? I used poplar to build the cabinets and doors in my DIY kitchen remodel and they are holding up great.
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TIP: Only apply to one trim piece at a time.
Sight down each piece to make sure its flat and straight.
Drill pocket holes set for 3/4" thick material (the thickness of the 1x3 board) in both ends of the rail boards.
The only thing I would change at this point with the process for redoing my cabinets, would be the primer I used.
When everything is sanded properly, vacuum all the doors and wipe with a dry cloth to remove any dust. I find no comparison.
Also, mark which side is top or bottom to know where they will go after cutting. Follow along as I share all the details to help you update those old cabinets too. And would you believe it was easily done with just a few tools? For the rails, you will add the groove the entire length of the board. I like the idea of a before and after picture, I love it when people put them in their house.
Good luck!! We used your directions as a guide and couldnt be happier with our results!
For the rails & stiles select straight 1x3 boards. how much were the new pulls? These unexpected emergency repairs drained your home improvement funds over the years. And I use a scrap of 1/3 cut with a notch for my router guide.
At $40 a gallon, its aint cheap, but its worth it. For the best results, use the wood in the widths it comes in.
Cut 1 panel so the height is equal to the height of the stiles minus 2x the board width plus 3/8 and the width is equal to the length of the rails plus 3/8, 1/4" MDF, plywood, or beadboard for the inside panel, Miter saw (you could also use a circular saw to make these cuts), Router with router table (see post for easy DIY router table). Be picky when you choose your wood.
I love all your posts.
Wish I could post before and after pics for you to see!
I explained to him what I was doing and asked what his thoughts were. I would suggest if you use a hammer that you use a pin punch, this will help to make sure the nails are slightly indented into the wood so you can fill the hole with wood filler. 
Sorry this can be hard to explain but in another post, I created drawer fronts using this method and I have better pictures to showing this: https://www.twofeetfirst.net/build-shaker-style-drawer-front/. With just a few tools and some know how, you can build cabinet doors very easily and inexpensively. I found a way to build cabinet doors for only $2 a piece by using inexpensive wood and beadboard I had leftover from our closet sliding barn doors. Thanks!!!
Even with expensive hardwood boards, you need to look through the stock and check each board for straightness. COST: 1/4 MDF sheet = $26 liquid nails = $3 5/8 finishing nails = $3 wood filler = $6 caulk = $4TOTAL = $42, If you add paint & primer = about $120 (thats 2 gallons of paint & 1 gallon of primer). Click here to read my full disclosure policy. You will need to start and stop your router groove at these marks so that the Kreg jig will still be able to get a good solid joint.
Check out the full project video below and dont forget to subscribe on YouTube so you dont miss out on future projects!
Adjust the height of the blade to cut just over 1/4-inch deep.
Check out the beginners guide to buying lumber for all the tips and tricks to buying the best wood for your project. If you have ever used cheap plywood before, you would know that it splinters easy, and there can be gaps in the sides of the wood (unless you use a more expensive cabinet grade plywood). What Wood Do You Need to Build Cheap Cabinet Doors?
Flip the piece over and make the same cuts. This post is all about installing trim to cabinet doors so be sure to visit my post about how to paint kitchen cabinets with a paint sprayer or use Young House Loves tutorial on how to paint kitchen cabinets.
This will remove dust to help the liquid nails or wood glue adhere. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. They look great!! Wrong?
I think this might be what we do. But if you want stained cabinet doors, you will need to use 1/4 plywood for the center panel.
The most important part of building your own cabinet doors is to make sure you are working with straight lumber. We recently purchased a 1950s homeowner built home in the country with kitchen cabinets that were handmade by the Amish here in PA.
Can you clarify? For added style, use beadboard. To make sure the groove was at the correct spacing on each board, I double checked the front before routering. All I would need to do to give it a water-proof coat is to paint it, Intrigued, I had him cut the 4x8 sheet of 1/4 MDF into strips of 3 for the cabinet doors and 2 for the cabinet drawers. Our original cabinets were the same exact design as yours and we chose to go with Annie Sloan Chalk paint, since there is less painting prep involved. They would not be my first choice for a room that was being used more often (like a kitchen). Ready to do this in my butlers pantry. You can print the material list and instructions below. These boards are usually straighter and have square corners (unlike the furring strips).
I am thinking of creating some cabinet doors by adding 1/4 inch mdf strips to a 1/2 mdf slab to get a similar effect. You would have to do some prep work to the plywood before you could use it to make cabinet doors. You do not need to apply caulk but it depends on the look you want.
I found this process to be simple and fun! Place nails on both sides of the trim piece I like to have at least five nails on one side. Furring strips are the cheapest but you will have to pick through the boards to find straight ones. Hope this helps!! And your kitchen is the last place you want to hang out when family and friends come over.
Use a combination square to set the miter gauges at 90 degrees. Wipe up the excess glue with a putty knife and a damp rag.
How has the MDF stood up against water?
