Kitchen Cabinets: Cheaper to Build or Buy? | I Like To Make Stuff

Is it cheaper to build or buy kitchen cabinets? In this video, we explore the different options, show you how to make a basic cabinet, and compare the actual prices of building out a kitchen versus buying a professionally designed arrangement.
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Cabinets: Cheaper to Build or Buy? | I Like To Make Stuff
• Kitchen Cabinets: Chea... ​
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[@jeffgoldenberg9579]

A good friend of mine, who is a designer and furniture maker, used the carcasses from Ikea cabinets but crafted the doors for kitchens in two architecturally significant homes. The savings in both time and money were considerable, and yet the final result was essentially a custom cabinet. Something to consider, especially in a kitchen as big as the one in this video.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Absolutely! We tried to include that as an option because it's a good one.

[@Mike__B]

Reminds me of all those ads I used to see for "refacing your kitchen" which is quite literally all the do, take old doors off, put new doors in.

[@Maker_of_Things]

Yep, That's what I have done for clients, and for myself. I know that the cabinets are all standard and to the same quality to meet the client's preferences and budget. I can then make doors to suit the client's taste and choices and install them after the kitchen is functional. One thing I'd add to the debate is work space. I am more then capable to making one or many cabinets like this but in my own workshop, 14' by 16', I wouldn't have the room to store or process full sheets of plywood effectively, nor the space to store the part finished cabinets as they are being assembled and finished. That is one of the things I advise people learning from me that they need to consider the logistics of the making process to ensure they have the space to achieve it all.

[@tonyfox45]

I've seen that done to great effect. It's a nice way to save some $ (because really, how often do you look at the inside of your cabinets?) and still get a custom look.

[@Mike__B]

@@tonyfox45 Every time you open the door to get something out of them? 🤣 But yeah I get your point 95% of the time you see the outside, 5% of the time you're getting something you see the inside, and that 5% may be a bit generous

[@bytesizedengineering]

This was very informative! I went from thinking I could never do this, to thinking I could, to thinking I shouldn't.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pmdinaz]

I feel this way about landscaping...I have the capability and the capacity for it, but my time is better spent elsewhere so I pay the extra for the pro's to do it.

[@mr.robinson1982]

Same thing as to me except I was trying to build a work bench. I found an adjustable table @ H. D. for $180 & it was going to cost more than that for just the lumber. So my father's voice came to me & said just buy the new bench & mount your vise & chop saw...

[@abhayprasad9580]

@@Iliketomakestuff Make a video for Indian house....

[@brx017]

Couldn't tell you how many things in life I've mentally done, just to realize I have no desire to actually do them.

[@AGlimpseInside]

OK that toe kick drawer, that was mind blowing. Thank you for sharing that little nugget

[@kristamarie6104]

Yeah, I didn’t even know that was a thing! I was blown away.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Glad you liked it!

[@RobertVosburg]

@@Iliketomakestuff keep up updated on it. I wonder if it'll collect much debris from the floor

[@PolntBlank]

Yeah thats a good place to hide your weed

[@cypherfunc]

I'm just over 6', and really want a kitchen with higher than normal counters (washing dishes kills my back, everything is 4" too short). I've been thinking about including something like this, but instead of a drawer, it would be a platform for my shorter friends/family so they couldn't complain about the tall counters. :-)

[@jesuswasacarpenter]

I own a cabinetry and furniture business. Great video! Love the toe kick drawers. Mainly, I wanted to say: THANK YOU for not trying to make this out to be super-easy and quick, like so many other DIY videos out there. IMO, when folks that, it degrades/dilutes the value of our profession, and it potentially adds unnecessary confusion to consumer confidence within our industry. Keep up the great work!

[@ChrisHornberger]

Absolutely! This stuff is hard work and time consuming, and it's great to see that being recognized.

[@wolfrig2000]

It is super easy and simple making cabinets. The cabinet doors are the hard part to make. Any monkey can rip and throw together rectangles with your dumpster special Ryobi saw and a dull blade. But to make nice looking doors takes skill and nicer tools.

[@ChrisHornberger]

@@wolfrig2000 I mean, that's pretty reductive, and literally anything you can do on a $5000 SawStop and $1600 Kapex can be done with hand tools and patience and skill. The tools just let you do it faster and/or with more efficiency. Any monkey can turn a rectangle into a trapezoid on the very best table saw if he's... well... a monkey. Let's stop taking the human out of the equation, because it's uniformly the most important part of the equation.

