I am hoping to soon start the process of building my own kitchen cabinets. Before I get set up for building the doors, drawer fronts and drawers/pullouts, I was hoping to get some recommendation for sources where I can buy these items made to my specs? I am starting to wonder if it really makes sense to build these party myself or simply order from a reputable supplier.
I would plan on finishing the doors and drawer fronts to match the Euro cabinets I plan on making. I will be applying paint and a glaze, so I’m more interested in a stable wood than anything too exotic.
I have heard that my cost of the wood alone may come close to ordering made to measure parts. Given the cost of S2S maple, I can believe it.
So, where do you all get your drawers and doors??
Thanks
Replies
Scherr's sells premade drawer boxes.
Need a little more info. What power tools do you have now in your shop? With the finish you plan on, Good Yellow Tulip "Poplar" would make very acceptable doors and drawer faces. And there is always the satisfaction of saying " I did this"
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
I have a well equipped shop. The only major tool I don't have is a big bandsaw. I would not be short on tools to make any of these pieces.
The WWW site for doors was interesting, But I would have a problem ordering sight unseen. My question would be how well the lumber was layed out as far as grain match goes. One of the sample pictures showed a pretty Ho Hum randon matched raised panel. I get pretty anal about matching up grain. I generally book or slip match to get an attractive door and likewise match the S/R's. So when there is a problem I can only blame the Idiot who made it. "ME". But since your using the finish you are, I would at least order one and check out the quality of the workmanship.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Bruce,If you are concerned with the appearance of, especially, the doors and drawer fronts, stiles and rails, I think you should do them yourself.Cabparts, and probably others, sell the boxes ready to assemble but I would do all the hardwood visible parts myself. Especially if you have the capability.John
Pins, I think you meant your post to go to Rino 1. I do my own panel doors, sorry.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Sorry, does not matter. If he is following his post he will read it.John
http://www.conestogawood.com/
This place is Amazing!! I took a tour and almost became there tresaury.. Great people and nice stuff
I make all my doors and drawers. It really isn't too difficult and I can adjust the sizes if I need to if a faceframe dimension changes on me. If you order doors and drawer fronts you better have the sizes right when you place the order.
I also like to pick my stock carefully so the rails/stiles and panels have a grain pattern similar to the faceframes.
WoodWeb.com is a forum for professional woodworkers, and they seem to be very heavily cabinet-makers. If you search, you will find some really great info by people who do what you're proposing every day.
My take is they pretty universally believe that they simply cannot be competitive making dovetail drawer carcases but they were somewhat split on simple doors and simple drawers. They also discuss sources.
You can seem some pretty amazing shops in their "shop gallery" - it certainly makes a graphic case for the difference between the hobbyist shop and the serious professional shop. The difference is also illustrated by their reaction to spending $10K for a new tool.
I hope this helps. Good luck. Enjoy your kitchen project - your pride might outweigh some of the traditional economic issues.
There are many door and drawer manufacturers. They will build what you want, the way you want it. CWB, Custom Woodworking Business, is a trade magazine that has many advertisements for drawer and door companies. Contact some and ask for a sample.
http://www.iswonline.com/cwb/index.cfm
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Both Rockler and Home Depot and Lowes all sell custom made cabinet doors.
I looked into this for my kitchen redo and was looking at simple shaker style doors and figured that I could make 3-4 doors and buy the hinges ( blum euro hinges ) for what it would cost to buy just 1 door with no hinges. - Guess which way I went?
1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
Edited 8/3/2006 1:38 pm ET by Ricks503
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