How to Build Cabinet Doors & Drawers

These are nice.

When entering a kitchen, one of the first things that catch the eyes is the cabinet doors and drawers. The more elaborate the materials are, the more attention they command. Learning how to build cabinet doors and drawers is a way to assure the homeowner that friends and family will recognize the personality built within these furnishings.

Things You'll Need

• ¼-inch plywood
• ½-inch plywood
• ¾-inch fiberboard
• Table saw
• Router table
• ¼-inch rabbet bit
• Wood glue
• Hammer
• Finish nails
• Box nails
• Variable speed drill
• Philips head screw tip
• Wood screws
• Overlay hinges

Instructions

Drawers

1. Measure the width of the space where the drawer is to be installed. Subtract what the drawer roller system instructs to give you the width of the drawer box. In most cases, this is 1-1/16 inch. For example, if the drawer opening is 14½ inches, the drawer box would need to be 13-7/16-inches (see References).

2. Measure the height of the drawer 3½ inches. Cut the four box sides for each drawer from the ½-inch plywood. Cut a ¼-inch groove in it for the bottom of the drawer ¼ inch from the bottom of the drawer box parts.

3. Measure the depth of the cabinet. Make the depth of the drawer box 2 to 4 inches shorter. One of the determining factors in the depth of the drawer is slide system used.

4. Build the box with the front and back pieces between the side pieces. Measure and cut the drawer bottom from the ¼-inch plywood. The bottom will measure 7/16 inch narrower and shorter than the box. Secure three of the box parts together with wood glue and the box nails. Slip the ¼-inch bottom into the grooves. Secure the last box piece to complete the box.

5. Measure and cut the drawer front 1 inch larger than the drawer opening in both directions. For example, if the drawer opening is 14½-by-4½ inches, the drawer front will be 15½-by-5½ inches. Place the drawer front on its face, center the drawer box on it and secure them together with ¾-inch wood screws.

Overlay Doors

1. Measure the opening for the door and add 1-inch to both the length and the width for overlay doors. This means they will cover the opening by ½ inch all the way around. Cut the doors from the ¾-inch fiberboard.

2. Divide the opening by two if it is wider than 24 inches. In addition, subtract 1/16 inch from each of the doors to allow for the space between them. For example, if the door opening is 30 inches, divide by two and subtract 1/16 inch from each, giving you two doors 14-15/16 inches wide.

3. Install hinges according to manufacturer's instruction. The overlay hinge comes in a few different styles (see References).

Tips & Warnings

• Sand all the drawer parts before assembly. Use high-density fiberboard if the doors and drawers are going to be painted. Fiberboard birch and oak are also available for those who want to stain and varnish.

• Never raise the blade of the table saw any higher than needed for the cut. Do not leave power tools unattended in the presence of children. Do not stain or paint in an unventilated area.

References

• Drawer Slides FAQ
• Overlay Hinges

Resources

• Slab Style Cabinet Doors Plans
• Building Doors and Drawers