Garage Tips and Tricks
Pros share ideas for appliance garage design, doors, and installation. September 20, 2005

Attaching a Floating Counter to the Wall
With no legs in the design, a cabinetmaker has to think creatively about supporting a vanity top. May 11, 2011

Are Sub-Bases Needed with Granite Tops and Undermount Sinks?
You can clamp the sink directly to the granite. But some installers do use a plywood sub-top. February 2, 2011

Bamboo for Cabinets
Cabinetmakers discuss their experiences with bamboo-based materials. December 14, 2009

Base Cabinet and Toe Kick Heights
What's the standard height for a base cabinet and toe kick? February 26, 2012

Accurate Panel Rips
Tips for obtaining clean, accurate results when ripping panels to width. October 13, 2005

Attaching Slides to Drawer Boxes
Tips on efficient, accurate, and consistent ways to position slides on drawer boxes. February 26, 2007

Built-in Washer/Dryer Issues
Advice on building a washer/dryer cabinet into a kitchen layout. December 14, 2009

Adjustable Cabinet Casters
Thoughts on a tricky detail: casters for an island cabinet that would allow the cabinet to be lowered all the way to the floor. August 29, 2006

Attaching Cloth to Speaker Cabinets
Craftsmen share techniques. August 29, 2005

Bearing Capacity of Shelf Pins
Informal testing indicates that they are strong. July 11, 2013

Bamboo Cabinet Door Construction
Tips and cautions for making cab doors out of bamboo sheet goods. May 15, 2012

Applying Edgebanding to Curves
Curves the edgebander can't manage can create difficulties. Here's advice on workarounds. May 12, 2013

Aspen Wood for Cabinets
It's soft, it's fuzzy, and it takes finish unevenly. Hmm... August 29, 2006

Breaking Sharp Edges on Melamine Shelving
Suggested techniques for softening the knife-like edges of melamine shelves. December 21, 2010

Building a Curved Reception Desk
A quick run-down on creating curved cabinetry. September 26, 2009

Assembling Face-Frame Cabinets
Basic tips for assembling face-frame cabinets off-site. April 26, 2006

Building Cabinets with Lyptus
Cabinetmakers discuss the machining qualities and other characteristics of Lyptus (Eucalyptus) wood, and its suitability for cabinet construction. April 6, 2007

Breaking Edges on Shaker Doors
Easing the edge on a door panel improves finish performance. January 3, 2014

Air Line Tubing Systems
Shop owners discuss various tubing and connection systems for supply lines to air-powered tools. March 22, 2013

Attaching Toe Kicks
Thoughts on toe-kick clips and other forms of attachment. April 20, 2008

Angle Jig for a Vertical Panel Saw
For simple 45-degree rips, a jig is cheap and easy to make. August 8, 2006

Attaching Removable False Fronts
Suggestions include clips, magnets, ball catches, and more. May 14, 2006

Bearing Capacity of Glass Shelves
... is not much. Here are a few details. May 22, 2006

Allowing for Panel Movement when Finishing Doors
If you assemble five-piece doors before finishing, seasonal drying shrinkage can expose unfinished wood. Here's how some finishers address the issue. March 26, 2007

Blind Corner Pullout Choices
Big supplier salespeople weigh in on this informative thread about choosing and installing pullout shelving for blind corner cabinets. August 31, 2010

Attaching Pulls to Shaker-Style Flat Drawer Fronts
A cabinetmaker gets advice on securely fastening drawer pulls to 1/4-inch plywood drawer front material. April 19, 2015

Blade Choice for a Compound Miter Saw
A thin-kerf blade with a negative rake is the recommendation. October 15, 2009

Blind Corner Cabinet Face Frame Detail
Advice on how to detail the corner where a blind corner cabinet runs behind its opposite number. October 11, 2012

Attaching Freestanding Cabinet End Panels
Cabinet designers compare details for connecting cabinets to the floor at freestanding ends. March 12, 2014

Aspen for Drawers
Would Aspen be good wood to use for drawer boxes? Here's the thinking. October 1, 2005

Applied Mouldings for Frame-and-Panel Doors
Tips on how to make and apply "bolection" moldings for the joint between door frame and panel. November 10, 2005

Beaded MDF Door Panels
Info on buying or making MDF beaded stock for cabinet door panels. October 15, 2009

Boosting Your Cabinet Lift
Site-rigged makeshift adjustments to gain extra height when setting a high upper cabinet. August 31, 2009

A Pull-Out Medicine Cabinet
Example (with picture) of a pull-out front with side-access shelves in a bathroom medicine cabinet. September 23, 2006

Building Arched Cabinets
A first-timer asks for advice on making a veneer arch. Cabinetmakers suggest products and methods, and show project examples. July 9, 2005

Attaching a Mirror to a Plastic Laminate Door
Suggestions for adhesives and construction when mounting a mirror on a p-lam cabinet door. August 29, 2014

Base Cabinet Heights for a Tiled Countertop
Cabinetmakers discuss proper cabinet dimensions to support a tiled countertop. August 29, 2006

Building A Pyramid Shaped Range Hood
Tip: make a small scale model to figure out your angles, and the rest is simple. May 22, 2007

Attaching Hardwood Edges to Panels
Here's a handy tip: use pocket holes and screws for edging panels with solid wood, and mate the pieces using tongue-and-groove joints. November 19, 2006

Attaching Drawer Slides to Solid Wood Cabinet Sides
How to install drawer slides so that wood movement won't cause trouble. April 18, 2006

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

Attaching Cabinets to Drywall
Tips to create a screw-hold when there's no stud behind the wall. June 17, 2005

Blind Corner Frameless Cabinet Construction
Cabinetmakers offer ideas for frameless cabs in blind corners. December 14, 2005

Attaching a Tabletop with a Wide Overhang
As an alternative to support brackets, pros suggest a stiff plywood subtop. April 4, 2011

Attaching crown moulding
Methods of attaching crown moulding to frameless cabinets. March 28, 2001

Adhering a Cabinet to a Marble Floor
How to stick a built-in down to a marble floor without putting holes in the stone. March 3, 2009

Butt Joint Assembly Technique
How to hold cabinet pieces in place while assembling with butt joints. October 14, 2009

Adjustable-Height Work Tables
Advice on work tables that allow the user to choose between standing and sitting. November 14, 2014

Air Hose Quick-Connect Durability
A tip on taking the strain off air-hose connections. April 13, 2010

Beveled Edge Slab Oak Doors
A cabinetmaker describes his technique for fabricating beveled-edge doors with a solid wood edge, MDF core, and veneer faces. November 22, 2005

Applying Door Panels to a Refrigerator
Tips for facing refrigerator doors. October 26, 2005

Air Compressors in Cold Locations
Whether to bring your compressor inside the heated shop space, or not. June 15, 2014

Blowout on Arched Rail Trailing Edge
Advice on getting a clean profile on coped arch-top door rails. May 28, 2010

Allowing for Expansion in Door Panels
Tips on sizing raised door panels to allow for wood movement. February 26, 2007

Air Dryer Basics
Elementary tips on keeping your compressed air lines dry. September 27, 2009

Advice For Carrying Heavy Cabinets
07/10/2012

Bead Board Panels: Make or Buy?
Bead-board paneling is not that hard to get, but you can also make your own. October 2, 2007

