Need advice: The best way to make a cut out for glass in existing kitchen cabinet doors?
RabbetRun
| Posted in New To Woodworking on
Hello all, I am a beginner woodworker, and a co-worker has asked me to cut out the center of her kitchen cabinet doors so that frosted glass can be added. The doors are stick built, with a square center panel. I need to make a recess on the back to hold the glass (router). I am not that steady with a jigsaw. Does anyone have suggestions as to how I might go about this.
Your help would be appreciated! Rabbet
Replies
examine the construction
You might take a close look at how the existing center panels are encased in the frames. You might be able to rout away the back edge of the dado to remove the entire panel, and then pop the glass into that rabbet. Corners would need to be cleaned up with a chisel.
I'm not sure that cutting out the middle of the center panels would work. The panels may not be thick enough to provide a means of holding the glass in place.
Caution
If the glass insert will weigh more than the panel being removed, there's a real chance the joints in the door frame will fail.
Cut out the bulk of the panel, then a bottom bearing guided rabbeting bit can remove the back side of the door opening. However, rabbeting bits are available in specific increments, which may not match the depth of the panel groove, making extra work.
I always run from this request. . .
Rabbet , Don has you going in the right direction .
Drill a few 3/8" or so holes in the panel near the corners from the back side maybe take a jig or sabre saw and cut away close to the edge of the frame , remove and you can pull the remaining wood panel out in strips.
After the panel is out as said use a rabbet router bit as close to the depth usually about a 1/2" to clean off the old frame edge , this will leave rounded corners that can easily be trimmed out with a sharp razor and a tap from a chisel .
Caution , the wood tends to rip and split at the edge on the back side so take it very slow when routing .
I've done this many time for folks it is easy you can do it .
good luck dusty, boxmaker
Cutting out cabinet doors
Thank you Ralph, Don, and Olddusty for your advice, and the "you can do it". Will try it, as described.
Your help is much appreciated, Rabbet
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled