Advanced Cabinet Making Techniques
George Vondriska
Class Preview
- In-depth Instruction; over 148 mins
- On-demand video access anytime
- Bonus downloadable PDF resources
- Access to class Q&A
Session 1: Carcase and Face Frame
45:37
The class project includes a stopped dado, and you’ll learn how to produce that cut on the table saw. The case sides also include a toe kick cut-out, and you’ll learn how to use a shop-made jig to produce that. The face frame includes a drawer opening, and you’ll see tricks for getting the drawer opening consistent on every face frame.
Session 2: Make the Doors
22:47
A critical aspect of getting double doors to work right; they don’t bump in the middle and the gap isn’t too big, is getting the door dimensions just right. We’ve got you covered there. You’ll also learn how to accurately measure for the door panel, and how to create the raised panel on a router table. And, you’ll see tricks for gluing your doors up.
Session 3: Make the Drawers
23:57
Our drawers are made from Baltic Birch plywood, which is an excellent drawer material. The lock rabbet joint we cut on the router table makes each corner very strong. Since we’re using full extension slides, you’ll learn what dimensional adjustments you need to make in the drawer box to allow for the slides.
Session 4: Make a Countertop
15:30
Particle board, solid wood and contact adhesive all come together to make our countertop. The design is very woodworker-friendly, using solid wood banding on the edges. Contact adhesive is the perfect glue for the plastic laminate, and requires that you master a few things to use it correctly.
Session 5: Installing Doors and Drawers
39:43
Using European hinges means getting the cup hole drilled in precisely the right spot. A jig simplifies this process, and we’ll fill you in on an insurance policy that guarantees you won’t drill your doors incorrectly. We’ll also walk through using the adjustments available on Euro hinges to get the doors in perfect alignment. Spacers, clamps and some careful measuring help us get the drawer front in just the right spot.
Description
Let’s take your cabinet making skills to the next level! In this class you’ll follow along, step by step, and make a base cabinet that includes double raised panel doors, a drawer on full extension slides, a toe kick, and a plastic laminate countertop.
Here are some of the cabinet making skills you’ll see covered in the class:
- Adjustable shelf holes in the case
- Stopped dadoes on the table saw
- Shop-made jig for the toe kick
- Face frame construction with a drawer rail
- Lock rabbet joint for drawer construction
- Using and installing drawer slides
- Alignment of a drawer face
- Making raised panels
- Aligning double doors
- Working with plastic laminate
Where you can use these skills
You’ll be building a base cabinet in the class, and you can use these skills to craft base cabinets for your shop or kitchen. But this style of construction is also useful for bathroom vanities and, scaled down, items such as night stands.
Construction style
The build style used on the cabinet in this class is very common; plywood carcase with dado and rabbet joinery, solid wood face frame, and overlay doors and drawer front. Once you master this, you’ll be able to apply it to many different styles of cabinets. The countertop is also very typical; a particle board core under a plastic laminate top.
What you should already know
Because this is an advanced class, you should have some skills before starting this class.
- Setting up a stackable dado head
- Cutting dadoes and rabbets on the table saw
- Face frame pocket hole joinery
- Cope and stile door frames
These skills can be learned in our Fundamentals of Cabinet Making Class.
In addition to the detailed video instruction you’ll receive, this video class provides you with some downloadable resources and helpful information to print and keep, including: A detailed Class Guide you can follow and use as a reminder for the key steps of the class instruction; and source references for the class project and materials used in the class.
George Vondriska
Formally trained in technology education, George Vondriska has been teaching woodworking since 1986. He has been the managing editor of Woodworkers Guild of America since 2007. In addition to classes at his own Vondriska Woodworks School, George teaches at woodworking shows across the country and has taught woodworking for the Peace Corps, Andersen Window, Northwest Airlines and the Pentagon.
Bonus materials available after purchase