Air-Powered Sander Connectors Wearing Out
How to protect airline couplings on random-orbital sanders from premature failure. January 14, 2013

Adjusting the Platen on a Wide-Belt Sander
Tips on calibrating the platen for a wide-belt sander. July 12, 2008

Aromatic Cedar for Closets
Tips on cedar closets for clothing storage. January 21, 2007

Anchoring Shelf Brackets to Concrete
Suggestions for firmly attaching steel angle countertop supports to a poured concrete wall. February 19, 2011

Belt Sander Burning Cabinet Door Edges
How to not burn the end grain when sanding door edges on a wide-belt sander. September 23, 2006

Air Supply Needs of Line Boring Equipment
Pneumatic cylinders on a line boring machine don't need a whole lot of air. January 23, 2012

Accuride Eclipse Drawer Box Preparation
Layout dimension details for installing the new Accuride undermount slides. December 9, 2005

Angle Finder
05/05/2012

Gap Spacing Between Full Overlay Doors
Thoughts on how far apart to space full overlay doors. January 13, 2008

Painting New Frameless Cabinets
04/10/2015

Deposits and Payment Schedules for Cabinet Jobs
Here's an extensive debate on the reasons for requiring payment from customers in advance of starting work or delivering a product. December 7, 2008

Marketing and Selling Outsourced Cabinets
Here's an insightful discussion of the practical aspects of outsourcing cabinet parts for the small shop, in light of customer perceptions of the value of the end product. November 23, 2008

Work-Station Shop Organization Systems
Thoughts on a shop setup that involves moving the workpiece from station to station, rather than moving pieces and tools onto and off of a single work bench.May 23, 2011

Kitchen Cabinet Pricing Comparison
Cabinet shops compare price estimates on a basic kitchen job, and discuss the factors that influence their prices. June 5, 2006

Defining "Custom Cabinets"
What is a "custom" cabinet, and what do terms like "semi-custom" and "stock cabinet" mean? Pros discuss the dividing line between craftsmanship and mass production. December 28, 2005

Pricing a Bathroom Cabinet Job
Pros share estimating tips and pricing strategies. June 22, 2005

Kitchen Pricing for Newbies
So this guy's trying to figure out how much to charge for building a kitchen for a relative. Naturally, it's all relative. But beginners could begin to grasp the basics of pricing from this discussion. June 8, 2008

Communication Between Cabinet Shops About Outsourced Work
A busy cabinetmaker who needs to send work to another shop for cutting on CNC equipment wishes the other shop would meet him halfway on the transfer of information. A debate ensues. January 31, 2012

Glazing and Distressing: Productivity, Quality, and Pricing
Cabinetmakers and finishers share views on how to estimate and cost out the work involved in distressing and glazing cabinet doors. May 13, 2013

Three Phase Current, Demand Charges, and Phase Converters
Shedding some light on ways to minimize power company "demand charges," with an in-depth look at the way phase converters function. December 3, 2010

Pricing, Productivity, and Profit
An inexperienced cabinetmaker asks for help ball-parking a project, and kicks off an interesting discussion about how long it should take to do stuff. February 27, 2015

For Those Who Have A Small Shop And Spray Booth, Heating In Winter?
12/01/2014

Competing with the Factories
Custom quality at a mass-produced price? Pros debate the issue. February 25, 2005

Curved cabinet doors
What's the most efficient way to build radius frame-and-panel doors in-house? May 15, 2002

Pricing Custom Cabinets
02/19/2015

Marketing Frameless Cabinets
How to play up the advantages of Euro-style cabinet systems. January 21, 2007

Using A Shaper To Clean Melamine
02/19/2015

Fixing Drawers That Hit Each Other When Open
02/13/2015

Ellipse jig
Making your own jig for ellipse-based arcs. (From WOODWEB's Cabinetmaking Forum) March 5, 2003

Professional Fix Or Not?
01/15/2015

Hairline Cracks on Painted Cabinet Doors and Drawers
Natural wood movement will inevitably show up through a painted finish at wood joints. August 19, 2008

Cabinet Warranty In Unfinished Buildings
Covering yourself against damage caused by humidity and temperature. April 10, 2005

Cabinetry Warranties
Cabinetmakers discuss their warranty policies. June 15, 2009

Door Clamping Options
Nice discussions on setups for clamping cabinet doors in a small shop. February 12, 2009

PUR Glue for Cabinet Assembly
Thoughts about the characteristics of hot-melt PUR glue, gluing equipment, and the requirements of cabinet construction. May 23, 2007

Materials Cost as a Proportion of Cabinet Costs
There's no standard ratio of materials cost to other costs in cabinetmaking — it depends on many factors, and varies widely from job to job. April 10, 2008

Template Material for Router Work
Pros suggest aluminum, MDF, phenolic board, or particleboard. Also here, a discussion of techniques for making templates and some tips about using them. November 22, 2005

Cutting Cabinet Door Panels To Sixe
02/23/2015

Pocket Door Hardware For Ent. Unit
02/09/2015

Finding Quality Cabinet Plywood
02/21/2015

Reversable Raised Panel Router Bits
01/12/2015

Storing Finished Cabinet Doors
02/07/2015

Rabbeting 3/8 Lip Doors On Shaper
09/30/2014

Hammer 3 Head Shaper
12/28/2014

Find Replacement For A Butler Hinge
04/10/2015

Under Drawer LED's Conundrum
11/13/2014

MDF Door Chisel
11/17/2014

Drawer Slide Options
03/20/2015

Door Edge Profile
10/14/2014

Electronic Locking Drawer Slides
02/16/2015

Pricing Custom Cabinets and Trim
Even within one local market, prices can be all over the map. Balancing careful itemized estimating against local market conditions can help you turn a decent profit. August 23, 2006

How Often To Dress A Wide Belt Conveyer
03/12/2015

Stuck Panels On Doors Cracking
12/17/2014

Cehisa Edgebander
03/16/2015

Fabricating 11' Painted Bench Top
11/12/2014

When To Get Deposits
12/13/2015

Combination Machinery In Cabinet Making
10/15/2015

Clamping Equipment
A brief description of the various types of high-volume clamping equipment available today. September 20, 2008

Methods for Pricing Cabinet Work
After years of estimating cabinet costs box by box in detail, you may have enough data to start taking short-cuts. October 2, 2007

Starting a cabinet business
Pros give pros and cons involved in starting a new cabinet business

Estimating and Pricing for Cabinet Installation
Cabinetmakers and installers discuss the ins and outs of pricing methods and rules of thumb. September 4, 2005

Doors: Outsourcing vs. in-house
Exploring issues of quality control, efficiency and profitability. November 7, 2001

Shop flow
Enhancing efficiency in the workplace by carefully planning shop layout. January 16, 2002

Radius of an arc
Formulas for determining the radius of an arc, or "eyebrow"

Pricing Example: Bath Vanity
An emotional, but informative, discussion of cabinet pricing based on one bath vanity example. September 23, 2006

How Our Employees Ignore Our Attempt At Systems
12/27/2014

54 Foot Solid Oak Bar Top Input Needed
11/24/2014

Festool
01/06/2015

Prefinished Fast Edge
01/27/2015

German Import Festool Laminate Trimmer
12/02/2014

Track Saws
09/30/2014

Padauk, Which Glue?
10/14/2014

Pricing Cabinet Installation Work
Pros discuss their differing approaches to charging for kitchen and bath cabinet installation work. January 24, 2005

Career change: Computers to cabinets
Issues that could affect the success of a newly purchased woodworking business. July 29, 2003

Does it Pay to Own an Edgebander?
A good edgebander can really boost your productivity, but how much machine you need depends on how much volume you're doing. October 9, 2006

Pricing Example: a Simple Cabinet
A simple pair of free-standing cabinets, with a long discussion on pricing, bidding, and relating to a competitive market. July 5, 2006

Streamlining High-Volume Cabinet Production
Well-organized cabinetmakers share their secrets for labor time efficiency. April 26, 2006

Who Are You? Thumbnail Biographies of Forum Members
Ever wonder who you're interacting with on WOODWEB? In this thread, forum posters give a brief history of their lives in the woodworking trade. June 16, 2014

When a "Designer" Hands You Sketchy Drawings
Advice on structuring the process when a "designer" supplies you with vague, half-baked sketches and asks you to take on the job. November 14, 2014

Charging for Cabinet Design Work
Cabinetmakers discuss how they price the design phase of a job — and get paid. March 12, 2009

Pricing Kitchen Cabinets
Price by the foot, or by the box? Cabinetmakers discuss the pros and cons of different estimating and pricing methods. May 20, 2006

Selling Factory-Made and Custom Cabinet Lines
When you offer both your own custom-made cabinetry and a less expensive line of factory cabs, pricing and selling strategies become complicated. Here's a long and thoughtful discussion. January 19, 2011

Outsource, or Build it Yourself?
Shop owners discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing doors and drawers. August 29, 2005

Shifting to a Lower-Priced Cabinet Market Segment
A cabinetmaker gets feedback on the idea of targeting smaller and less expensive jobs. November 29, 2014

Kitchen Projects: Required Deposits
The policy of demanding a deposit gets fouled up when contractors are involved. December 26, 2004

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

Equipment Upgrades?
01/20/2015

Finding Software for Design and Visualization
It's hard to find one application that will quickly create design visualizations for a customer during a sales meeting, but also generate good designs suitable for construction in the shop. This thread offers some insight into software capabilities and some nice example drawings. December 28, 2010 ......

Recovering from a Shop Fire
Woodweb forum steps up with well-informed advice about how to cope with a catastrophic fire in the wood shop. April 16, 2009

Cabinet Refacing
Can it work as a business? Pros share business and tech tips. June 17, 2005

Process For Large Built-in Cabinets
07/10/2016

Markups for Hardware
Should you charge for knobs, pulls, et cetera based on a markup formula, based on a fixed price, based on labor factors, or what?September 3, 2011

What to Do When a Customer Bid-Shops You
Pros give advice on handling the situation where a customer asks a cabinetmaker to price-compete with a low-ball bidder. (Note: The good guys won this one.) February 17, 2006

Radius of Convex Wall
Formulas for calculating this measurement. May 19, 2004

From residential to commercial work
What risks are involved when moving into much larger scale jobs? June 4, 2003

Outsourcing drawings
Positive and negative experiences from those who have hired the job out. October 30, 2002

Radius Shoe Molding
Determining radius of cabinets in order to match molding. July 20, 2004

Pricing a Small Kitchen
A question about how to price an example of kitchen cabinetry leads to thoughts about pricing methods and design rendering. February 26, 2007

Deposits and Design Fees
Cabinetmakers describe how (and how much) they bill for design work. June 23, 2006

Finished Outside But Not Inside
How to handle things when specs call for finished face frames but unfinished interiors. February 8, 2005

Using Melamine To Build Cabinets
03/02/2015

Glue Pot and Pistol Technology
Here's a close look at pressurized glue pot and pistol glue applicators, which offer convenience, versatility, and good control. November 15, 2011

Cargo Trailer or Box Truck?
Cabinetmakers discuss the cost, benefits, and practicality of buying a trailer or box truck for hauling cabinets, materials, and equipment. November 20, 2005

"Finder's Fee" for Designers
Yet another discussion of the ethical and practical business issues involved when a designer is in the middle of your relationship to a customer. April 19, 2015

Need a Bigger Shop ... Lease or Purchase?
There are good reasons to buy the space you need instead of leasing — if you're ready to take the plunge. December 27, 2010

Volume Pricing for Store Fixtures
How can a woodworking shop bid low enough to get high-volume orders and still make money on the work? March 12, 2009

Competing with Site-Built Builtins
Can a shop get simple built-ins done for the cost field crews can build them at on site? April 24, 2006

Floating Bookshelves Without Brackets
Creative ideas for supporting shelves. February 28, 2004

Materials, Labor, Overhead And Profit
Cabinetmakers discuss typical cost ratios. April 10, 2005

Printing and Viewing Blueprints for Bidding
Cabinetmakers discuss the nuts and bolts of working with digital blueprints, including a look at software that helps with takeoffs and estimating. April 19, 2015

Searching for a sales rep
Increasing sales by adding the right marketing professional to your team. September 20, 2003

Estimating Jobs for Tire-Kickers
don't give those drawings away any more. April 10, 2008

CNC Drawerboxes Pocketscrewed
07/31/2018

Red Alder Pros and Cons -- Pricing, Availability, Usefulness
Pros discuss the cost, availability, and characteristics of Red Alder solid stock and sheet goods. February 25, 2005

The Best Way To Glue Mitered Doors
02/27/2015

Leg Leveler Tips And Tricks
First-timer gets advice on installing and adjusting leg levelers. April 10, 2005

Vertical Or Horizontal Slide Saw
03/20/2015

Cabinet Assembler Productivity
How many cabs should an assembler put together daily, assuming all the pieces are cut and ready? In this thread, bosses and workers offer their perspectives. November 12, 2005

Conflicting Info On Scrapper And Buffer Stations On Bander
10/29/2014

Range Hood Enclosure Height
10/02/2015

Life as a Cabinetmaker
"Would you do it all over again?" asks a cabinet shop owner after five years of struggling with business realities. Heartfelt responses prove that building cabinets is no easy way to make a buck. February 21, 2006

Quality and Cost for Veneered Cabinet Faces
The cost of veneered panels varies depending on the required appearance and the level of craftsmanship. May 31, 2014

Coped Crown Installation
Coping in an octagonal room. April 18, 2004

What Is The Best Forklift Brand
03/05/2015

Shop Drawing Submittals in Metric
When converting to 32mm construction, should all drawings be done in metric as well? April 18, 2004

Pricing Cabinets
Basic ideas on estimating cabinet construction costs. January 9, 2006

Hardwood Lumber Tallies
Are you being shorted on a lumber delivery? The answer could depend on the fine points of board-foot calculations. April 19, 2015

Cabinet-Shop Start-Up Obstacles
Pros paint a picture of the difficulties involved in starting a cabinet business. June 23, 2006

Hafele Loox Lighting
06/17/2015

Troubleshooting Edge Banders
Uneven glue application could have several causes (and fixes) March 17, 2005

