Building Face Frame Base Cabinets

Build face frames first with pocket holes and glue.

Building face frame base cabinets.

This post applies to building and attaching a cabinet face frame which is the next step to building a cabinet. Begin with the right cabinet dimensions. The sample base and wall cabinets shown below have these features to make building them as simple as possible. The 3 4 plywood case eliminates panel jointing planing and glue ups.

The plans show how 3 4 thick solid wood 21 4 to 21 2 wide is used for most face frame members. Above the bottom shelf of the cabinet. This makes room for adjustments when installing them next to one another. Note that your face frames are 1 2 wider than the carcass or the desired with of your cabinet.

This is how i built my kitchen and i do not have any issues with standing for hours at the cabinets. Individual face frame members fasten to the foundation boxes one piece at a time held in place with glue and clamps or glue and metal pins or brads. Build the face frame so that the bottom rail rails are horizontal boards and stiles are vertical boards projects 1 16 in. Standard counter depth is 25 which the cabinets themselves being 24 to allow for a 1 countertop lip.

There are several methods i use to attach the face frame but i generally always build the face frame with pocket hole screws. Overlaps on the sides let you fine tune the cabinet width during installation. E joints between stiles and rails get rein forced with 20 biscuits or dowels plunged into the assembled joints from the top. These kitchen base cabinet ideas are ideal for both modern and vintage style homes.

This is a comprehensive video that gets into great detail on what is required to make kitchen cabinets including different styles of cabinet face frame and. Face frames on sides of kitchen cabinets should overlap 1 4 in. With the plywood cut to size your cabinet should take an hour and two to assemble. Use a table saw to cut plywood strips for your face frame cabinets.

Standard counter height is 36 with the cabinets usually being around 34 5 tall to allow room for the countertop material. Face frames cover plywood edges. In the last posts i explained three methods for building cabinets and basic techniques for cabinet building. On the outside edge.