Cabinet face frame

Cabinet building advice from the Family Handyman pros

I previously explained basic techniques for cabinet building. This post applies to building and attaching a cabinet face frame.

How to Build Face Frames - an easy to follow tutorial on making face frames. You should read this article before beginning your project. Check it out!

One challenge woodworkers face as they learn how to build cabinets is gluing the cabinet face frame to the case. A cabinet face frame is the wood fixed to the front of a cabinet case–sometimes called a carcase, which hides the edges of the case and provides the fixing point for doors and other external hardware.

Expert woodworking tips, techniques, inspiration and more for woodworkers of any skill level.

Learn about the best wood for cabinet face frames. Includes information on different types of wood, how to care for it and design considerations.

Thank you so much for the positive feedback on the Ram's new videos for building kitchen cabinets! I'm so glad our time spent putting these videos together is worth it to you, and we are thrilled to do more for you! After building a kitchen cabinet carcass (see video tutorial here and written post here), it's time to put a face frame on the carcass.

One way Connecticut cabinetmaker Brent Benner has learned to imbue professional quality and craftsmanship into his pieces is by milling a mitered integral bead into cabinet face frames. First, he marks the miters; then he uses dry biscuits to get the layout of the rails and stiles right. He uses an auxiliary table to judge the cuts, and he cuts multiples of opposing pieces to ensure consistency and accuracy. To see the process step by step and to learn how Brent puts double-stick tape to…

For consistent results, rotate the stock, not the saw, and cut opposing pieces at the same time

Cabinet building advice from the Family Handyman pros