[@ColtWorks100]

@@wolfrig2000that’s an oversimplification, but I agree in a sense. Cabinet boxes are easy to build but you still can’t even be 1/16” off on any box or it can screw everything up. BUT, if you can pull that off it’s not too hard. I personally plan to build my cabinet boxes and buy the door fronts and drawers

[@jonathanodom353]

Also, the pros can crank out a project like this WAY faster than a hobbyist can.

[@ajkustoms5386]

Nice video. I work in a cabinet shop, we make full custom high end cabinets. Some advice for upping you cabinet making game; dont spend time dado-ing your bottoms in. Pocket screws are plenty strong for the bottoms, and you can hide them on the underside of the cabinet. No dado, no glue, no brads and no screws. Saves you a bunch of time and materials. Also, we use 1/2 inch for the cabinet backs 98% of the time which gets dadoed in and stapled. Super strong. So strong that if you try to remove them for whatever reason, you need a big hammer and usually a new piece of plywood for the back. Again no glue or brads or nails. Been making them this way for a long time, and i dont usually have a cabinet return for repair due to the way i constructed them. Just some food for thought.

[@rgtn2441]

I am a cabinet maker as well . Been doing it for 25 yrs. While I agree with you on most stuff I disagree on a few things . Not to say your wrong I just use a different method . I don’t dado for backs . Screwing them are just fine with the exception of finished ends . It’s a lot of work for something that is never seen . Also like to screw the bottoms through the standards for the top I use 4” stretchers front and back and pocket screw them . Either option works not wrong just a different approach

[@ajkustoms5386]

@@rgtn2441 i dado the backs in because i also put a nailer in behind the plywood back and it remains hidden.

[@TheCHRISCaPWN]

I appreciate the invite on the "worth it" argument. Very important, but easily overlooked. This video is just the next installment on a channel full of videos worth investing my time into. Sincerely, I thank and appreciate every one of you at ILTMS. Cheers to you all.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much!

[@denisl2760]

So he saved about $10,000 for 2 weeks of full time labor, let's say you're not as experienced as he is and it takes your 4 weeks to achieve the same result. $10,000 a month is a significant amount, most people would absolutely be better off taking time off work to do this.

[@psychotic6708]

@@denisl2760 and if u enjoy this kinda stuff, you can go to work full time, and just work on the cabinets in free time. So essentially u have just made $10000 for doing something enjoyable

[@jtcmlt1]

@@denisl2760 There is a big difference between real money and apparent money. For most of us, our weekly check pays for existing, concurrent bills. If you don't work for a week you don't get paid, and your bills don't get paid. Yes, you can say that you earned, or saved $10,000.00, but, at the end, you are behind on your bills. Then, the following check is assigned to new bills and expenses, therefore, it takes more that another week to catch up. Just my point of view. Peace

[@denisl2760]

@@jtcmlt1 Sure, if you're living paycheck to paycheck and have no savings then you'd be right. Of course if you're in that situation spending $10,000 on remodeling your kitchen is probably out of your budget anyways.

[@samaker4]

"It's fun at first and then it becomes kinda old." Maximum respect for keeping at it!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Just like pancakes.

[@BloodysChannel]

You have no other choice as soon as you've started it if you think about it. You bought the materials, you sawed the first carcasses and then what? Leave the kithen unfinished? You really have to stick to your decision if you go this route. There's almost no point of return.

[@gabemckay6718]

@@Iliketomakestuff hahaha "just like pancakes" this sentence captured the reason after 15 years as a trim carpenter and kitchen installer and maker, I stopped doing it and moved on to general contracting. It just gets old and the body gets old and the mind gets bored.

[@matthewerwin4677]

Like marriage

[@TheStereo3000]

The reasoning at the end makes this 100% one of the best videos to watch & think about not just on this project but generally in life.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

[@chetripoff]

coming from a custom kitchen builder for about 11 years, they actually look really good for you not doing it for a living. keep it up!

[@whatsupwithsteve]

Yep I was really happy to see he used 1/4" wood strips instead of that nasty iron-on tape..:)

[@CaptainRon1913]

The markup on custom kitchen cabs is outrageous. We took our plans in to Lowes and had them quote on solid wood cabs, no particle board, self closing hidden slides and hinges, etc. They came in at well over double what I built them for, out of better quality lumber and construction. I have to say, the top of the line Kraftmaid cabs are pretty impressive, but I saved over $20k building them myself, and put that money into nicer appliances and fixtures. Thanks for posting.

