How to Build Kitchen Cabinets | START TO FINISH

Building kitchen cabinets can save you thousands. If you want to learn how to make cabinets, you're in the right place. It doesn't matter if you're super experienced in woodworking. If you want to know how to make kitchen cabinet carcasses, face frames, drawers, and shaker style doors, this is a one stop shop.
You can build kitchen cabinets with minimal tools, all it takes is a cheap table saw, a circular saw, a drill, and some hand tools. I use a router table to help me build the cabinets, but you don't need to use one if you don't want to.
Here's to you shooting your shot at making DIY kitchen cabinets
Materials:
3/4" Plywood: www.homedepot.com/p/23-32-in-...
1/4" Plywood: www.homedepot.com/p/1-4-in-x-...
Pocket Hole Screws: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
Behr Paint: www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-PREM...
Tools:
Ryobi Circular Saw: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
Ryobi finish nailer: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
Ryobi 10" Compound Bevel Sliding Miter Saw: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
Kreg Accu-Cut Track Saw Jig: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
Ryobi Trim Router: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
Pull saw: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
Rigid Table saw: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
MilesCraft Fence Clamps: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
Freud Router Bit Set: dlnkr.com/r?r=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3c...
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:13 - Cutting Pieces
03:21 - Cabinet carcass
07:42 - Shelf pin holes
08:05 - Faceframes
09:58 - Drawers
11:00 - Shaker style doors
12:06 - Painting cabinets
13:14 - Installing cabinets
14:35 - Finished kitchen cabinets
15:04 - Cost breakdown
16:33 - Outro
Some of these links are affiliate links and I may get a small commission

[@ymfemptyb6967]

Please do not push Pieces that are smaller than 12cm( 4,724 inches) with your hand through the tablesaw. That's how fingers start flying. My colleague lost 3 fingers doing exactly that. Other than that, you did a good job👍🏼

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@shadow8ski]

I've been watching for about 1 min so far and I just choked on this! Push sticks are so much easier to replace than fingers! 🙂

[@leloelela]

​@@kingali7261A piece of scrap wood, or you can buy a push stick

[@gardensbytheminute2668]

@@kingali7261push sticks

[@lowfat32]

Also no riving knife installed.

[@phizz8694]

I like the video. You using your hands to push through the table saw gave me the chill.

[@NikosKatsikanis]

how would u do it?

[@phizz8694]

​@@NikosKatsikanis, you use a push stick. A lot of table saws come with it or even make one. It prevents your fingers / hands from coming close to the blade.

[@NikosKatsikanis]

u should see how we chop wood in ukraine >

[@codydebo1876]

ya, fingers between the blade and fence.... without a blade guard, or riving knife. I do sketchy stuff like everybody else but that made me cringe.

[@user-hq1xm7cx7u]

Yes, if you have a pushstick, your hand is further from the blade in case of kickback or a slip or jam. If you have your hand down by the blade so close, you can have your hand accidently slipped into the blade. Great job on the project. the cabinets look great!

[@JasonLefevers]

One thing I like to do with cabinets is finish the insides with a clear polyurethane. It holds up much better than painting the insides and looks very professional in my opinion.

[@Beu8791]

One of the best vids I have ever seen on kitchen cabinets - Excellent!

[@theweekendbuilder]

That means a lot! Thank you 🙏

[@stephaniedelgado2177]

I have been researching how to build my own cabinets for months with no luck finding an easy DIY that wasn’t intimidating,,, I recently had an accident and it took me 2-3 months to recover, just enough time to reconsider the project and I find THIS GEM on KZbin ❤I appreciate you sir!! Thank you for giving this first time DIYer hope 🙌🏽

[@theweekendbuilder]

Oh thank you Stephanie! That means a lot

[@olufunmilayo5471]

This is amazing, you did a great job 👏

[@carlossanchez3000]

Heavy hitter!!!! Great work!!!!

