STOP overbuilding cabinets

In this video I will walk you through how I break down my cabinet parts and how I assemble the cabinets. There are many ways to assemble cabinets, many times more complicated than needed. This is a simple way to do a task that is so daunting to so many.

#cabinets #cabinetry #cabinetbuilding

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These videos are for entertainment purposes only. Bent's Woodworking is not responsible for any viewer trying to recreate something demonstrated in this video. Attempting any of the techniques shown are at the viewers own risk.

[ChrisTietjen_]

I appreciated the chance to see you go through your process of breaking down the plywood using the Festool line products. Forty years ago I was building cabinets in a production shop in SoCal. Our assembly process was almost identical. Panel break down was a little different. We cut everything on a 10" Powermatic TS with a Biesemeyer fence. We had super nice saw blades that got sharpened every week. Much of our work was with melamine panels but we also handled plywood. We had an automated edge bander that applied hot glue to the band and pressed it into place and then edged it and end trimmed it. A time saver for sure but it meant cutting all of the cabinet pieces first. Once cut and edge banded we drilled them with a gang drill. Our assembly tables were set at about 20" off the floor and we used 1-1/2" narrow crown staples to tack the pieces together before drilling by hand and adding 2" screws. The screws were fast thread and had an unthreaded upper shank to insure the pieces drew together. We preinstalled all hardware and aligned front edges by feel and located screws by eye. This gets very easy to do if you're doing it every day. We used five screws along the bottom of the side panel instead of the four you used. We used two on each end of the top stretchers. After the sides, bottom and top stretchers were secure we placed the back panel into its recess (cabinet resting on its face) and used it to square the box (also checking diagonals). We used a small narrow crown stapler with 5/8" staples to secure the panel and force the panel to the front of the groove. The staples were shot in at a 45 degree angle. We then placed the two back stretchers (top and bottom) and set them with the 1-1/2" staples and then screwed them in place as you did except for adding screws along the top where you only used staples. The final thing was putting a couple of 5/8" sheetmetal screws at an angle into the back along each side edge as security for the previous run of 5/8" staples. Using this method I managed to assemble thirty-four cabinets in one day, which doing the math now is about one cabinet every twelve minutes. The parts had been cut and prepped the day before (except for the hardware). Installation was on a separate dead level toe kick. Cabinets were clamped and screwed together before the run was attached to the wall. Uppers were hung by using an upper back stretcher that had a 45 degree edge facing down (long point to towards the wall). This would then hang over a wall cleat that had a 45 degree edge facing up (short point against the wall). We could hang a string of uppers on one wall cleat but it meant cutting a clearance notch in the side panels of the adjoining cabinets. I think the installers handled that. I don't recall doing it in the shop.

Wow! That was a trip down Memory Lane! I built so many cabinets! 😂

[timblack]

I think part of the journey for new folks is at first they don’t care how long a project takes because they’re learning and it’s fun. I noticed myself becoming more concerned with time as my skills/confidence progressed. Hell I thought I had to domino my first few dozen cabinet boxes or they’d fall apart. I’ve built a ton of boxes at this point but I picked up on a few little speed things that will help Great video as always

[jordanlantz]

This is your best video you’ve done in my opinion Jason. I think newer woodworkers can see this and be far less intimidated by cabinetry. Wish this video existed ten years ago when I started woodworking! Well done!

[mindshelfpro]

I was going into this video with the notion of getting info to build a simple cabinet with simple tools... but this uses lots of specialised tools.. hence I consider this as a VERY complicated way of building cabinets!

[petenelson]

Thanks for showing the entire process for this. We're currently building a house that should be done in Aug, complete with a woodworking shop 14'x32'. We had kitchen cabinets made, but my wife's sewing room, and our pantry will need cabinets that I'm going to be building to match the kitchen cabinets. Your method of building these cabinets will make the process that much easier. Love your work, and the fact your a fellow veteran and Hoosier.

[MoeJetz]

This is by far the most straightforward and simplest approach I’ve seen, and I know the final result will be top notch.

I can’t wait to use this process and will be doing so soon.

[stas_from_haisyn]

This is almost exactly same method, which is used in small furniture workshop in my town. I saw how cabinets were made there - simple and fast, dozens of cabinets per day built by three men. First man makes plans and cut lists, second does all cuts and edges, third man drills holes and assembles all together. Extremely cost and time effective.
Very useful video, thank you, sir! Keep up a good work!
Best wishes!

[kenerb]

Wanted to let you know that I watch quite a bit of your content and really appreciate it. I have built several cabinets in my home and used your method on the latest batch and am really impressed on the simplicity and quality of the construction. Thanks so much for wat you

[tonyhawk]

As a beginner woodworker I've always found cabinets to be quite difficult from what I've seen on YouTube. But this can easily be done with simpler tools, thank you so much for this information

[ken]

Jason, I've been following nearly since your first video and love your direct explanatory style. Not a lot of wasted time like there is with so many other YTers' videos. Your content is always top-notch worth the time to watch. Thanks for sharing all of the valuable knowledge.

[moro]

Finally, a YouTuber who doesn't overcomplicate things! It's incredible how, to make a kitchen cabinet, they use glue, dominos, a dado stack, and nails. I've been making kitchen cabinets for 10 years, and I can confirm that nails or staples and screws are more than enough. Congratulations!

[amberhubert]

I can't thank you enough for making such a detail and wonderful tutorial. I have been doing woodworking for about 4 years now and yes, I am one of those that was overthinking everything and using pocket holes for all my cabinets. I would have never thought to edge band once and then cut my pieces. This will definitely help me out when I start building my next cabinets for my new addition. I am going to definitely start pre drilling my adjustable shelving and the drawer slides from this point on. Again, thank you for a well detailed video.

[waynemiller]

I've built a fair number of cabinets in my relatively short woodworking experience. I can tell you that I will be using this video as a reference for any future cabinets. Clean, organized and quite precise. I think the main thing is this process is teachable and repeatable. Thanks for sharing the process.

[Codeman]

I really appreciate how you talk about everything in detail, almost no one does this on YouTube and there becomes a mountain of holes in learned knowledge.

[velvetsound]

I used this method to build a set of wood shop cabinets that carried extremely heavy equipment for years. It’s very sturdy and basically indestructible. The plans I used came from a Fine Woodworking magazine article. I ended up putting them on a wheels after 8 years and they are still carrying my shop equipment quite happily in the garage now… 10 years on. They look awesome.

[eastbaygrease]

This makes me think of Carlos. He built/installed luxury cabinet from 7am-4pm, 7pm-10pm, 5 days a week. Never worked in a home under a six figures. His tool of choice was an old 4 1/4" porter cable circular saw from the 80's. He could do anything with it. He used it with a cheap Bora saw guide to cut out nested parts on custom veneered ply that ran $500 each.... to perfectly scribe grained matched trim.. even to quickly cut for outlets in a few seconds. He had so much skill in those hands.

[lacklustre]

Love this video. You’re a great teacher. I think the only place you lose people is when they see the edge banding or line boring tools. I love the tip to pre drill drawer slides on the bench. I’m gonna have to do that!

[davidsneddon]

You sir are a breath of fresh air. I know there is a time and a place for glue but this is IMHO not one of them. Excellent thank you.

[Colorado-Tinkering]

This will help me overcome some reservations I’ve had and will move me build the cabinets for my shop. Thank you.

[KcSias]

Awesome tutorial I’m less intimidated than I was ten minutes ago I’m starting my first cabinet and buying more tools weekly lol I have tons to learn and you my friend have answered a ton of questions thank you Sir 🙏🏼👍🏻💪🏼