Frameless Cabinets Sagging Concerns
03/19/2015

The Movement Of Wood
02/26/2015

3PH Timesaver In 1PH Shop?
10/30/2014

Clamping Methods for Laminations
Cabinetmakers discuss jigs and techniques for clamping large curved laminated assemblies. July 21, 2005

Cabinet Pricing Versus Built-In Pricing
A cabinetmaker who does mostly kitchens gets advice on pricing for a basic built-in entertainment center. February 12, 2009

Finished End Material For Painted Cabinets?
11/16/2014

Comparing Edgebander Features
04/23/2015

5 Piece Door Construction Method
08/02/2015

What Is A Good Cutlist Program?
02/20/2015

Estimating Sheet Quantities for Cabinets
Advice on "guesstimates" and more precise calculation of the number of sheets needed to build a set of cabinet boxes. September 7, 2006

Calculating Waste from Rough Lumber
You always lose some ... here's a look at the numbers. December 2, 2010

Considering a Hotel Kitchenette Cabinet Job
A quick look at the pricing and management issues involved in approaching a commercial cookie-cutter job. April 9, 2008

Clamping and Gluing 45-Degree Corners
Tape, biscuits, pocket screws? Pros share techniques for gluing faces to bases. March 17, 2005

Shopping for Case Clamps
If you use dowel joinery to build cabinets, what's the most practical choice in a case clamp system? February 2, 2011

Whether to Get a Deposit from a Builder Customer
Five out of five cabinetmakers agree — no deposit, no work delivered (with rare exceptions). March 1, 2006

Finishing Cost For Gloss Finish
02/25/2015

Mitering Radius Moulding to Straight Moulding
Here's help visualizing and laying out the miter cuts where a curved piece of moulding meets a straight piece with the same profile. April 24, 2014

Glue Options For Prefinished Maple
11/19/2014

Doweling Plywood Cabinets
01/29/2015

Clamping Techniques for Consistently Flat Panel Glue-Ups
Jigs and simple methods for maintaing flatness in solid wood panel glue-ups. October 19, 2014

Laguna Resaw Blades Worth It Or Not
10/19/2014

Painting Doors With MDF Panel
03/06/2015

Mirror Insert Cabinet Door Bowing
02/26/2015

What Type Of Wood Is This?
11/10/2014

Cherry Or Alder Debate
05/29/2015

Crescent Bandsaw Tires
01/23/2015

Weighing The Benefits Of Tandembox
11/15/2014

Tablesaw Wont Raise And Lower
10/26/2014

Getting Appliances for a Kitchen Showroom
If you're creating a classy showroom, appliance makers and other vendors may be happy to provide you with products to include. June 5, 2006

Use Blind Dado To Eliminate Edge Boring
08/09/2015

Handling and Installing High-End Appliances
What's the best way to get a heavy, expensive Sub-Zero or Wolf fridge or range off the truck and into the house? Short answer: pay somebody else to do it. January 23, 2014

Frameless Inset Cabinet Design
11/28/2014

Rafix Cam Locations
12/08/2014

Cabinet Installation Prices
A reasonable per-box rate for cabinet installation can really vary, depending on the complexity of the job. September 27, 2008

Laminating Plywood
08/20/2015

Cabinet Cost Versus House Cost
What percentage of a house's price might the cabinets cost? Feedback from various locations. August 29, 2005

Upcut Saw
10/18/2014

25" Wide Belt Vs 16" Open End Wide Belt
12/03/2014

Hide glue
Proper mix ratio and storage info. September 24, 2002

Travel Blocks/ Skid Blocks
10/24/2014

Widebelt Hold Down Rollers
12/01/2014

Warped Panel In Door
01/19/2015

Desk/counter Power/charging
03/03/2015

Home Show Display
12/05/2014

2 Mil VS. 3 Mil Edgebanding
10/20/2014

Cost Per Sheet for CNC Part Cutting
A cabinetmaker looking to outsource parts gets some rough ballpark numbers as of 2007. January 27, 2008

Portable LED Lights
02/21/2015

Proper Suction For Range Hood
04/20/2016

Top Laminating/Banding
12/10/2014

Shopbot Cnc
01/26/2015

Sourcing Closet Drawers
04/30/2015

Edgebanders
01/17/2015

Edgebanding Tape Storage
03/01/2015

Tiger Stop Rip Fence Set Up Manual
12/13/2014

Paint Grade - Birch Vs. Soft Maple
03/16/2015

Thoughts On Artistic Countertops
02/27/2015

Commercial Base Cabinet Depths
11/19/2014

Shop Cart Castor Recomendations
12/03/2014

PSA Sanding Discs
01/13/2015

High Gloss Laminates And Edgebanding
11/02/2014

Touch Activated Slide
12/05/2014

Thick Edgebanding Availability
03/03/2015

Need Doc For Old Brandt Edgebander
11/17/2014

Iron Wood Up Cut Saw Blade Size ?
10/29/2014

Door Supplier In Northern California
11/26/2014

Fastcap Edgebanding
11/09/2014

Table Saw Problems
11/01/2014

SCMI Syntex 4 Sided Planer
11/12/2014

Closet Building Basics
12/04/2014

File Drawer Locks
10/27/2014

Trying To Find A Source For Thick Solid Basswood In Chicago
10/29/2014

Pricing A Cabinet Project
07/12/2015

Is Pre-Mill Useful On An Edgebander
08/19/2016

Corner Mantel/Ent. Center/ ??
11/27/2014

Scmi Si 320
12/06/2014

Oregon Altendorf Techs
11/15/2014

Dovetailing Machine Capabilities
10/27/2014

Cherry Lumber Defects
08/17/2015

Painting Inside A Frame And Panel Door Grouve
12/15/2014

New Edgebander
01/21/2015

Updating Bathroom Vanity
10/29/2014

Murphy Bed Hardware For King Size Mattress
02/28/2015

Utensil Containers
12/04/2015

Edge Banding 1 1/2" Strips & Clean Up
01/13/2015

Drop Leaf Desk Hardware
12/15/2014

Melamine Chips
11/12/2014

Laminate Door Provider In This Profile
11/07/2014

Window Restoration Hardware
01/11/2015

Glass Doors With Rubber Spline
12/12/2014

Previous Post On Humidity And Cabinets
11/19/2014

Correct Oil For Widebelt
12/11/2014

Gluing face frame joints
Is the added glue necessary? August 13, 2002

Differences Between Types Of Titebond Glue
10/13/2014

Gluing Solid Wood Edging to Plywood Shelves
A question about clamps leads to a detailed discussion of slick ways to glue solid edging onto plywood. November 21, 2005

Polyurethane (PUR) adhesives
Basic overview of different PUR glues. September 24, 2002

Gluing dovetails and finger joints
Which adhesive is best for these joints? May 15, 2002

Glue Applicator Tips and Tricks
Advice on the practicalities of using a simple glue applicator with hopper — and on higher-end alternatives. January 25, 2013

Wood For Picnic Table
04/05/2015

Installing Crown with Fast-Drying Glue
Installers discuss fast-setting glues and other fine points of crown moulding installation. November 10, 2006

