❖ Making Your Own Kitchen Cabinets
... Content Copyright © Rockler.comIn this article from Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, they'll help you decide whether a large-scale cabinetmaking project is right for you, and offer a few time-saving tips for those who decide to take the plunge.
 Making your own kitchen cabinets can be a rewarding and money-saving enterprise. With the right tools and a little know-how, there's no reason why your cabinetry project shouldn't be a huge success.
When you're ready to get underway, remember that Rockler offers a broad selection of cabinetmaking tools, supplies and hardware that will help make your project smooth and trouble-free. |
Is Building Your Own Cabinets Right for You? Cabinetmaking can be a big job, even for experienced woodworkers. At Rockler, they carry a complete line of tools and equipment designed to make the process as accurate and trouble-free as possible.
A word of caution for the novice woodworker: Building an entire kitchen's-worth of new cabinets can be a challenge. It's not the ideal project for a beginning woodworker. Before you undertake a project that will have a dramatic impact on one of the most important rooms in you home, weigh other options carefully - there might be a simpler solution. |
| If you haven't already, read Rockler's article "Five Ways to Transform Your Kitchen" for a look at other, less demanding approaches.
Rockler says you don't have to spend thousands to give your kitchen a new look. They will show you how you can give one of the most important rooms in your house a first-rate "makeover" at a fraction of the cost of a full scale remodeling project. In theory, cabinetmaking isn't complicated; it really amounts to nothing more than building a simple box shape (over and over again, in the case of a kitchen remodel). Still, to make solid, attractive cabinets in a reasonable amount of time, you'll need more than the tips offered in this article. If you're new to cabinetmaking, we highly recommend picking up any one of the detailed How to Make Kitchen Cabinets Book in the Rockler collection. If you're still unsure, before you commit yourself to a sizable undertaking, consider a small, one-off cabinet project to get a feel for the process. |
 Making cabinet doors and matching drawer fronts takes time and requires special milling. That's why many professional cabinetmakers "shop out" this demanding part of the job.
With Rockler's Custom Door and Drawers, you'll save time and ensure a great-looking finished product. The program offers Hardwood or white RTF coated doors and drawer fronts in a wide variety of styles, custom made to the exact the sizes you need. The expertly-constructed doors & drawer fronts you order will be delivered to your door, ready to install. |
Time-Saving Cabinetmaking Tips⦿ Doors and Drawer Front OptionsIn a typical cabinetmaking project, making the doors and drawer fronts is half the battle. If you're short on time, or leery of taking on this part of the project yourself, having your cabinet doors and drawer fronts made for you is a great alternative. With Rockler's Custom Door and Drawer Front Program, you can have all of your new doors and drawer custom built to your specifications and delivered to your door ready to finish and hang.The cost of taking advantage of this great time-saver is less than you may think, and virtually guarantees that your doors and drawer fronts will be exactly the right size, flat, and reliably constructed. Using the program lets you concentrate on getting the cabinets just right, and could cut the time it takes you to complete the project in half. When you add up the cost of materials and the time it takes to do a good job on a kitchen's- worth of doors, the Custom Door and Drawer Fronts starts to look like a real bargain. |
⦿ Cabinet DrawersMaking cabinet drawer boxes is another of the more challenging aspects of cabinetmaking. For drawers to operate properly, drawer boxes need to be square and and flat. To help you get started on the right foot, Rockler offers a accurately milled, flat precut drawer sides in a couple of varieties. |
| At Rockler, they stock just about every drawer slide option under the sun. Choose from reliable ball-bearing slides, affordable roller-bearing slides, hidden undermount slides, or even classic wooden slides. Remember that the slide you choose will influence the style and dimensions of the drawer boxes you make. So plan ahead and choose your drawer slides before you build. |
 ⦿ Drawer SlidesBefore you order or build your new cabinet drawers, remember to give some thought to drawer slides.There are many types of drawer slides available, and the type and dimensions of the drawer you buy or make will influence the type of slide that you will be able to use. For top performance and long service, it's tough to beat a ball bearing drawer slide. |
⦿ Hardware and HingesOne of the key advantages of designing and building your own cabinets is that you have complete control of the selection of hinges and other hardware. Along with that, it is extremely important to understand that not all cabinet hardware is designed to be used on all types of cabinetry. European hinges, like the Blum Overlay Hinge pictured here, are easy to install and adjustable in either two or three directions, making them an extremely popular choice.
The Rockler Jig-It European Hinge Jig makes the installation process even easier. The jig's unique drill guide and template system make drilling accurate hinge cup holes fast and practically foolproof. In particular, the type of cabinets you build will greatly impact the type and variety of hinges available for your project. By the same token, selecting your cabinet hinges based on adjustability and ease of installation in advance can greatly simplify the installation phase of your cabinetmaking project. We strongly encourage you to read Rockler's article, "Choosing The Right Cabinet Hinge" before you design and build your cabinets. |
⦿ The Final TouchesWhen your cabinetmaking project progress toward its final stages, it will be time to start thinking about the final touches. Choosing an appropriate wood finishing method will go along way in protecting your cabinets through the years of everyday use they are likely to receive. Rockler's "Finishing Comparison Guide" will help you select a finish that will accentuate the beauty of your new cabinets, and stand up to less than wood-friendly kitchen environment.Last but not least is your chance to put your final "style statement" on the project. Rockler offers a selection of knobs and pull to fit every taste and budget. And in "Selecting Cabinet Knobs and Pulls" you'll find time-saving tips on installing hardware along with the basics of knob and pull materials and finishes, projection, and styles. |
📌 Content © Rockler.com ~ The products on this page are available at Rockler.com.