[@user-vt4lr6pp3u]

When I make my lower cabs I make a separate toe kick base for easy leveling and use strips of poly between the base and body to prevent water from weeping into cabs from the inevitable flood that ALWAYS happens in a rental.

[@quick65filly]

Beautiful. Great work.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you! That means a lot

[@rds333]

4:44 Cutting the back for the cabinet is basic math. Take the outside dimension of the width of the cabinet, subtract the thickness of each side panel. This will leave you with an inside dimension. Add the depth of the dados (each side), then subtract a sixteenth to allow for some wiggle room. When I build anything, I always do the math first, then each part is written on a materials list. Sometimes I will double check my math, depending on how difficult the project is.

[@martin_wood]

Great job on all those cabinets! Quality

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@redeux]

Looks great! Thanks for sharing

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@frankmoralesiii6908]

Damn! I have a friend who is good at carpentry. He use to cut plywood on his table saw just as you do. He lost a thumb! Too late for him; but, he now uses a pusher stick to rip narrow pieces of stock.

[@tinabellrock]

Fantastic you did a great job.

[@alanhoffman3623]

Great video. Thanks

[@csimet]

Came out nice. One step that will save a ton of extra work... before you assemble anything, always pre-sand (and prime/pre-finish) the interior surfaces. Doing so afterwards is not only hard to get at, but you have to hand sand into all the corners/edges and it never comes out as well. I'm re-doing my existing 70s colonial golden oak kitchen... painting the carcasses and making all new doors, drawers and trim (shaker style). Saved a ton of money and work over buying all new.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Great tip! This is definitely the way to go!

[@dungeonlair]

Cabinets look awesome, nice job. Thanks for sharing the info about the freud router bit.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful

[@doodnauthlall6951]

I just love the simplicity of the craftsmanship and the way it all came out …..great job

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thanks! That means a lot

[@solomon2424]

Absolutely gorgeous cabinets! Great video! Hopefully I will be able to make my cabinets look that awesome!

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you! I’m really glad it was helpful!

[@markjames8664]

It is nice to have 3/4 inch cabinet sides for the shelf pins. The thinner sides on the cabinets we have mean that the shelf pin holes are not really deep enough to hold the pins securely. With 3/4 ply you can drill deeper holes than the default for the Kreg jig and the pins seat much better.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Good point!

[@ckeducation2010]

Awesome job! Thanks so much for the video - very helpful and gives me a lot of ideas for my wood projects as well.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Super glad to hear!

[@pikubird]

Amazing work dude.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thanks!!

[@horizontbeskrajneinovacije6440]

Thank You...great demonstration

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you! I’m glad it was helpful

[@user-lk4er4hv9q]

Good work.

[@FlyingAirSLA]

excellent job

[@ctown39426]

Great job 🫡

[@charlesjacksoniii8787]

Nice looking cabinets.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@kylekeenan3485]

Wow amazing work there, really enjoyed the carpentry skills on display.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you so much!

[@bjbhehir]

Nice work, looks great!! I tried that Kreg track saw for a few years and hated it!! A few months ago I bought the Makita Track saw and it's a game changer, amazing accurate cuts unlike the Kreg Track saw.

[@smprojekt]

Very nice. 😊👍

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@dannychileshe836]

Amazing works brother Clayton Juarez....Great thanks for sharing these great works

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@yoviss-vsz8851]

Great job am working on my hopefully they look good youres looks good

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@dalewright7908]

Nicely done man...enjoyed the commentary.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thanks dale!

[@kimr5841]

Ditto on the hands across the table saw. You can make push sticks with a few small scraps. When you hang your cabinets it will be infinitely easier if you use a ledger board to balance your wall cabinets on that will also make sure they are all exactly the same height.

[@davidecasassa8679]

Ditto on the ledger. Furthermore, if you don't have a helper, the ledger board will enable perfect placement before driving your screws.

[@Wilem35]

I got Home depot to cut all my stuff from my cut list. Just oversized everything by a 1/2" and cleaned them up at home on the table saw. No, issues, no cost, no truck rental to bring it home.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Love the creativity!