Walnut Bar Top
01/12/2015

Stile And Rail Question
01/09/2015

Mirka Deros Vs. Ceros Random Orbit Sander
09/25/2015

Customer Deposits and Payment Schedules
A heartfelt and sometimes heated discussion about setting payment terms, including initial deposits, for a cabinet job. February 27, 2013

Making Money on Custom Installs
How can a 2-man operation stay profitable on cabinetry installations? A discussion of costs, pricing, planning, and time management for installing custom work. July 27, 2008

Quality and Price for a Basic Bedroom Built-In
Here's a long business and technical discussion on how to build a modestly-priced armoire and entertainment center. July 28, 2007

Hardware For Beaded Faceframes
05/28/2015

Using Corian For Cabinet Doors
03/18/2015

Sourcing Cabinet Hardware
Pros discuss one-stop shopping for cabinet hardware from various manufacturers. August 29, 2005

Hinge Question For Faceframers
10/15/2014

Door Gapping For Euro Box Construction
05/31/2015

Grass Hinge Boring Machine
12/04/2014

Hinges
09/30/2014

Salice Titanium Hinges
10/11/2014

Small Soft Close Mini Hinge
12/19/2017

Under Mount Drawer Slide Question
11/26/2014

Secret Door Opening Device
12/15/2014

Hinge On Mitered Corners
02/24/2015

Vertical Sliding Door
11/19/2014

Downsizing Considerations
What size operation fits your style? April 10, 2005

Wood Movement-doors
04/01/2015

Photographing Kitchens Professionally
Recommendations on creating high-quality shots of your work. April 2, 2004

Fine Points of Linear-Foot Pricing
Linear-foot estimating can play a role in sales and bidding, but it's only a starting point. Here's an extended discussion. August 31, 2010

Whether to Give Clients your Drawings
Here's an extended discussion about appropriate policies for control of shop drawings and design layouts. May 26, 2010

Door Pricing and Outsourcing
Here is a long thread about door pricing, kicked off by a cabinetmaker who gets sticker shock from a door vendor's bid. July 25, 2010

Pricing a Multifamily Cabinet Install Job
Cabinet installers talk ballpark numbers and hard lessons. December 19, 2009

Pricing a Built-In Bookshelf
Another tour through familiar territory: How much is this bookcase worth? And should neighbors catch a break? November 26, 2007

Naming Cabinet Styles
How do you describe the cabinet styles you offer to customers in simple, understandable, and attractive language? September 30, 2010

Crack In Wood Top
02/03/2015

Double Stacking Cutters On A Shaper
12/28/2014

HELP ! Bought Scmi Bander And Wont Reach Operating Temperature
12/26/2014

Cause of Widebelt Defects
06/10/2017

Whether to Back Out of a Job over Site Conditions
Cabinet installers discuss the contract and management issues involved when you encounter unexpected and troublesome site conditions. May 7, 2007

Charging for Edgebanding
A cabinetmaker ponders whether and how to modify his piece rates after acquiring a more productive, but costly, piece of edgebanding equipment. July 12, 2012

Work On Your Business Or In It?
02/07/2015

Edgebander Glue-Pot Maintenance
Advice on how to prevent an edgebander glue pot from wearing out prematurely. October 9, 2006

Widebelt Sanding Price
Quote about a buck a minute, then work out the Karma face to face, is the consensus. August 28, 2010

Pitch Builds On Left Side Of Blade Only
12/31/2014

Holzher Edgebander
01/08/2015

Construction Boring Machine
10/16/2014

Drum Sander Vs. Wide Belt Sander
10/17/2014

Creative Uses for Scrap
October 26, 2012

Contact Cement Spray-Tank Systems
Cabinetmakers and countertop pros see big advantages to spray-applied contact cement. April 20, 2007

Quantifying the Waste Factor
How much of the lumber you buy becomes scrap instead of cabinets? Shop owners report their observations. December 27, 2007

Movable Countertop
02/12/2015

Designing and Pricing Garage Cabinets
Thoughts on how to make money in the garage-cabinet niche. January 11, 2008

Do You Guys Use A Dolly Or Hand Truck?
10/06/2014

New Way to Fabricate Laminate Counter Edges
One craftsman's suggestion for a new way to create the edge detail for a laminate countertop. October 27, 2009

Can You Make Money With Wire Shelving?
A quick look at the business side of wire shelving. February 13, 2013

Woodworker Tests iPhone Angle Finder
... it seems to work surprisingly well. June 18, 2010

Curved Closet Poles
Ideas for fabricating curved closet poles from wood or metal. May 28, 2010

Is It Worth It To Order Pre-cut Drawers?
12/31/2014

Downdraft Sanding Table
01/02/2015

Sizing Up Clamp Racks
Clamp carrier systems are useful, but your mileage may vary. January 12, 2012

Tambour Source Needed For 24" Tall Appliance Garage
01/05/2015

Veneering Vs. Plywood
10/08/2014

Edgebander Is Cutting The Tape Short
02/16/2015

How To Finish Cabinet Corners
09/01/2015

LF Screwdrivers With Better Tips.
12/26/2014

Switching Mounting Method?
02/12/2015

How To Fix A Warped Cabinet Door
02/13/2015

Dry Rack Question
02/04/2015

How To Check For Squareness On A Panel Saw
12/31/2014

Part Stacker For Edgebander?
02/08/2015

File Drawer Side Mount Location
02/10/2015

Edgebander Problem
12/23/2014

"the Stick" For Blum MiniPress
12/24/2014

Re Assembling Antique Base
12/25/2014

3mm Pvc Corner Finishing
02/05/2015

Cabinetmaking Cutlist Generator
01/02/2015

Veneer Over Edgebanding.
10/07/2014

Electronic Levels
10/09/2014

Sanding 3/8 Lip Doors
09/30/2014

Radial Arm Saw Blades
01/05/2015

Right Dust Collector For Edgebanding ?
01/03/2015

Hot Melt Glue Granules For Automatic Edgebander
10/03/2014

SCMI Sintex Multiplaner Capabilities
02/18/2015

What Wood Is This?
10/08/2014

Cnc Woodcarver Source Needed
10/15/2014

Drill Doctor?
01/04/2015

Tambour Doors
02/05/2015

Sliding Door Track For Showcases
10/15/2014

Microvellum For BOSS Flat Table Router
01/31/2015

Installations in High Rise Residential Buildings
Advice on the ins and outs of installing cabinetry and millwork in the upper stories of a tall building in the city. July 13, 2010

Wearing Shorts on the Jobsite
OSHA cares how you dress on construction sites. Here's some info and some discussion. April 8, 2008

Gluing MDF Miter Joints
MDF soaks up ordinary wood glues, compromising the bond. Here's advice on priming the joint before gluing, or using a specialized adhesive. February 25, 2009

Bidding Wars Heat Up
In a tough economy, price undercutting can get extreme. Here, a cabinetmaker's anecdote sets off a long discussion of price competition and reality. August 11, 2009

Démarrer une entreprise de fabrication de meubles
Les professionnels donnent les avantages et les inconvénients liés au démarrage d'une nouvelle entreprise de fabrication de meubles

Bidding Wars on a Nice Built-In
Another lost-bid case study: Custom cabinetmakers discuss pricing and negotiating strategies for a custom Cherry entertainment center job. August 11, 2009

