Techniques For Building Raised Panel Doors Inside?

This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to assemble a raised-panel door, including prefinishing the panel, cutting the mortise for the lock, and gluing it together. It also covers how to hang the door, add hinges, and install a lockset. Ana White demonstrates how to make raised panel doors with simple tools, easy techniques, and inexpensive lumber.

Building arch-topped cabinet doors may seem intimidating, but with the right math, you can produce them efficiently in your home workshop. The article includes step-by-step instructions, tips, materials, and tools lists. The frame for an interior door is built from wood, and in part two, the interior panel is built and finished.

Frame-and-panel doors add class to any project without adding much assembly time. The first step is taking measurements, which should be around 1/8″ to 3/16″ smaller than the frame. The frame-and-panel construction requires grooves around the insides of the frames, which guide the placement of mortises and tenons. Grooves that hold the panels and tenons can be cut on a tablesaw with a stacked dado set to 3⁄8-in. width.

There are three raised panels to shape: two L-panels and the center rectangular panel. The router is set up for the center panel first, and these panels are sized so that they fit perfectly. By following these steps, you can create beautiful raised panel doors that save money on retail prices.

What are the parts of a raised panel door?

Raised panel joint cabinet doors are made from five pieces: a panel, left and right stiles, and top and bottom rails. The manufacturing process begins with grading raw lumber for color and grain consistency to ensure consistent appearance. Boards are separated and cross-cut to the custom height of the cabinet door, creating color-matched panel staves. Solid wood panels are made by selecting similar-colored staves and color-coding them for the best color and grain match. Glue is applied to the edges of the staves, and the panel is cut to size. The selected profile is then applied to the edges of the panel.

Is MDF good for door panels?

Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is a popular material for cabinet doors due to its durability and resistance to warping and cracking. It is known for its sturdiness and ability to withstand consistent use, although it can be easily scratched and difficult to repair.

How do you measure for raised panel doors?

The length of the door stile is equal to the door’s height, while the length of the door rail is determined by subtracting the width of both stiles from the door width and adding the length of both tongues on the rail ends.

What is the interior door panel called?

A door panel, also known as a slab, is the entire part of a door that swings back and forth. Full door panels are often divided into smaller panels between stiles, rails, and mullions. This door parts glossary can be helpful for those looking for a new door or repairing an existing one. It breaks down all the parts of a door, making it easier to communicate with contractors and dealers to choose the right door for your project.

The door frame, consisting of side jambs, head jambs, and mulls, is typically made of wood but can also be made of aluminum, fiberglass, or composite materials. Door frames can be primed or ordered with a factory finish in various colors.

What wood to use for raised panel cabinet doors?

In order to guarantee that the wood is sufficiently dry, it is advisable to utilise vertical grain wood. However, in instances where access is restricted, it is essential to exercise discernment in the selection process. It is recommended that the moisture content of the wood stored in boxes be checked with a moisture meter or that the wood be allowed to acclimate in the kitchen.

Do you glue raised panel cabinet doors?

The panel stock, whether solid wood or plywood, can affect the stability of a frame. Solid wood will expand and contract with seasonal changes, regardless of the panel type. However, flat plywood panels can be safely glued into the frame without issues. The solid stock used for the stile and rail framework is too narrow to create seasonal wood movement problems. For a rattle-free door, consider using Amana InStile Door Making Router Bits. Today’s plywood is usually undersized.

Can you use plywood for raised panel doors?

The popularity of raised panels is increasing due to their suitability for veneering. Such panels can be constructed from solid lumber and framed with plywood, with the corners mitered. The joints that are suitable for this purpose include small tongue-and-groove, biscuit, spline, and dowel joints. A butt joint is an appropriate joining method for plywood with a 50-long grain edge. However, other types of joints may be more suitable for achieving precise alignment.

What is raised panel interior doors?

Raised panel doors are more traditional and have more dimension than flat panel doors, which are popular for shaker door design. They connect to stiles and rails, with the center of the panel higher than where the panel meets the sticking. TruStile offers several sticking options to pair with raised panel doors and mdash, providing extensive design versatility. The TS Series features over 100 architecturally-correct panel door designs and mdash with 1- to 9-panel configurations and options for flat and raised panels to meet specific design requirements.

Flat panel doors feature smooth, level panels, complementing streamlined, modern design aesthetics. They can be paired with Square Stick (SS) sticking or Quirk (QM) moulding for additional modern detail. TruStile panel doors can be incorporated with glass inserts, such as full-length mirrors built into the back, for spaces like walk-in closets, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

What is the difference between raised panel and flat panel doors?

Flat panel cabinet doors are a sleek and minimalistic design that can be used to modernize any kitchen. They have a flat center surface with a protruding frame, making them suitable for busy households. They come in various wood finishes and colors, making cleaning easier. Flat panel doors can be customized with hardware options like pulls, knobs, and hinges.

Pros of flat panel cabinet doors include their modern, sleek look, cost-effectiveness, and minimal maintenance. They also take up less space when open due to no recessed area around the door’s perimeter. However, flat panel doors may not be as durable as other styles due to their fewer components. They may also be more prone to warping over time if exposed to high heat or humidity levels.

Flat panel doors also lack texture and dimension compared to raised panel doors. However, adding decorative handles and knobs can add style and personality to these doors.

Can I use MDF for cabinet door panels?

MDF cabinet doors are a versatile and cost-effective option for DIY painting projects due to their smooth texture and easy refinishing process. However, refinishing MDF is more challenging than solid wood due to the need to sand down the existing finish and apply a new one carefully to avoid damaging the MDF core. MDF is typically less expensive than solid wood doors and can be more affordable than some other engineered wood options, depending on factors like moisture-resistant, fire-rated, quality, thickness, and additional customizations.

How thick should raised panel doors be?

To make the parts of a cabinet door, mill the stock to 3/4″ thickness for the stiles and rails and 5/8″ thickness for the panel. Rip the rails and stiles to width per the cut list and crosscut them to length, leaving them somewhat oversized. The thinner dimension of the panel is required because it is set back 1/8″ from the rear of these components to ensure the face of the panel is flush with the face of the rails and stiles after assembly. Cut the door panel to size per the cut list.

Set up the positive cutter in the shaper to profile the inside edges of the rails and stiles. Adjust the height of the cutter’s slot segment 1/8″ off the shaper table surface and adjust the depth of cut for a full reveal of the quarter round. Cut the interior sides of all the rails and stiles, cutting only one long edge on each. Set up the “negative” cutter in the shaper to profile the ends of the rails.

Cut two backer boards from 3/4″ thick stock ripped to 1″ to eliminate tear out. A coping sled is required for cuts at the ends of the rails, with two clamps for the sacrificial backer and one for the work piece.