Quick Poll

September 27th, 2009 at 7:55

While frameless (European) cabinet construction is growing in popularity, the face frame cabinet is still a popular building method.

While it does take some extra time and involves extra material, the face frame offers extra strength to the assembly, can be used to square a cabinet, allows an easy way to scribe a cabinet to fit a wall and can be decorative to boot.

There are many methods woodworkers can use to join the elements of the face frame together.  Some are traditional, others are ultra modern.  Some take very little time, others can be quite time consuming.

So, this week, I want to know if you build cabinets with face frames, and just how you join the elements together…

What is your preferred method of joining face frames?

• Mortise and tenon
• Biscuits
• Dowels
• Pocket Screws
• Screws installed through the stile into the rail
• Festool Domino
• Beadlock
• Some other method (Come on, elaborate!)
• I don't build face frame cabinets

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Posted by Tom, in Quick Polls

6 Responses to “Quick Poll”

1. leonard Says:
   September 27th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

   Just started building cabinets last year. Looked at all the options and picked the Kreg system.

2. Roger Says:
   September 27th, 2009 at 5:56 pm

   I’ve always used half lap joints

3. Jeremy Kriewaldt Says:
   September 27th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   I suspect that this question is a bit of a N. American specialty.

   Downunder, you either make the cabinet out of mdf which is edgebanded, left faceless and use European hinges or you do the thing in the traditional way making the case from rail and stile elements held together with mortice and tenon joints, in which case no face frame is needed.

   I reckon that face frames are needed most where you have good quality and (relatively) cheap ply to make the case. If that is the situation then I can see why face frames are needed.

4. Tom Says:
   September 27th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

   Well, that’s one reason why the face frame isn’t found often outside of North America. The other thing is that the face frame offers a design option beyond just a flat edge tape… you could mount the door inset in a beaded frame for an extra design element.

5. Eric Says:
   September 27th, 2009 at 10:30 pm

   Pocket screws are the way to go.
   Once you’ve done a few, it’s a piece of cake and the results are strong & reliable.

   The Kreg system is the best.

   Thanks Tom.

6. Charlie Says:
   September 28th, 2009 at 9:03 am

   Tom,
   Didn’t see nails and glue as a choice and that is easy and fast (aka, Norm Abrams). That is my usual choice.

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