AWI certification
Is membership or certfication with AWI worth your while?July 29, 2003

Attention, Safety Practices, and Loose Nuts
A woodworker describes how a moment's inattention damaged his machine — but luckily, not him. The tale sets off a long thread of similar stories (including one fatality) and lessons learned. November 16, 2011

Are bone-dry biscuits necessary?
Questions about the dryness and size of biscuits. April 24, 2002

Estimation et tarification pour l'installation d'armoires
Les ébénistes et les installateurs discutent des tenants et aboutissants des méthodes de tarification et des règles empiriques. 4 septembre 2005

Bidding a Commercial Cabinet Job
Residential cabinetmaker gets advice on pricing a commercial unit. May 4, 2005

Beaded Inset Face Frame Joinery
What's best - mortise and tenon, dowels, pocket screws...? April 10, 2005

Another Cabinet Pricing Survey
Cabinetmakers from around the U.S. quote ballpark prices for a generic cabinet project, and discuss costs and markets. April 9, 2008

Are These Side Panels Faulty
03/15/2015

Anyone Make Stop Flutes On Their Moulder?
10/31/2014

Architectural Millwork Installer Compensation
Owners and employees discuss the wages installers make, and the factors that affect the value of labor. November 11, 2005

Anyone Using HDF PLUMA Ply?
10/22/2014

Bidding on Big Commercial Jobs
Advice about organization, level of detail, and covering yourself in working up and submitting a bid for a large commercial project.September 17, 2014

Bonding veneer to melamine
Bubbling veneer and contact cement. (Cabinetmaking Forum) May 1, 2003

Building a Glue Press
Creating a glue press system in-shop. April 2, 2004

Adding value to old pallets
Examples of how woodworkers have recycled pallets and other old wood into new products. June 5, 2002

Bowing in a Panel Glue-Up
Woodworkers consider why a one-inch thick shelf made up of a 3/4-inch wood layer glued to a 1/4-inch MDF layer came out of the vacuum bag bowed. October 13, 2012

Are Showrooms Worth It?
Pros and cons of adding a showroom to your shop. April 10, 2005

Are 4 Inch Belt Sanders Any Faster?
01/27/2015

A multi-faceted challenge
An architectural woodworker gets ideas for making a too-wide handrail intersect gracefully with an octagon-shaped newel cap. December 17, 2003

A Small Power Feeder for a Router?
It can improve control and precision, especially for climb-cutting. February 25, 2005

Building a Bowed Service Counter Front
Tips and techniques for creating the curved plywood front for a long bank counter.

Applying Glue to Coped Ends of Door Rails
Cabinetmakers discuss glue applicator technologies. July 10, 2009

Blades For A Slider
11/14/2014

Brandt Gluepot Issue
01/22/2015

Basswood In Service Stability
01/18/2015

Assorted Videos for Millwork Installers and Cabinetmakers
January 25, 2007

Alder
02/07/2015

Best Finish For Outdoor Furniture
04/26/2015

Big Box Pricing — Not So Cheap Really
Surprisingly, big box store cabinet prices don't necessarily undercut custom work. February 27, 2015

Best Way To Get Water Out Of Airlines
01/26/2015

Belts On A Power Feeder?
04/02/2015

Best Blade For Resaw
09/02/2015

Best Hole Saw
10/20/2014

Building Large Pullout Case With Shelves
02/12/2015

Best Castor For Roll Around Kitchen Cart
11/25/2014

Built-up Crown Molding Configuration
Achieving unique looks with standard crown profiles. May 8, 2004

Blind Cabinet Door
02/23/2015

Brandt Optimat Edgebander -
10/13/2014

Bubbled Contact Cement
02/14/2015

ADA Kitchen Requiremets
01/28/2015

Any Info On What This Is Used For?
01/19/2015

Blum Under Mount Drawer Slides
10/02/2014

Adjusting Sagging Cabinet Doors
01/25/2015

Brad Point Boring Bits.
10/23/2014

Band Saw Blades: What To Order
12/16/2014

Anybody Know This Profile?
03/02/2015

Adjusting An Omga MEC
12/12/2014

Brandt Edgebander Question
10/31/2014

Switching Specialties: From Cabinets to Furniture
Can a one-man business successfully make the change? Owners weigh in on both sides. July 24, 2005

- Wood species
Information on tree species and their uses. March 20, 2001

Making Code from Sloppy Drawings
The frustrations of messy drawings, and a parallel discussion of CNC theory vs. reality in terms of function. December 9, 2004

Compressed air delivery system
Appropriate piping for shop air distribution lines. January 15, 2003

Scribing loose end panels
Woodworkers describe the processes they use. April 3, 2002

Spray Shop Layout
Setting up an efficient spray-finishing area in an expanded shop. December 26, 2004

Crown moulding with angled ceiling
Is it possible to take an out-of-kilter ceiling into account? November 22, 2003

Drawer Slide Choices for Pull-Out Shelving
Thoughts on whether to use high-end drawer slides to mount pull-out shelves, and on what the installation process would entail. February 26, 2007

Router Table and Lift
Designs and ideas for a smoothly functioning router workstation. December 9, 2004

Troubleshooting Warping in Veneered MDF Doors
A cabinetmaker gets advice about a set of bath cabinet doors that has cupped after finishing. February 15, 2015

Multiple cut crown molding
Handling such installations with accuracy. April 3, 2002

Pricing Finished Versus Unfinished Cabinetry
Thoughts on breaking the cost of finishing out of the cost of a cabinet job. March 26, 2010

Joining boards end to end
What's the best way to do it when creating a 20' oak top? April 2, 2002

Safety and climb cutting
Safety issues involved in climb cutting with a shaper. January 21, 2003

Remote Control Through Closed Doors
There are several solutions to the problem of controlling equipment in an entertainment center when the doors are shut. December 27, 2006

Trimming Plugs
Cutting and sanding wood plugs can be tedious and laborious. Here, pros discuss efficient ways to make a clean job of it. September 3, 2005

Cabinet Doors: Outsource Or Build?
It's hard to beat the cost of outsourcing. April 10, 2005

Hardwood Built-In Installations
Hardwood Built-Ins Create Striking Centerpiece. December 3, 2001

Woodworking 101: The Basics
and shows how it can affect various production operations. 1998.

Eliminating Wood Problems -- An Industry Review: 10 Ways of Eliminating Wood Problems
Gene Wengert explains why eliminating wood problems begins and ends with monitoring and controlling the moisture content (MC) in wood -March 18, 2000

Scribing, with graphics
Instructions on scribing cabinets to walls. April 4, 2001

Gluing door veneer
Systems for gluing hardwood veneer to stave-core stile and rail doors. Illustrated.. February 6, 2002

CAD Drafting Services for the Woodworking Industry
For some comapnies, outsourcing CAD work make sense - 1997

Installation ... but we've never done it -- like that before!
Jon Elvrum discusses the biggest obstacle in learning to install frameless cabinets: Old habits. 1998.

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.

Doing the Front-End Math
Jon Elvrum provides a process for making the transition to the 32mm system.

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.