Clamp and secure with 2 pocket holes screws. These 4 shaker style cabinet doors were built for the laundry room for only $8 and some left over beadboard. I made my own router table with a scrap piece of 1/2 plywood cut with an opening for my router bit to come through. They add a little style to the laundry room. For the center panel, I used leftover beadboard. Apply glue to both sides of the groove in one stile and one rail. Hi Andrew! Set up the saw for cutting the plywood panel to size. I teach you how to select straight boards in the beginners guide to buying lumber (with pictures). I dont have a nail gun. Use a miter gauge to steady the wood when you cut it. Im planning on doing something similar soon, did you use a regular paint brush for the final paint job or a foam roller? I have been wanting to try the Annie Sloan Paint so I cannot wait to see how it turned out! Then you can run the wood over the bit.
Are you someone that does better with visuals? Also what would you ballpark is your time spent per-cabinet-door on this?
For help sizing your doors to fit your cabinets, along with tips for selecting and installing Euro hinges read our.
I am here to inspire you to makeover your home into something you can love by sharing do-it-yourself home projects and woodworking builds. To attach the other side of the cabinet door, add wood glue to the groove and a little on the ends where you will connect it to the rails. Once the filler has dried, sand each door with #220 grit sandpaper to give you a smooth finish. Learn more about me. PS I love seeing finished projects!!
In the end, we decided to update the kitchen cabinets, without replacing them, by adding MDF trim to create DIY shaker cabinet doors.
But if you do not have leftover, beadboard can cost up to 3 time more than using 1/4 MDF (medium density fiberboard).
You will want to take multiple passes, increasing the depth of the cut as you go.
I cant believe the before and after.
If you are replacing current cabinets with new doors, and using the same hinges, you can just measure the old doors.
TIP: Remember to use the correct MDF strip (3 for the doors or 2 for the drawers). If you want to finish off the inside of the cabinet doors, fill the pocket holes with plugs or wood filler. Thats a very good tip! Im in the middle of updating our old cabinets and Im following your directions every step is the way! Hi, I'm Kati!
Im new to this kind of DIY and am notorious for under-estimating project effort. I removed mine and it updates the kitchen immediately.
Hi Cindy! On my table I move the wood from the right to the left. Hi, that is a great question. See the picture below for the before and after sanding. Now we are tackling our second home, with 5 acres of land to DIY as well!
Then, take a dry cloth and wipe both MDF trim pieces and cabinet door.
To even up the ends of the door, cut 1/16 inch from each end using the table saw.
To figure the length of the stiles, take the height of the door and add 1/8 inch. I have never used a router and need guidance. Hi Alexiss, that was my worry too but it has been three years and I have had NO issues.
Im a little confused about what the caulking is for and where it goes. I find most people want the process to have as few steps as possible and may not have the time or the places available to hunt for bargains. Today, youre still staring at the worn, neglected kitchen cabinets.
Also, a paint sprayer will be your best friend for this project. See if the tenon fits into the groove as well as the plywood did. Use all appropriate and proper safety precautions when attempting projects.
Because of this, I put off buying the plywood for a month, while I considered my options. Theyll cut it in half but balk at doing any more cuts. Your kitchen is coming along great. Hi Amanda, that is a great question because that was what I was so worried about with using MDF. This is a great way to use up leftover lumber. You can always trim the strip down later, as I did with each piece. This post may contain affiliate links.
To begin, remove the doors and drawer fronts from the cabinet bases and clean them with TSP cleaner or regular Dawn dish soap. Place the part on the left side of the fence.
MDF is easy to work with and you wont need as much prep work to achieve a smooth surface.
What is the best paint and primer to use for cupboard doors? Remove all cabinet doors, clean, and lightly sand. Cut 2 rails the width of the cabinet doors minus 2x the width of the boards (13 boards are typically 2 1/2 but it is always a good idea to double check). Hi Hannah, I used my paint sprayer for the finally paint job. Now I just need to find the perfect antique brass cabinet pulls to match. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. You can finally cross another item off your home improvement list!
Here is where you can see that process: https://www.twofeetfirst.net/2015/10/painting-the-cabinet-base.html.
Im wondering doe the extra 1/4 make the cabinets seem to stick out more than they should? Set your fence (the straight line behind the router bit) so the bit will go through the center of the edge of your 1x3. Cut your panel pieces (from 1/4 beadboard, MDF or plywood). To do this, take an MDF strip and place the edge against the newly added trim piece. Measure the distance between the tenons to determine the panels length. Then, rest the cabinet door, front side down, on top of the strip. Ive covered wood paneling with it, and old pine cabinet doors. To cut sheet goods, I place a 2 piece of rigid foam on top of my worktable, then place the sheet on top of it. However, they were perfect for my laundry room. I have had no issue with the MDF, which surprised me but makes me really happy. Sand your new cabinet door smooth and paint or stain.
For the center panel 1/4" MDF is the cheapest and great for painted cabinets.
Youll find this material at most home centers and lumberyards. The process does take longer then this because of dry times but overall assembly time is this.