[@sharmaspkl]

Great Work 👍

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@mmanut]

BEAUTIFUL JOB‼️ NEW SUBSCRIBER‼️‼️ Vinny 🇺🇸

[@alexteixeira27]

Great video, you barely got any quality tools but they came out nice, my favorite part is using glue everywhere that gonna be a strong cabinet

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you! I love showing that you don’t need expensive tools!

[@sgindy1]

I clicked like and subscribe! This has to be one of the best how to videos I’ve ever watched. 👍

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you! That means a lot!

[@Luke1959]

OK dude, I can relate to you, I've got the same assortment of tools that you have. A 'true' handyman video, not all of us can afford all of the machines in the last video I watched!!😂😂 Nice job.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you! There are lots like us

[@firedude5135]

Great video because it shows you don’t need thousands and thousands of dollars worth of top of the line tools to build something as intimidating as kitchen cabinets.

[@BritoWorx]

Great job dude. Subbed!!

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@Countryboy316]

Do you have a video showing how to install hinges. I got welders and grindes in my shop, but looks like I'll be adding some wood working tools

[@IranVillagLena]

Very nice

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thanks!

[@Freecasdesigns]

Hey awesome job, im gonna try to follow this step, it seem so much easier. Where did u buy your soft close slides, can u send a link please, thanks much

[@noelnoel4916]

Nice video you inspired me

[@theweekendbuilder]

That’s great to hear!

[@TylerGliganic-hy7zs]

Great video I’m in the process of making my own cabinets now and this is very helpful! Just curious how much paint did you use on the finish coat ?

[@keithwilliamson236]

Great builds. The money you saved plus the quality of your builds are far superior than any box store garbage. I get your obsession with checking for square. lol

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thanks Keith! We are definitely like-minded people haha

[@NikosKatsikanis]

yeah, ikea cabinates are just chipboard

[@NikosKatsikanis]

love this guys workshop - ikea pdf cupboard doors cost 50 eur like 60cm by 80 cm without fixings

[@nandogar]

Did you use any primer before painting the cabinets?

[@goodvibes2612]

Hell yea man looks dope, you should make a push stick

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thanks!

[@lashellbrown8502]

Im fairly new to woodworking. I have a table saw and have been using dados but I don’t like switching blades so I’m thinking of getting a router…. Do you have a video on using the router and bit for a job like this?

[@frankj5947]

Great video and editing. You are going to have 5x subs in no time!

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you! That’s an awesome compliment!

[@geo1667]

Great content!

[@xiDriFTzHD]

Just wondering do you have a cut list for certain size cabinets that you made ? Struggling to find size guide

[@78sevenfold]

Thanks for the cost breakdown. My kitchen is a little smaller but needs some custom sizes due to a door and two windows. I'd be looking at over 10 grand to have them built. Almost 6 grand to make some Ikea cabs work in the space.

[@theweekendbuilder]

It gets expensive fast!

[@foundationalblackamerican1682]

That’s why I’m learning to make my own cabinets. I want to get into the business.

[@jeffreyalme6480]

What about the interior raw plywood, did you apply any kind of sealer?

[@sosefovaihu3193]

Hi mate awesome video.. exactly what I want to do... just one question... Did you make your own table top too?

[@theweekendbuilder]

If you’re referring to the counters, I had a sub install quartz

[@mibrad1234]

I just got the Ryobi router table. Do you like yours?

[@tinkerer4]

Love it! I’m planning to do this following a method very similar to this over the next year or two. Where did you find the radiate plywood? My Home Depot used to carry it before the pandemic and I LOVED it, but I haven’t been able to find it since then!

[@theweekendbuilder]

I got it at Home Depot but it was over a year ago!

[@tinkerer4]

Oh great! I’ll have to start looking again! Thanks!

[@cctknight84]

to lessen the chance of kick back when cutting your plywood, don't attach pieces the full length to your rip fence, only use pieces long enough to act as a stop, so when you engage your cut to the blade your are no longer in contact with the pieces attached to your fence.

