I just finished making some doors for my kitchen cabinets and had a question on how other people make them. These were flat panel with 14″ mdf as the panel, rails and stiles were made with a cope and stick set. I cut my rails and stiles about a 14″ inch longer than I need and then assemble taking care to line up the edge of the rails with the end of the stiles. when dry I size them by taking an 18″ inch or so off eache edge. I have seen pictures of people putting doors together where the stiles are 12″ or so longer than needed and hang past the edge of the rails. If done like this how do you get the rails in the right place so that after trimming the ears the door is properly sized. I would think it is done by cutting the panel to the exact length, I usually leave the panel about an 18″ smaller to allow for expansion so I’m not sure how this works.
Thanks
Dana
Replies
Dana , Not sure I understand your question exactly but I will try to help .
Most cabinet door parts will be cut to exact size before assembly especially the rails .
I have seen mostly on larger entry doors where they leave the stiles long and then trim them off , maybe on a large door that is how they make the ends square by re cutting the entire end somewhat .
The panel as well as the frame members is finished to size before assembly .
hope that helped somewhat , regards , dusty
The strategy of leaving the stiles an inch or so long during assembly is, I believe, mostly used with mortice and tenon joinery. The extra length gives you an area to tap the joint apart during dry-fitting. I'm not sure that the strategy would make as much sense when using a bit set for the jointery.
Right Ralph,
The "horns"
Right Ralph,
The "horns" (extended ends of stiles) help prevent the rail ends from splitting during assembly if the tenons are a little snug, also if hand chopping mortises, the extra meat on the ends help resist breaking out the end of the mortise when prying out chips from the cavity.
No need for any of this if assembling a door with stub tenons extending no further than the groove for panel.
Ray
Thanks, it all makes sense now!
Dana
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