Build Raised Panel Cabinet Doors

Cabinet shops that turn out raised panel doors rely on heavy duty shapers and cutters or at the very least a router table setup that includes a range of expensive bits.

Build raised panel cabinet doors.

You should consider the need for speed of construction durability ease of cleanup and maintenance step 2 pick the correct material to fit your doors. Make a list of the parts of your diy shaker cabinet doors before you begin. Most slab doors are made of plywood. The tool of choice for most small shop woodworkers who want to make raised panels is the router.

In a frame and panel construction a large panel is fitted into a groove in the interior edge of a more dimensionally stable frame made of narrow strips of wood. There are lots of different choices and lots of different hardware considerations but one door style that makers come back to time and time again is the frame and panel door and particularly the raised panel door. The panel raises when we apply a second plywood panel framed with molding. There are two basic types of cabinet doors slab and flat panel most often chosen.

Extra tall so you can trim their ends after gluing. You also can make raised panel doors with a portable tablesaw. The doors i build this way often are referred to as shaker style. For each one you ll need two stiles the vertical parts two rails the horizontal parts and one panel.

Raised panel doors are an example of frame and panel construction a method developed hundreds of years ago to combat the effects of moisture on solid wood used in cabinetry and furniture making. After choosing your materials pick a profile for the frame and raised panel. If you ll paint your doors substitute medium density fiberboard mdf for the solid stock and birch veneer plywood for a glass smooth finish. If you ve never made a raised panel door before you may want to make your first one from scrap.

Step 1 choose which door to make. Each door is handcrafted and available in a variety of wood species leading to a consistently unique product. Cabinets usually need a door or two and deciding on the style of the door can be make or break the appearance of the piece. Choose from a variety of styles including revere diaz bel air and more.

Figuring the length of the stiles is easy. It s a good idea to make your doors 1 8 in. A large one generally 3 hp hung in a router table plus a set of specialized bits. Use mdf medium density fiberboard on a painted or a covered surface for a wood grain look 1 x research sourcestep 3 use solid wood for a door when you make a panel door.

In this example we ll be using a three piece cabinet bit set that includes a raised panel bit with backcutter. The whole setup will cost 350 to 800 and is money well spent if you re going to make a whole kitchen full of doors.