Cabinet design techniques
A survey of cabinetmakers' design techniques, from pencil and rule to CAD. September 6, 2000

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

Hardwoods in the Bath
Finishing Tips When Installing Hardwoods in Wet, Humid Environments October 22, 2001

WOODPRO - Species Selection Made Easy
A free complete working computer program (that can be downloaded at WOODWEB), allowing woodworkers to select the most suitable wood species for any particular application - 1997

WOODnetWork Discussions: Glue
The correct amount of clamping pressure is vital to a strong bond - 1998

Comparing sliding and vertical saws
Woodworkers voice their views on the virtues and liabilities of both sliding and vertical saws. November 15, 2000

Face-frame joinery techniques
Cabinetmakers discuss various techniques for joining cabinet face frames. October 31, 2000

Small parts on P2P
Using a spoilboard to solve problems of no suction with small parts. March 20, 2001

Correcting dowel hole runout
Finding and correcting the cause of dowel hole runout in CNC-machined parts. November 7, 2000

Case construction practices
A look at various methods of case joinery for kitchen cabinets. September 6, 2000

Protecting edges of installed cabinets
Protecting newly installed cabinetry from the chaos of continuing construction. November 15, 2000

Matching stain to existing work
Techniques for matching the finish of new work to that of the existing cabinets in a cherry kitchen. November 7, 2000

Halogen lighting: Passing the temperature test
How high-heat halogen lighting is tested for safety, to ensure it is appropriate for various applications. - 1998

Truing-up rough wood
Planers will not remove the bow from rough stock; jointing is required before boards can be properly thicknessed. February 13, 2001

Tooling up for Euro-style cabinets
When considering a switch to the 32mm system, there are two choices: Get your feet wet, or dive right in. 1998.

Frequently Asked Questions about Widebelt Sanders
A general list of guidelines when using widebelt sanders - 1998

Face frame alignment
Getting good alignment with mortise and tenon joinery in face frames. December 6, 2000

Ripping cabinet-grade plywood -- with a circular saw
Tips and accessories for getting decent cuts with a hand-held power saw. September 26, 2000

Optimal feed rates for CNC machining
What are the best feed rates for CNC work? October 31, 2000

Patching damaged veneer
Repairing damaged veneer on the top of a chest of drawers. June 14, 2000

Production ideas for box columns
Joint selection and assembly tips for box-type columns. September 26, 2000

Heavy-duty CNC router recommendations
Suggestions choosing for a good-quality CNC router, offering adequate tech support and training. February 28, 2001

Procedures for shop-floor medical emergencies
What to do when a serious accident occurs in the shop. September 26, 2000

Pocket-screwed face frames
A time-saving method for frame assembly compared to dowels. 1998.

Warping and cracking in glued-up pine
To find clues for cracked and warped pine panels, a measure of moisture content is needed before the splitting occurs. 1998.

Filling holes in pre-finished moulding
What to use for filling nail holes after pre-finished trim in installed. June 6, 2001

Tear-out on raised panel corners
Eliminating corner tear-out on raised panel cabinet doors when using CNC equipment. November 7, 2000

Production laminating -- is hot or cold press faster?
A laminator looks for time-saving pressing techniques. June 14, 2000

Machinery setup: Squaring up your saw
How to make sure your saw is cutting square. February 12, 2001

Edgeband failure
Searching for causes of edgeband failure. September 26, 2000

Keeping solid doors flat
Techniques for preventing warpage of solid wood cabinet doors. June 14, 2000

Production sanding of raised-panel profiles
Woodworkers offer tips on sanding a large quantity of raised panel profiles. September 26, 2000

Going metric: Pros and cons
Pros and cons of converting to metric measurement in your shop. February 28, 2001

Dowel case assembly
Shop owners sing the praises of dowel case construction. September 6, 2000

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

Door stiles bow after assembly
Possible causes and solutions for door stiles that bow after the door is assembled. September 26, 2000

Door/drawer gaps in Euro-style cabinets
Americans need to apply the looser European standards to door and drawer gaps to avoid frustration when ordering these parts from other manufacturers. October 18, 2000

Production sanding for humidors
There's no 'silver bullet' when it comes to the detail sanding that fine work demands, be it in a one-off or production environment. 1998.

Warpage in maple door panels
Despite a careful glue-up, a woodworker gets warpage in door panels. June 14, 2000

Jigless routing of MDF panels
Finding a low-cost method for making raised-panel doors out of MDF. January 3, 2001

PUR adhesives
A Q&A on PUR hot melt formulations and their proper use. December 6, 2000

Overcoming sander swirl marks
Why does a random orbit sander leave swirl marks and scratches? January 24, 2001

In search of flat doors
Even slightly inaccurate machining can produce frame-and-panel doors which are less than flat. June 6, 2001

Mounting cabinets to block walls
Woodworkers share techniques for attaching work to concrete block walls. September 26, 2000

Making painted desk tops durable
Creating tough surfaces for office furniture. October 31, 2000

Leg levelers vs. notches and plinths
Leg levelers are the way to go, if you're going Euro. 1998.

Hinge-mounting machines
Hinge insertion machines are available for European as well as traditional cabinet hinges. 1998.

Training draftsmen for woodworking
Can an engineer learn the nuances of drawing millwork in CAD? March 20, 2001

MDF vs. veneer-core plywood
Comparing MDF and particleboard to veneer-core plywood for cabinet manufacturing. 1998.

Repairing a sequenced MDF door
reverse the terminal warp of a sequenced MDF/cherry door. 1998.

Learning the trade
How to approach a woodworking firm about becoming an apprentice. November 7, 2000

Sliding table saw basics
General information for first-time users of 'sliders.' 1998.

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

Crown moulding: Calculating miters
How to calculate the correct mitering angles in crown moulding installation. November 29, 2000

ITEMIZER - From R & R Drummond, Inc.
Use your computer to generate efficient layouts for cutting sheet material into desired sizes (a link to a demo download is provided)1998

"M" particleboard grades
The difference between grades of particleboard is explained. June 14, 2000

"Crying" Spanish cedar veneer
Cleaning up and fabricating "crying" Spanish cedar veneer. June 14, 2000

Cabinet installation tool kit
A thorough look at the tools professionals take on the job. August 4, 2003

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

Proper nail hole touchup
Using a material to fill holes that will be compatible with the finish. July 9, 2002

Millwork Touch-up and Repair
A visitor seeks advice on how to get training in the fine art of fixing faults. February 26, 2005

Joint Tape "Shadows" -- at Veneer Seams
Why does the area from which tape was removed accept stain differently? March 14, 2004

Financial Success in Woodworking
Philosophies and turning points on the path to $100K a year. January 6, 2005

Crown Moulding Expansion/Contraction Problem
Who or what is responsible for gaps appearing at joints after installation? June 4, 2004

Sawdust as fuel
Building a sawdust-fired boiler to heat kiln and shop. November 18, 2002

Flattening boards with a planer
Methods for planing warped wood flat. September 25, 2002

Speeding Up CNC Router Production
Tips on operation, loading and unloading for efficiency. December 26, 2004

Shop lighting
Best bulbs for brightness and efficiency. February 12, 2003

Parametric Drawings
Can parametric design simplify change orders? May 19, 2004

Organizing Drills, Drivers, and Bits
Groping for a labeling method to keep track of different driver bits in different tools. August 31, 2009

