Have a job to make all new oak raised panel doors, drawer fronts & re-face old cabinet boxes on site. Doors are no problem but what is best way to re-face cabinets? Was thinking of 1/8″ oak veneer & contact cement.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Listeners write in about haunted pipes and building-science tomes, and they ask questions about roof venting and roof leaks.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Here's my take, I've done dozens of refaces. If you're using 1/8" or 1/4" material, use construction adhesive and pins. If you're using veneer, you can go either PSA or contact.
FWIW, doors can be bought for less than you can make them, unless your time is free.
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Hi Peter. Regarding the doors - If I had customers lined up & a back log of work I would definitely outsource the doors. I am retired now from the electronics industry & have been building furniture & cabinets on the side for customers for over 30 yrs. I pick & choose my jobs & customers, therefore I have lots of time to make my doors. I also like making my own. Thanks for the info about re-facing the frames. Did a search after I posted & general consensus is that it is very labour intensive & face frame replacement may be the way to go. These old cabinets were built on site 30 years ago so I'm hoping there's not a lot holding the face frames on.
I've replaced old plywood kitchen cabinet doors with new oak doors and european hinges, refinishing the frames and cabinet ends with white semi-gloss paint. The doors stand out nicely, in contrast to the painted frames.
Oak has so much grain that, IMO, it looks better when framed with a solid color. Otherwise the grain of the frames runs contrary to the grain of the doors and it all gets lost, like zebras running in a herd.
Interesting combination. Any chance for a picture or two?
MS
No photos on tap at present but I'll try to take a few when I revisit that job, sometime in the next couple of weeks.
It's pretty easy to imagine. I just used the same shade of white semi-gloss enamel through out the kitchen.
The doors and drawer fronts stood out nicely while the white frames, cabinet ends and walls seemed to open up the narrow kitchen and give it a very fresh feel.
The client selected a light blue linoleum floor and medium blue curtains. Kind of a Dutch or Scandinavian look.
I like the appearance and feel of it enough that I plan on using the same concept on my next new home.
Edited 10/28/2008 4:49 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter