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Cabinetry/woodworkers form

WhoWhatNow

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Can anyone recommend some good cabinetry or woodworking forums? I am looking to do a few projects over the next few years and am looking for construction techniques, tips, etc. I am going to start with some cabinets for the laundry room, then shelves for the pantry and for a master closet and hopefully wrap up with kitchen cabinets. There are a few threads on this forum where people have done some exceptional kitchens and I am hoping to be able to do something g similar eventually. Woodworking is not new to me, but fine woodworking is somewhat new.
 
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jar944

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Are you looking specifically for cabinetry only sources? There are no forums that are quite that specific. Oddly enough facebook has a few professional cabinet making groups that are actually active and reasonable open to beginner questions. The other great (or was great) resource was/is instagram. There was a lot of sharing of ideas/techniques. It's all still there, just a bit more difficult to find.

Sawmillcreek is a relatively popular and broad forum with enough professional (or retired) cabinet/ millwork people to get sold answers to your questions.

The interesting thing about cabinetry is everyone does things differently and each think their way is the right way. So you might get 10 different answers that all would work if you had the same setup as the person suggesting it.

What type of cabinetry are you looking to build and what equipment do you have? That will narrow the options.
 

legenddc

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I think one of the best resources is the Wood Whisperer Guild group on Facebook. You need to have purchased a course from the Wood Whisperer Guild so it’s not a ton of people and the ones in it seem knowledgeable.

Woodtalkonline.com is a good, but smaller forum.

The Wood Whisperer Youtube channel recently did a closet. Additionally, Matt Cremona on Youtube is building a kitchen and has a lot of videos out about it. Not a step-by-step tutorial but it goes into the whole process.

How nice you want your cabinets to be and what tools you have will help you determine where to look and what to watch.
 
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Rusty Wrench

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Solid responses above. (y)

I would add that I think it's difficult to assemble a body of knowledge like that via forums. Good info can get diluted and even obfuscated through too many well meaning opinions.

My journey in woodworking is founded in books. And I have close to 30 years of Fine Woodworking magazines. The Taunton Press has many fine publications for shelving and cabinetry.

Here are three I've referred to many times. You get a single expert perspective from each. They're really not all that different. Then it is easier to separate the wheat from the chaff in forums. And to pick the advice that comports with your own sensibilities.
If that makes sense. :)

my 2 cents
 

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WhoWhatNow

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Jar944 - your thread was one of the ones I was thinking g of. You do fantastic work. I’m not looking for cabinetry only, that’s just where I am starting. Exactly what type of cabinets I want to build is still up I the air. I am trying to understand what separates good cabinets from truly high end cabinets.

As far as equipment goes, I don’t have a lot of space so no table saw. The major tools are a Makita track saw, Festool Domino, Festool 1010 router, a JessEm router table with fence, Dewalt 13” planer and a Grizzly 8” jointer.

Edit - forgot the DeWalt 12” Miter saw.

Legenddc - thanks, I will check those out.


Rusty - I do have Bob Lang’s Kitchen Cabinetmaker. I am using that as a starting point but was looking for additional techniques, tips and ideas in general.
 
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jar944

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I am trying to understand what separates good cabinets from truly high end cabinets.
.
A good Salesman..

seriously though, beyond quality materials it's a bit of preference.

As an example you can argue that true mortise and tenon doors and face frames are higher end than pocket screws and cope joints. I wouldn't argue against that being intrinsically true, but in application and use those make no difference to the end product or user experience.

Imho, look at a bunch of types / styles of cabinetry and overall design to get a feel of what you like and decide what direction you want to go in. "High end" can be as simple as making use of all the available spacew with non-standard sizing.
 

manwithtools

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OP, you can build cabinets with the equipment you have, just might need to use slightly different techniques than you will find in printed books. For instance, track saws were not in wide spread use when most of those books were published. I'd suggest building a couple of shop cabinets to explore the different approaches to construction and see which you prefer.

@jar944 is spot on with this statement "The interesting thing about cabinetry is everyone does things differently and each think their way is the right way. So you might get 10 different answers that all would work if you had the same setup as the person suggesting it."

I'll say this too, some of the older cabinet guys are pretty set in their ways and tend to think that anything new is snake oil or not needed or too expensive . Your track saw and Domino ownership will be as controversial on wood working forums as electric cars and Harbor Freight are here on GJ.

You will have to weed through some of the answers you might get. SawmillCreek is a good resource, but it does have some curmudgeons :)

I'd say start a project thread here in the " Fabrication & Techniques" forum and ask folks for input, there are some accomplished wood folks here too!
 

Jgaz

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You might think this is crazy but I used this link when I made the corner cabinet in my garage.
Not necessarily fine woodworking but it could be fancier with different materials and especially more elaborate doors.
IMG_7179_Original.jpeg

I also used this book when I made a large built in entertainment center a couple houses ago.

Edit: I see Rusty Wrench beat me to Tolpin’s book

Also, depending on the number of cabinets you intend to build, don’t be afraid to price out ready made doors. Cutters, a large, powerful router (or shaper) can add up quick unless you do a simpler door.

This is cabinetry I built across the front of a friends motorhome. The center section used to house a large, old style TV. I made all new cabinets and repurposed the two side doors to use glass.
The center door was purchased to match the two side doors and IMO really makes the project by tying everything together.
IMG_0656_Original.jpeg
 

Max

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Solid responses above. (y)

I would add that I think it's difficult to assemble a body of knowledge like that via forums. Good info can get diluted and even obfuscated through too many well meaning opinions.

My journey in woodworking is founded in books. And I have close to 30 years of Fine Woodworking magazines. The Taunton Press has many fine publications for shelving and cabinetry.

Here are three I've referred to many times. You get a single expert perspective from each. They're really not all that different. Then it is easier to separate the wheat from the chaff in forums. And to pick the advice that comports with your own sensibilities.
If that makes sense. :)

my 2 cents
I’ll second Jim Tolpin’s book - I have it and it is excellent.
 
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WhoWhatNow

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Jar944 I think you nailed exactly why I am having so much trouble figuring out which construction technique is best. I like the Domino because it is easy. I with modern glues it appears that the joints are certainly strong enough for cabinets. It just doesn’t “seem” right for high end cabinets. I guess in the end no one will know.

I through this together for the shop over the holidays. The Domino made it the joints and glueup super easy.
IMG_0220.jpeg
 
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Copymutt

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Just got into a project. A pie safe for my wife. It will have blue coated chicken wire to highlight the beetle kill grey streaks.
Highly recommend Roy Underhill, The Woodrights Shop. If nothing else he’s a crack up.
IMG_3030.jpeg
 

tyyost

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Tunkhannock, PA
Solid responses above. (y)

I would add that I think it's difficult to assemble a body of knowledge like that via forums. Good info can get diluted and even obfuscated through too many well meaning opinions.

My journey in woodworking is founded in books. And I have close to 30 years of Fine Woodworking magazines. The Taunton Press has many fine publications for shelving and cabinetry.

Here are three I've referred to many times. You get a single expert perspective from each. They're really not all that different. Then it is easier to separate the wheat from the chaff in forums. And to pick the advice that comports with your own sensibilities.
If that makes sense. :)

my 2 cents
If I recall all of Jim Tolpins books were well done and practical. That kitchen cabinet book was excellent. I agree, any of those books are a great start, and many local libraries have copies. The suggestion of looking at these types of resources also helps a new woodworker avoid some of the Festool junkies and other fad of the month tools. The joinery is straightforward, and often the texts show other ways to accomplish the jobs with common equipment.
Once you have the an understanding of the basic concepts, picking the joinery methods, from dominos to dados, or even pocket screws becomes easy.
 

jar944

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Jar944 I think you nailed exactly why I am having so much trouble figuring out which construction technique is best. I like the Domino because it is easy. I with modern glues it appears that the joints are certainly strong enough for cabinets. It just doesn’t “seem” right for high end cabinets. I guess in the end no one will know.
When you realize that "high end" can be one peice mdf doors or melamine boxes you can start to see its more about the look of the finished product and what the person wants, than the method used to get there (with some exceptions.)
 

MongoTA

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As far as equipment goes, I don’t have a lot of space so no table saw. The major tools are a Makita track saw, Festool Domino, Festool 1010 router, a JessEm router table with fence, Dewalt 13” planer and a Grizzly 8” jointer.

Edit - forgot the DeWalt 12” Miter saw.
And there you go, you're off to the races.