[@Born2be76]

😮 Great job what kind of wood did you use?

[@theweekendbuilder]

3/4” radiata pine for cabinets and maple for the face frames

[@RadarLeon]

I'd have made that corner cabinet a double, it would acctually make a great place for a sink and a garbage disposal, or maybe a dishwasher. But depends on tour kitchen layout.

[@user-kr9lp8rt7i]

How many hours did it take you approx?

[@daisymae3428]

Do you have a video showing more detail on how you built the corner cabinets?

[@theweekendbuilder]

I’m sorry but I don’t

[@tommymickey5388]

I sometimes push my hand through too so don’t feel too bad. I don’t do it unless I feel comfortable then I go about it differently

[@rsilva281]

Great job! How did you do the part for the microwave vent?

[@theweekendbuilder]

My microwave doesn’t need a vent. It just has one built into the bottom

[@prairiefinish]

Any reason you didn't make a dado in the bottom platform to accept the back panel?

[@lbgrob]

I working on some cabinets for my place and floor replacement. I was going to install floating floor and not put the floor down where cabinets are going, I see you did the entire floor - thoughts on the pros - cons on putting the floor under the cabinets instead of just around?

[@bjuarez6765]

I like the floor to go under the cabinets. Simply because if there are any alterations later there is a floor already there. Last year I changed a peninsula kitchen into an island kitchen. When I took the peninsula out there was no floor underneath. I had to get a flooring guy to come out and install a new floor section.

[@DerekTJ]

How did you level the base cabs?

[@jessicarobinson9248]

I want to build new kitchen cabinets (the cabinets at our new house are chipped and swelled MDF 😬). Something I want to try is making our counters a little taller than the standard height as I’m 5’8” and my husband is 6’4” and we find ourselves slouching down to use the counters. I imagine that would be N easy enough modification to make if you’re making your cabinets custom to your space anyway, right?

[@theweekendbuilder]

Yes that would be an easy modification if you’re building from scratch. But make sure you really want that before you do it because there are lots of things that are based off standard counter height. If you raise the counter say 2 inches, now your stove will sit two inches below your counter, same thing with your dishwasher. There are probably other things that will be affected as well. But good luck! Definitely give it a shot building your cabinets!

[@dawnburdick6602]

Yes. But just fill the gap at the dishwasher

[@alexisrivera7650]

Looks great but the price of build was better and of course the DIY ….priceless.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@georgeconvertvan6890]

Hello ! he is very interested in the way you work and I like it, it is very close to mine and I find myself. can you tell me how thick is the plywood with which you work the walls and the bottom of the cabinet, thank you.

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you! I used 3/4” plywood for the carcasses and 1/4” for the backs

[@georgeconvertvan6890]

@@theweekendbuilder thank you very much, it's an important milestone for me and it helps me 🙏

[@heroofnow1]

just FYI, when searching, sometimes this plywood is listed as 23/32" plywood, this is the same as 3/4" (since it is not actually exact 3/4") @@georgeconvertvan6890

[@kshum6604]

how long did this take you? I think doing time breakdown is great too. For Ikea, I still would have to assemble them but not paint. That quality tho... :(

[@theweekendbuilder]

So true. I would say I spent 100+ hours on the cabinets. It was quite a bit of time

[@hassankhiery]

Where were you located doing this? Just curious because of you going over the cost of everything.

[@theweekendbuilder]

I’m in Atlanta GA

[@jvandrehle]

Wow - this looks like fun! I think I am going to give this a go. This might be a stupid question.... for your 3/4' plywood and door panels did you use maple wood as well? I would like to stain mine and want the wood to all match if that makes sense.

[@bjuarez6765]

They make 3/4 mdf and plywood both with maple veneers

[@jvandrehle]

Thank you@@bjuarez6765

[@donttalkwalk]

I waited to see how you put in the drawer glides? Why does everyone miss this?

