Porter Cable Cordless Nail Gun
Value Priced 16-Gauge Nailer
PC CORDLESS NAILER
Anyone can make cabinets with just a few of the right cabinet-making tools. While the investment might seem high, it only takes a cabinet or two from a supplier to pay back your tool investment.
By combining your skill, shop space, and these tools, you can quickly make advanced cabinetry:
- A table saw will cut plywood, hardwood, create slots for shaker cabinet doors, and more.
- Nail guns are a must to assemble cabinet boxes
- Meanwhile, a router table and router can make fast work of cabinet door stiles and rails
- Pocket hole jigs are a simple joinery method for boxes and face frames
- Sliding miter saws will cut hardwood, drawers, and plywood to length
- Lastly, a quality random orbit sander will help with all phases of sanding
Of course, advanced woodworkers will use larger tools, including full-size cabinet saws, planers, wide belt sanders, shapers, and more. But investment in more extensive tools requires ongoing use.
Types of Cabinet Making Tools
To make things simple, woodworkers will look at cabinetmaking in three general steps:
- Cutting, milling, and sanding
- Tools to help with assembly
- Finishing tools
But surprising to some, the essential tools aren’t out of reach for even a novice woodworker. Since cabinets are no more than plywood cut into boxes, hardwood formed into doors and quality sanding and finishing a small investment can produce a considerable return.
Cabinet Making Tools For Cutting, Milling and Assembly
Invest in the Best Table Saw You can Afford
Professionals know that a woodworking shop is built around the table saw.
And for good reason, as this tool is heavily used for:
- Cutting plywood to width and length
- Ripping hardwood for face frames, panels, doors, drawers, shelving, and more…
- Creating door rails and stiles (as an alternative to a router table) with dado blades
- Building straight dovetails in drawers
And while a benchtop table saw can work, a hybrid or cabinet table saw is best.
Related Article: Woodworkers Guide to Choosing a Table Saw
A Sliding Miter Saw Is a Must
See on Amazon: Skil Sliding Miter Saw
If you have been around awhile, you might wonder where the old, reliable radial arm saw is on this list of cabinet maker tools. Well, it’s gone.
Of the top three most dangerous tools in the woodworking shop, the radial arm saw was one of the worst. Due to the way the blade approached the wood, it encouraged an aggressive “bite.”
Therefore, a sliding miter saw capable of cutting up to 12 inches has replaced the radial arm saw.
Related Article: Best Miter Saws for Woodworking
Panel Saw for Cutting Cabinet Plywood
A plywood track saw lets you easily cut heavy plywood sheets to size. And, with every kitchen project using plywood, a track saw is a worthwhile investment.
Perhaps you think the table saw can handle this job.
Well, have you tried to crosscut plywood on a table saw? While a larger cast iron table saw will have an easier time, most small ones are inaccurate.
Or, at worst, it will kick back.
Related Article: Woodworkers Guide to Track Saws
Nail Guns Bring Everything Together
See on Amazon: Dewalt Cordless Nail Gun
While some woodworkers prefer to use pocket hole jigs to assemble cabinet boxes, glue, and nail guns are faster and don’t leave large holes like a pocket hole.
Why go cordless?
Well, removing any air compressor from a woodworking shop will do two things:
- Free up space for another tool
- Reduce the noise that is always a nuisance with woodworking
Tools To Make Cabinet Doors
Arguably the most complex part of building cabinets is the doors.
While cabinet boxes require some intricate measurements and face frames can be complicated to lay out, a door is the largest surface area on which a cabinet will be judged.
Which makes sanding, routing, and finishing a woodworker’s top priority correctly.
Router Table For Routing Cabinet Doors
While you can make a basic shaker cabinet door with a table saw blade and some patience, a router table offers higher-quality options.
And fortunately, a basic router table will work for most jobs.
Why do woodworkers use a router table? Well, consider the following:
- Cutting door stile and rail grooves is a precision task.
- Router tables offer router bits that cut the groove and rail end relief with precision
Related Article: Best Router Tables For Making Cabinet Doors
Drum Sander
See on Amazon: Jet 2244 Drum Sander
First, a wide drum sander can be used for any flat surface sanding job, including light-duty wood removal with low-grit sandpaper.
Critical projects for this sander include:
- Cabinet doors (panels and assembled)
- Drawer fronts
- Face frames
- Drawer sides
But after most woodworkers attempt to sand cabinet doors, they find that a hand-held belt sander and orbital sander combination work. However, the accuracy of perfectly flat doors is lost as these tools only operate on a small part of the door at any time.
Orbital Sander For General Sanding
The orbital sander is one of the most versatile tools in a woodworker’s shop.
First, this sander can be equipped with low-grit paper to remove a surprising amount of wood.
But then moving through 80,120,160, and 220 grits will quickly clean up scratches left by lower grits or drum sanders.
Utility Cabinet Making Tools
Jointer for Edging Cabinet Panels and Hardwood
See on Amazon: ShopFox W1876
Building cabinets requires precision wood joinery and flat door edges for clean visual lines.
And while small projects that use S3S lumber can get away without a jointer, for any larger project, it is highly recommended.
Typical uses of a jointer in making cabinets:
- Clean up rough hardwood before ripping on the table saw
- Straighten cabinet door and drawer panel sticks before gluing
Router for Cabinet Doors
One of the most challenging tasks in cabinetmaking is creating custom cabinet doors.
But, it is also one of the most rewarding as the cabinet doors are a substantial part of the visible final product.
This is why a high-quality door starts with a router table and an appropriately sized router. And while a complex option with router lifts, tables, and inserts to match a solid 2HP+ router is a must.
Related Article: Choosing a Router for Router Tables
Frequently Asked Questions
What tools are used to build cabinet doors?
Woodworkers will use a shaper or router table, the proper clamps, routers, and sanders to build cabinet doors.
What tools are used to make cabinet boxes?
For building cabinet boxes, a table saw, miter saw, and nail gun is typically used to frame the box of the cabinet.
What jigs are used to build cabinets?
One of the best innovations in building cabinets is the cabinet jigs available for drilling shelf pins, installing drawer slides, and drilling cabinet door hardware.
Summary
While woodworkers have many essential tools to make cabinet doors, there are options for entry-level projects. Please invest not only in the tools but also in the proper safety equipment.
- About the Author
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Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.
