We also offer information on cabinets made of compound materials another popular option.
Wood for making cabinets. Mdf like wood expands and contracts when there are fluctuations in temperature and humidity. What you will need to build your own diy kitchen cabinets. Red or white oak beech and birch. In our world bulging walls out of level floors and moisture induced wood movement make that a fantasy.
In homes mdf wood is mostly used in constructing cabinet doors. I used euro style drawer slides in this build. To build a cabinet start by cutting panels for the bottom and sides out of mdf plywood or another type of laminate. Overlaps on the sides let you fine tune the cabinet width during installation.
In fact solid wood cabinets will opt for mdf doors. Cone bearing evergreen. Mdf wood does not warp or crack. Plywood or a solid wood panel for the door panels.
The sample base and wall cabinets shown belowhave these features to make building them as simple as possible. Birch purebond plywood full sheets are best but 2 8 sheets would work as well. One of the most commonly used hardwoods by cabinetmakers is medium priced red oak. The 3 4 plywood case eliminates panel jointing planing and glue ups.
But unlike wood mdf does not warp. Plywood is an engineered glued and laminated wood overlaid with a hardwood veneer typically less than1 16 inch. The best wood for cabinet making. Solid wood of choice for the face frame door frame and drawer front.
Maple hickory oak ash and cherry. Birch beech and white or red oak. 1 1 4 pocket hole screws. Whether you want cherry maple oak alder hickory birch walnut or pecan cabinets here are some key considerations including natural characteristics of wood cabinets in general plus unique characteristics of individual woods to help you find your favorite cabinet wood type.
Drawer slides for however many drawers you are making. Face frames cover plywood edges. There are several reasons for this. I used overlay door hinges.
The cabinet claw draws together the face frames of two cabinets while simultaneously aligning their faces flush making it a simple matter to join the cabinets with screws. Pine fir and spruce. Birch purebond plywood full sheets are best but 2 8 2 4 or 4 4 sheets would work as well. Then cut 4 pieces of 1 by 6 lumber to the same width as the bottom panel for the front back and top brace panels.
Hickory 2 4 purebond plywood panels.