I am looking to build the boxes then outsource for the doors and fronts. What about panels and any trim” crown, scribe” if I pick a prefinished door I don’t want to struggle with matching an end panel for the cabinet. Any ideas.
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dont pick a prefinished door
We buy all the accessories from the same source as the prefinished doors and d'fronts. Fridge panels, finished ends, crown, toe, fillers, light rails, moldings, legs, range hood assemblies, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Then everything matches in species, grade, color, finish, gloss, etc.
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
Several cabinet makers I know (all bigger than my one man shop) buy unfinished doors, drawer fronts, and drawer boxes made from prefinished baltic birch ply. They spec the sizes, wood species, and quantities of each, then build the boxes and install the drawer glides, etc. When the parts arrive, they stain, finish, and assemble everything for delivery.
I do all of my own doors, drawers, and drawer fronts. Sometimes, I buy stock trim and moldings, but more often, I make those too. That usually depends on the availability of "stock" pieces. The advantage I get is that I can usually do a much better job of grain matching. If I order five raised panel oak doors the grain usually is all over the place. If I make them myself, I spend some time matching the grain and get better looking doors.
On a job last year, I made a 36" x 96" office cabinet in beech. The cabinet was in an ultra modern style with slab doors and drawer fronts with 1/8" spaces. I got both doors and eight drawer fronts from one sheet of beech ply cut so the grain "flowed" up the entire cabinet. I doubt if I could have done that with "boughten" stuff. - lol
Edited 2/4/2009 6:17 pm by Dave45
I got some cabinets from a regular cabinet dealer for an entertainment center I am building and he was able to get the "skin" laminate in 4x8 that matched the ends of the cabinets so the parts I made would blend with the parts I bought. These are some "not a wood that really exists in nature" sort of thing my wife fell in love with.
I am sure the company you get the doors from can come up with "skin" for the boxes.
I have also been able to match the kitchen cabinets I have with stain on wood but they are red oak that appears to have a dab of cherry stain on them. That is what the best match seemed to be anyway. You really can't tell what I did and what I bought.
Any ideas.
Paint the frames/boxes the same color as the kitchen. Let the door/drawer front maker finish their stuff to your spec.
I really like this effect, particularly with oak doors/drawers. Oak has a lot of strong grain so it looks more distinct to me when surrounded by painted frames.
This method allows the use of poplar as your frame material, anything for painted mouldings and prefinished (or other) plywood for the interiors. White porcelain pulls add a nice touch.
Edited 2/5/2009 7:42 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter