Learn the skills and techniques to make your very own Shaker Panel Cabinet doors.
Prerequisites: Woodshop Safety & Orientation
Skill level: Safe beginner to advanced woodworker
Recent attendees & their custom doors:
I have been approached by numerous members over the last couple of years inquiring about cabinet classes. I have taught enough classes now that I feel comfortable enough taking this on. A nice starting point is doors & drawer faces, In reality they are mostly the same, but of different sizes.
In my experience as a cabinet maker, the Shaker Panel design is a great place to start. It illustrates the basics of door design and construction. It currently holds a 80% place in the normal market and most other designs share its fundamental design as a starting point. This class will illustrates the basics of door design and construction.
This objective of the class is to cover design, material and hardware considerations, some material prep, along with production assembly techniques( i.e. doors don’t require being clamped up for hours, but they must be square).
I would present the why & how, and each student would actually build their own door. Materials will be provided. These are not the fake Shaker Panel doors that are routed out of a slab of MDF and popular at the big box stores. We are talking about real hardwood rails and stiles, along with a solid MDF panel.
Since it is assumed you would already know how to mill lumber, the hands on portion would focus on rail and style processing and assembly techniques. You would be provided with the lumber blanks milled to size, but then you would learn how to process from there.
We would include two different construction techniques; the traditional router based tongue and groove on one side, along with using the Festool Domino based joints on the other side.
You will leave understanding how to configure both the router table and the Festool Domino machine to achieve professional level results.
After this class you would be able to replace all the doors on your kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities while saving thousands of dollars. You could even make and install them a few at a time.
Who this class is for:
- Property Flippers
- Home Improvement Folks
- Curious Makers
- Professionals wanting to add this service to their business
Tools and techniques you will learn:
- Matched router bit sets for doors
- Router table techniques for milling doors
- Festool domino jig based joinery(100% repeatable)
- How to glue up professionally.
- How to clamp doors
- Quick clamping technique
- Proper sanding techniques (these will be paint ready for the painter)
- What overlay means
- Hinge cup set backs
- Hinge cup drilling with pro level equipment
- The basics of professional door installation (overlay, not inset)
Please keep in mind that this process is repeatable and very specific, as these doors could be part of a $40K kitchen. This is a class that will teach you a professional level of quality, not a hobbyist or handy person level of quality.
The class would be held on the weekend after Thanksgiving on Saturday. I expect we would follow a schedule along the lines of 9am - 4pm, with a short break for lunch.
If you have ever attended any of my classes you can expect the same generous time allowance. I expect most people can complete their door with in the time allocated, but you aren’t required to do so. Plus you will have a great time learning this very valuable skill.
Class size:
Max 4 members, possibly 3 depending on skill levels
Date:
Proposed Saturday 11/30
Price inclusive of materials:
$145 includes all materials, supplies, and snacks.
Future classes would be:
- Making a raised panel door
- Making a lower cabinet box
- Making and installing a drawer for the cabinet
If you have an interest please let me know in the thread. I will reply back via PM.
