Making Your Own Cabinetry

Cabinetmaker Beware

Although making your own cabinetry can be rewarding and fruitful, it is an advanced project that is beyond the scope of this series of articles. It is a time consuming and challenging operation that can elevate the pride of home ownership to heavenly new levels, or end in nightmarish disaster. It is not a project for the beginning woodworker and is challenging enough to tax even the intermediate woodworker or handy- man or woman’s skills and tool availability. Because of its complexity, Rockler recommends one of the Updating Your Cabinetry options that is listed in this series of articles as a time and money saving alternative. Nonetheless, in this article we’ll take a quick look at the basic considerations for making your own cabinetry.

Make an Assessment

"Know yourself before deciding to install your own kitchen," recommends Kitchen Man of kitchenman.com. "Are you all thumbs? Do you lack visual acuity? Are you impatient?" they ask. Making an accurate assessment of your skills and tool availability is an important prerequisite to making your own cabinetry. If you’re a dedicated Rockler woodworker and confidant in your skills, you may decide to move ahead with this formidable and ambitious project. You can make your own cabinets from scratch, including your doors, drawers and drawer fronts, or you could simplify the job with the help of Rockler's custom door, drawer and drawer front program . An affordable option that can save you lots of time, effort, and money. The option of painting, refinishing or refacing your cabinetry may also be a great alternative for rejuvenating your existing cabinetry and casework.

Hinges

Before starting your new cabinetry construction project, you’ll want to make yourself "hinge wise" by reading our page on Hinges. Adding new hardware and hinges is the secret to spectacular new cabinetry. The style of hinge you choose, however, is dependent upon the type and style of cabinet you construct. To fit your exact need, Rockler Woodworking and Hardware has a large and dynamic selection of styles from which to choose. Rockler can help you add a dazzling and impressive touch to your newly built kitchen cabinetry. To make hinge installation easy, check out our exclusive Jig It Hinge Mortising System, self-centering drill bits, and drill guides .

Knobs & Pulls

New door and drawer opening hardware puts a stylish exclamation on your home crafted cabinetry. Rockler has an exciting array of knobs and pulls available to suite every style and whim, from traditional to Shaker to Euro-style, decorator or Restoration. For the distinguished look that can only come from custom crafted handiwork, consider adding carved hardwood pulls or antique finished pulls from Rockler’s Premier Collection. Or perhaps some Ivy Green Leaf pulls and Knobs from Rockler’s special designer collection. Now is the time to cut loose and have some fun. There are dozens of additional types and styles available including:

Wooden Knobs & Pulls

Ceramic Knobs & Pulls

Pewter Knobs & Pulls

Glass Knobs & Pulls

Bin Pulls

Bail Pulls

Designer Knobs & Pulls

See our page on Knobs and Pulls for complete information.

Accessories

You’ll want to review our page on Accessories to check out Rockler’s full line of innovative systems that can turn your kitchen into a designer showcase. Making your own cabinetry offers a perfect opportunity to customize your kitchen with interesting and up-to-date accessories. Whether it’s shelving accessories, low-voltage under cabinet lighting systems, pantry organizers, tambour appliance garages, lazy susans, kitchen rail systems, or reverse-a-racks, all can be perfect solutions to old storage problems. Hanging racks, glass molding, or plate rack dowels can create storage from otherwise useless space. Whether it’s the addition of split rope topper molding, lattice panels, brass grilles or glass etchings, you can make your custom kitchen a place of distinction and efficiency with simple and easy to install extras. Consider what can be accomplished with just a few feet of wineglass molding, fluted rosettes, or bun feet added to your custom made cabinetry. Over sink trays, shelf lift mechanisms, and pullout trash bins can add convenience and organization to please the most discriminating kitchen boss.

Books and Resources  

Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets -- Learn how to build premium cabinetry of superior quality in your own shop..

Making Kitchen Cabinets -- Kitchen designer and cabinetmaker Paul Levine shows how to make Eurostyle kitchen cabinets that are better

Building Your Own Kitchen Cabinets -- '' For those who want to build shier own kitchen cabinets or storage cabinets of any kind, this ...book is an excellent guide'' —The New York Times

Cabinetry -- The Woodworkers Guide to Building Professional-Looking Cabinets and Shelves

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