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

Creating an installation division
Setting up a special division to install the product your company builds. July 9, 2002

Potential of a One-Man Shop
Is it realistic to think a small shop owner can make a decent living? December 9, 2004

New Shop Layout
Efficient shop flow for increased profit. February 28, 2004

Charging for Finish Samples and Color-Matching
Matching a customer's finish sample introduces complications. Here's how some cabinetmakers manage the process and the costs. August 19, 2008

Crown Molding: Cope Or Miter?
Either can work - craftsmen share opinions and tips. April 14, 2005

Moulding on a Curved Wall
Installing trim work along a curved staricase. February 28, 2004

Converting lines to polylines
Step by step CAD instructions. December 17, 2003

Gluing and clamping pressure
Is clamping necessary, and if so, how much? January 21, 2003

Layer Names and Line Defaults
Organizing and simplifying layers in CAD. May 19, 2004

FOB defined
Origins and meanings of the term "freight on board." (Sawing and Drying Forum) March 23, 2003

Polyester vs. Acrylic Fabrication
Pros and cons, including quality and cost in solid surface choices. May 19, 2004

Estimating High-End Cab Installs
An installer seeks tips on estimating his time and pricing his services. February 25, 2005

CNC feed rates for melamine
Concerns on purchasing a CNC router and software for cutting melamine. August 12, 2001

Set-ups For Making Raised Panel Doors
Rigs, jigs, and customized equipment for high-volume raised panel door production. April 10, 2005

Deleting Blocks and Layers
Why won't these stubborn ACAD elements go away? December 9, 2004

Troubleshooting Veneer Splits And Pops
Glue type and humidity changes could be the source. April 14, 2005

Carpenter to accomplished installer
How do you train a carpenter to become a cabinet and millwork installer? July 9, 2002

To cleat or not to cleat
Does cleating cabinets save installation time and money? April 3, 2002

Moving to Metric
Tips on making the transition as smooth as possible. September 9, 2004

Tenoners
Basic descriptions of various types of tenoning machinery and their capabilities. November 13, 2008

Wainscot with toe kick
Notching and other ideas for integrating a toe kick with wainscot. January 3, 2003

Clamp Cart
Shop-made carriers for clamps. December 26, 2004

Exhaust Fan Size for Spray Booth
How much ventilation is needed? August 17, 2004

Island Clearance
How much space around an island? Code and comfort considerations apply. April 14, 2005

Installing cabinets over tile
Tying kicks to a tile floor, and the complications presented by floor-integrated radiant heating. February 19, 2002

Pros and Cons of Sawing Your Own
A solo cabinetmaker wonders if he should mill his own lumber on the side. March 14, 2005

Construction Hole Boring Accuracy Tips
Here's advice on how to get consistent, high-accuracy performance from a construction boring machine. October 3, 2011

How To Charge For Design
Getting paid for design work's not easy, but some markets will bear it. April 10, 2005

Shimming Cabinets
Experienced installers share tips for fitting cabinets in place. April 14, 2005

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

Curved Stairway Trim Job
Where chair rail meets moulding. February 28, 2004

Straight Lining Rough Lumber
Efficient methods for creating an edge. December 9, 2004

Cyanoacrylate adhesive
How does this glue work for gap filling? (From WOODWEB's Finishing Forum) March 23, 2003

Kitchen and Cabinet Crown Molding
Matching the molding details when cabinets meet the ceiling. May 4, 2005

Confirmat Screw Spacing
Pros share opinions and experiences. April 10, 2005

Tapered Stop Flutes
The search for a simple, efficient method. December 26, 2004

Methods for radius layout
Alternatives to using a trammel for laying out an arc. September 19, 2001

Installing Cabinets When Carpet Has Been Laid
Thoughts on how to handle the business and technical problems raised when a GC asks the cabinet installer to follow the carpet installer in the job sequence. August 31, 2009

In Praise of Old-School Bench Vises
Some simple but clever old iron that still works after many decades. Gotta love it.December 2, 2011

- Spreadsheet Calculation Program -- for Curves, Angles, Compound Miters and Springback
Free downloadable program(s) in both Excel and MS Works, including illustrations that support the formulas.. August 6, 2002

Finished end panels
How to install pre-finished end panels. April 3, 2002

Line Boring Attachment, or Dedicated Machine?
A separate machine for line boring makes more practical sense than buying an attachment for another machine. April 20, 2008

Radius Corners on HPL Counters
Applying laminate strip without pull-away problems. May 19, 2004

Waxing Equipment Surfaces
Using butcher's wax to make wood move easily across machine tables. April 18, 2004

Cabinets on Top of Granite
Don't set upper cabs until the granite's in place. May 4, 2005

Cutting crown moulding laying flat
Calculating angles properly. April 2, 2002

Counter, Range Hood, and Cabinet Clearances
Cabinet clearances around ranges and hoods can get tricky when under-cabinet lighting enters the picture. December 27, 2008

Radius Cabinet Job - Project Review
October 27, 2003

Joinery to Prevent Telegraphing of a Paint Finish
Cabinetmakers consider material and glue choices to avoid visual telegraphing of joints in a custom cabinetry and furniture job that will have an opaque white lacquer finish. November 15, 2011

Should I charge more?
Cabinetmakers share their systems for determining pricing. August 29, 2001

Fortune Teller: Making More Money in the Wood Industry
Wood Doctor Gene Wengert makes some educated guesses about the near future in the wood products industry, and offers some advice about how wood-based businesses can profit from change. April 15, 2013

Cost of Shop Drawings
Pros consider perspectives on drafting's share of the cost of a kitchen job. November 26, 2007

AutoCAD Drawings, Step by Step
Efficient development of shop drawings. April 18, 2004

Achieving functional kitchen design
When it comes to the kitchens you build, should you design them yourself or hire an expert? December 6, 2000

Beaded face frames on CNC
Developing the right CNC setup for beaded face frames. February 13, 2001

Base cabinet installation
How to cope with wavy floors. April 3, 2002

AutoCAD Dimension Lines
Cleaning up extension lines. December 26, 2004

Alternatives to painted interiors
Woodworkers offer alternatives to painted cabinet interiors. September 6, 2000

Attaching Cabinets To Concrete Or Steel Stud Walls
Pros give tips on cleats and specialty screws. April 14, 2005

Biscuits for face frames
A discussion of using biscuits for assembling cabinet face frames. Pros and cons of biscuits on face frames, and equipment used. November 21, 2000

Remplissage de trous dans des moulures préfabriquées
Que faut-il utiliser pour combler les trous de clous après l'installation de la garniture préfinie. 6 juin 2001

Breaking router bits
Why are bits breaking while cutting exterior-grade MDF? November 26, 2001

Applied mouldings on raised-panel doors
Ideas for applying mouldings to raised panel doors without affecting panel movement. September 26, 2000

Angle for Coping Crown Molding
Looking for the magic number. December 26, 2004

Alternatives to dado cabinet construction
John Elvrum offers a practical approach to identifying viable, mechanical alternatives to traditional dado joinery of cabinet boxes. 1998.

Applying putty for the long haul
How to fill holes in cherry and keep the colors matched over time. February 13, 2001

Bonding wood to glass
Recommended glues and tapes for bonding wood to glass. January 24, 2001

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