[@galihseno]

Wow, how did he install the countertop

[@theweekendbuilder]

I hired a company for the countertops!

[@judgepage6605]

Good lord man use a push stick! Lmao Great video all that aside though! 🤣🤣😭

[@elmerkilred159]

The savings is way larger not hiring it out. A custom kitchen re-mod can run around $80K or more these days.

[@theweekendbuilder]

So true!

[@user-kj1su9qf1o]

What kind of paint do you use??

[@bellajy4538]

Could someone please advise me the tool used at 8:28, which is blue color? The tool to drill in angle. Thanks in advance

[@codyhayes6025]

Kreg jig

[@bjbhehir]

but don't buy that one, get the Kreg Pocket Hole K4 instead. Much easier to use.

[@daninicoleniemanpalmer6468]

Why do you need hardwood for face plates if it’s being painted?

[@philipperiondel3093]

Note sure you need so many pocket holes for building cabinets, since sides will be hidden anyway. Thus, mere lateral screws would work as well and require less efforts. Otherwise, nice job!

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thanks!

[@heroofnow1]

I believe pocket holes are more sturdy than lateral screws, so there's that advantage as well.

[@michaeltodd3557]

When you have a pocket hole jig it makes pocket holes too easy not to use. I do pocket holes on everything.

[@TO-mp3bv]

how long did it take you to build all of this

[@theweekendbuilder]

It took me around 100 hours. It wasn’t a quick process

[@jorgemurillo8759]

What size screws did u use

[@hasanrana1059]

Push stick!!!

[@nickmena396]

It wouldn't be a sacrificial fence then, would it? It would be more a referential fence, right?

[@user-hm6rz6yw3n]

Add cost breakdown graphics for us knuckle draggers

[@shashankpawar2079]

brother what about the countertop ????

[@paulbenedictjabines2261]

Did you use a 3/4'' maple hardwood plywood and 1/4'' hardwood plywood? sry just a beginner here

[@theweekendbuilder]

None of the plywood I used was hardwood ply. It was all pine

[@paulbenedictjabines2261]

thanks a lot!!@@theweekendbuilder

[@paulbenedictjabines2261]

the back panel is a 1/4 plywood?@@theweekendbuilder , looking at it from the video, im guessing not.

[@paulbenedictjabines2261]

ahh, you were using 1/4 for the back panel and 3/4 for the rest of the carcass@@theweekendbuilder

[@jeremiejackson6665]

😂yep know the feeling bout checking for square.

[@danielsaldana3888]

What kind of Wood si??

[@theweekendbuilder]

3/4” radiata pine

[@129chrisseb]

I really gotta know where you got all those drawer slides for 50$

[@theweekendbuilder]

Amazon!

[@NikosKatsikanis]

tlrd saved $3000 and ended up with stronger units - but had to invest 15 years learning how to build >

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thanks for commenting! I had been ammeturely woodworking for about 5 years when I built these. Notice I never mentioned “DIY” or “easy” because they’re not. This is an advanced woodworking video and my goal was to be instructional

[@NikosKatsikanis]

real talk@@theweekendbuilder

[@coreywalker2656]

The fence with the sled 😮😢

[@rolandosoto4545]

Looks like he knows what he’s doing it looks too easy

[@theweekendbuilder]

Thank you!

[@rethamoore4282]

Why did you NOT show how you put in the runners for the drawers ? That was why I watched your video!!🤔😒

[@theweekendbuilder]

Sorry! I tried to include everything but it’s easy to miss some things.

[@jonnyboy1116]

Installing the slides are very easy. Aside from how easy it is and the fact there's multiple ways to do it, there's hundreds of videos on KZbin showing ONLY drawer installation. You should be able to find plenty of guidance.

[@pinkeye00]

Push stick .. riving knife ... please please ... please .. use them.

[@mohamadsyazwan1298]

Its not wrong to be meticulous with your work

[@alphak2443]

lol thought this would have been a vid for amateurs 😂😂😂😂