When I built my house, by the time I got to the cabinets I pretty much did it all with the tablesaw for sectioning 4x8 sheets to size and ripping poplar boards to width for stiles and rails. Your track saw can do what a tablesaw can do, though at a slower pace.

I used a Dewalt chop saw for cutting the ripped boards to length. And router bits for adding those decorative edges where needed.

A neighbor gave me his "It's never worked" Leigh dovetail jig. I read the manual, reassembled it, and it worked perfectly. I used the dovetail jig to make most of my drawer boxes. Fast, efficient, and satisfying. Sadly he wanted it back!

My tool extravagance was routers. Because I was doing several runs at once, I ended up with two routers, one for the straight bit and one for the dovetail bit, both of those dedicated to the Leigh jig. I had three more routers, one for a cope bit, one for a stick, and one for the raised panel bit. Those were used on the kitchen cabinet doors, the raised panel as well as the glass doors. Then a couple others that were used as needed. It saved me so much time to get the routers set up for those matching sets of bits and then leave them be, pulling them off the shelf as needed for whichever task.

Cabinet carcasses were birch plywood, the carcass pieces dadoed as needed using a stacked dado set on the tablesaw to receive the other pieces of the carcass as well as any fixed shelves. Then glued and screwed. You could use the router to plow dadoes/rabbets or just use your domino for alignment and glue and screws for added joint strength. Adding a cabinet back will keep things square and prevent racking. I used 1/2" (usually MDF) for the backs of the cabinets, the back is let into the top/bottom/sides for squaring the box and for strength.

Cabinets are pretty logical. Come up with a design, make an efficient cut list for your sheet goods and another for stiles/rails or whatever, and have at it. I often tweaked dimensions to minimize waste out of a sheet of plywood, etc. My kitchen cabinets are not individual boxes which are then screwed together. Example, the base unit to the right of the dishwasher is one cabinet. Same with the base unit to the left of the dishwasher. The corner unit a third. I built a base platform out of 2x4 on edge and the cabinets are set on top of that, overhanging the front to create a toe kick.

I post these to simply show this was my first time woodworking. It all starts with a drawing and a plywood box. Okay, a bunch of plywood boxes!

Kitchen cabinets, this photo is a panorama so some of the lines are skewed or distorted. Kitchen ceiling is 10' high, the high soffit storage is nice or sesonal or seldom used things:

20210723_213816.jpg

Built in bookcase in my "office", in progress shows how basic the cabinets are:

DSC_9276.JPG

080909LibraryB062.jpg
Library2.jpg

Same with the platform bed in my daughter's room. Stack up some boxes, add some trim, then paint:

Bed2.jpg

Bed3.jpg

DSC_6839.JPG

Master bathroom:

MasterBath 5.jpg

I hope your project brings a few more tools to your shop and a bit of satisfaction to you.
 
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LeonardY

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Are you looking to just build cabinets right now? As been mentioned Taunton Press has a huge series of books and web accessible videos. They also have their own forums. Fine Woodworking and Fine Home building. You will have more luck in Fine Home building about cabinets.

If you have a local Junior college, they may offer non-credited classes in woodworking.

@jar944 work is spectacular. I'm sure you have looked at his thread.

Asking questions here will also get you a lot of information. GJer's will (pardon the pun.) will come out of the woodwork.
 

Mainiac Mat

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I've participated in and enjoyed Lumberjocks.com for several years. It's a pretty welcoming group for all proficiency levels.
 

johnre

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Portland, OR
Most major metro areas have some kind of woodworker's guild with shop space, stationary tools, and group or individual training available. This allows for working around others who have knowledge and skills far in excess of your own in specific areas. I find that learning from a master / apprentice situation, where you're actually doing things live with others guiding you, is far more effective than, say, reading books or watching videos.
 

karoc

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Hemphill Tx
Lots YouTube information for building cabinets etc. It’s been said that you can find New Yankee Workshop series’s on YouTube if need some inspiration. Also check out YouTube Inside Carpentry, which is more about trim carpentry but he also builds some builtins.
Mongota, nice work
 

1jeepfan

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Woodworkers Guild of America. A lot of the info is free. However, if you pay for even the lowest subscription, it opens a lot of great videos and articles. I have followed them for several years and their content is excellent. The video library is easy to search too. Check it out.

 
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