How to Make Kitchen Cupboard Doors

You can easily and inexpensively update your kitchen by learning how to make kitchen cupboard doors. It's a lot less of a hassle than replacing all of the cupboards. Simple details like wood finish, paint, knobs and handles could be all the makeover you need to have the kitchen of your dreams.

Things You'll Need

• Table saw Router and router bits Measuring tape Sand paper Miter gauge Wood finish, paint, varnish Hinges Screws Accessories (hinges, door pulls, knobs, etc)

Instructions

1. Choose the type of wood you prefer using to make kitchen cupboard doors. Some of the most popular types of wood used for this project include red oak, white oak, maple, birch, poplar and knotty pine. Choose a straight grain because it will hold up better under the temperature and seasonal changes that cause natural wood to shrink and swell. Make sure to choose the same wood grains as the base of your cupboards to avoid winding up with a mismatched look. A much less expensive option is plywood or MDF board if you plan to cover your cupboard doors with paint. Make sure the thickness of the wood you choose measures ¾ inch. You can request this from a local lumber yard or buy hardwood stock from a home center.

2. Measure the cupboard openings that you will be building doors for. If the opening measures larger than 16 inches to 18 inches, it's a good idea to make two doors for each opening.

3. Decide what style of cupboard doors you will make. Two of the most common styles are flat panel and raised panel. Flat panel are the easiest to make. It's made from a frame of hardwood with a panel of ¼ inch matching wood veneer.

4. Rip the boards to the desired width. Most styles have a width of 2 inches to 2 1/2 inches which is most attractive. It also makes it easier to figure out how much wood you'll need to make kitchen cupboard doors. Set up the table saw for a 2 inch rip cut and rip all of your pieces at once. Add 1 inch of extra length. Cross cut the doors to their final length. You may want to rip two extra pieces in case a mistake is made.

5. Figure out the length and width of your panels by subtracting 3 1/4 inches from the overall length of the cupboard door to get the length of the panel. Then deduct 3 1/4 inches from the width of the door to get the panel width. Cut the pieces with the table saw.

6. Sand the pieces and stain or paint them before assembling the doors. Use a 120 grit sanding block or an orbit sander. Be careful not to sand through the plywood veneer. Apply the finish of your choice and then allow it to dry completely.

7. Assemble the doors. Add hardware pieces like hinges, knobs or pulls for a finished look.

References

• Renovation Headquarters