TIP: Be gentle when handling the 1/4 strips because the corners can dent if you are not careful. And because I know I will get asked, how did I hang the cabinet doors?
Euro, or cup hinges, are the easiest, most forgiving means of hanging your new cabinet doors.
Place the MDF trim piece onto the cabinet door, making sure everything is flush.
So far (has been about 10 months) the cabinet doors are holding up amazing! Yes, these are the same old kitchen cabinets! 1/4 MDF, plywood, or beadboard for the inside panel, Cut 2 stiles the height of the cabinet doors. At this point, the cabinet doors are all ready for paint and primer.
How could you have known that you would soon be sitting on cracked foundations and sweating with a faulty HVAC system? Their sad, rusted knobs and badly-scratched surfaces beg for your attention. SIDE NOTE: You do NOT need a stainable wood filler (the stainable one costs more money and is more difficult to apply. Yes, you will need your router in a table.
SIDE NOTE: I decided to strip all the old paint off my cabinet doors because they were not painted very well before (paint drip marks were still visible).
After cutting both long trim pieces, place them on the top of the cabinet door (front side up this time) to check the fit. Add 2 pocket holes set for 3/4 thick material with a pocket hole jig to each side of the rails on the back of the boards. What Is the Optimal Temperature for a Greenhouse? Attach the second stile to open ends of the rails with wood glue and pocket hole screws.
Slide the panel into the groove of the partially assembled cabinet door.
Its fantastic. To build our DIY shaker cabinet doors, I used some of my favorite beginner woodworking tools: This may seem like a lot, but if you want to get into woodworking, these would be the tools I would recommend starting with. Then I gave them a coat of Minwax Paste Finishing Wax to give the cabinets and doors some extra protection. If you are still not sure if you should use MDF on your cabinet doors, see my post on how the kitchen cabinets are one year later, or better yet visit my post about would I paint my kitchen cabinets again, which was after four years. If you get the same measurement then you are square, if not, you can adjust to square with a large clamp and then let the glue dry before releasing. Thank you! These turned out amazing!
Cut the grooves that receive the plywood panels and tenon tongues along the inside edges of all the pieces. They are still a softer wood so they could more easily dent and ding. I spent the last 10 years remodeling our home, project-by-project, room-by-room.
The longest part is painting, I would recommend a paint sprayer: https://www.twofeetfirst.net/tips-on-painting-kitchen-cabinet-doors-with-a-paint-sprayer/ .
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To figure the length of the rails, measure the total width of two stiles placed side by side. Adjust the MDF to be flush with one of the longer sides of the cabinet door.
Shaker cabinet doors have a timeless look that works in both traditional and modern kitchens.
Is your homeowner anxiety making you sweat or is it the cooling system again? Using a putty knife (or finger, yes it works! This challenge always tests my creativity. I would love to see the before and after, can you email it to me! For each door cut: Cut your center panel piece from the 1/4" beadboard, MDF or plywood.
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Before adding the MDF trim to the cabinet doors and drawer fronts, you need to prep the doors so they are ready for paint.
If its not, your cabinet door wont be flat or straight either, and it certainly wont close right!
I would wonder about having the back be MDF too, have you priced out the option of a cabinet grade 1/2 plywood to give it more strength?
Cut the 13 boards according to the sizes you need with the following formula: Next you will use the router to create a groove around the perimeter of the inside of the cabinet doors for the panel to sit inside.
Because I was on a tight budget, I used 13 furring strips to make my cabinet doors. Narrower boards ripped from wider ones have a good chance of warping, a problem you wont be able to fix. Harder woods can be more challenging. Thanks.
From how I understand it the router would go down into the hole and I push the wood through and it makes the cut. Place this piece on your saw, then adjust the saws fence so that the blade is positioned slightly off the line.
The solution to my cabinet problem. Can I just add a piece of beadboard to the recessed area of the door? All together I would plan on 3 weeks to a month, to give you enough time for everything but you could have it done faster!
Precut your stiles and rails an extra 1 inch long so theyre easier to handle.
I am gong to do this to my sons house for him.
Start and stop the groove 2" in from the ends of the stiles. Great job!
Or would that make the door too heavy over time? ?this! Join us as we share everything we learn, while hoping to inspire you to tackle your own DIYs and creating your dream home on a budget too! I love your idea for updating your cabinet doors too. How to Install Crown Molding on Kitchen Cabinets, How to Increase Storage Space In Your Bathroom, How to Install a New Bathroom Vanity and Sink, How to Paint a China Cabinet with Chalk Paint, Cabinet Refacing: How to Reface Kitchen Cabinets, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer).
To make duplicate cuts, use a stop block a square block with the corner nipped off to prevent dust buildup. I wanted to accomplish a lot in this room (new flooring, new paint, stackable laundry basket storage, new cabinet doors, shelving, tile and more) so I had to get creative. But if you add 3 coats primer, 3 coats paint and 3 coats polycrylic, you are looking at at least 9 days of just painting and I would suggest letting the paint sit for a couple of days before adding the polycrylic.
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