[@Godsgraceish]

Where did you get the cabinets that you built?

[@ShopNation]

Great take on the trade-offs. People don't realize the time aspect of projects like this and fail to understand that even time isn't an even trade between the consumer (you) and maybe a trim carpenter who does this for a living. They will be able to churn through a project like this much faster than someone figuring it out as they go along. Not necessarily a bad thing but the learning process is a time "expense" that must be considered.

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

Well said Travis @shopnation. Not to mention the learning curb the builder is on. There will definitely mistakes made, setbacks, etc. These all add to the length of TIME the build will take and the quality of the finished product. I'm glad this conversation is being had because it's not all about the dollars and cents! Take care!

[@JoeC92]

Had a contractor realize that on one job recently hahaha. Was wiring the house for a family member and his general contractor mentioned when he pulled the permits to wire his own house it took him two weeks vs myself and a friend/co worker of mine were about to fully wire the house including lots of extra pot lights etc in two days. The few times I've done my own plumbing it takes me so much longer than if I just got my friend who's a plumber to do it. Those that do a skilled trade, day in day out will always know a lot more quick ins and outs of the job than someone trying to do it themselves.

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

@@JoeC92 Oh so true! But like everything else, we (generally) like to learn the hard way rather than listen to advice offered from someone with experience. Take care Joe!

[@davevonallmen4218]

What you guy's say is all true, but another perspective is not everyone is on a timeline. I don't really care if it takes me two days to finish a one day job so as far as I'm concerned the time factor is not an aspect for me (I'm retired and currently building out my own house at my own speed). Also I realize I am in the minority but just wanted to through my 2 cents in.

[@jwill9877]

True but if you have the tools already, and you are building custom high end cabinets, it's a no brainer to build them yourself. You can build them for a fraction of the cost. If you ask me if I'd like to pay 25k for high end cabinets or build them for a fraction of the cost and install them myself is say 2 months? That's an easy answer. Not only that, the money that you didn't pay a contractor for the work still goes into the value of the house. It's not lost in the time you take to build and install them.

[@figrollin]

I really appreciate your consideration of fatigue. I think sometimes our society can be so puritanical about work-work-work that to even acknowledge being tired is considered a failing. And I super like that you didn't do that. It's also much more considerate to people of different ability who might fatigue easily etc. Thanks Bob!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Fatigue is a key factor in a project like this. It can lead to errors and injuries.

[@Bbistheman_]

Absolutely. So many people who do things like this just focus on cost without considering time. Honestly I feel like when deciding things like this a lot of people undervalue their time and effort required

[@ChrisShute62]

Hats off to you, Bob, for honestly describing situations when it might be best NOT to make stuff! Too many slick TV makeover programmes and maker channels fail to convey time/fatigue/commitment. Folks think it all happens during the ad breaks. It all looks so simple on a screen. Then they get upset when their kitchen is war zone for 4 weeks.

[@blackburn115]

I'd probably never go trough with such a massive project myself, but what I love about something like this as a DIY is when it's all set and done, you look at it, are happy and can proudly say "I build all this"

[@Iliketomakestuff]

It is a really nice feeling.

[@dhruvisingh886]

Ho ho ho hi there

[@dp01]

And that is precisely the only reason to do it yourself, at least in my case. I built myself and end table last summer with old decking material and I cannot even describe the feeling everytime I use it....and it is far from perfect.

[@bighands69]

The kitchen you can build through your own craft would cost a fortune to actually buy. The kitchen I built for my house would be very difficult to actual contract out. So you can make a high end kitchen for you home for the price of a regular kitchen you would buy. Start with some small kitchen style cabinets in other areas of the house.

[@tdunn2]

My opinion will always be - if you have the tools, and know how to use them semi-competently, it IS 100% worth it to make your own. You have complete control over the what, where, and how of all your cabinets. I’d build everything I could if I had a full-ish shop. Thank you for taking the time to put this great walkthrough and breakdown together for us.

[@oakhillscuba]

Good stuff, thanks. I'm semi-retired, so I have the time and I like to build things of this caliber. The other added benefit is that we have a smallish kitchen, broken up by appliances, so I can build the cabinets a few at the time, without gutting our kitchen. The cost savings is a big plus, as well as added resale value for custom cabinets that are well made.

[@Lakehousebuild]

Bob your emphasis on one’s time was refreshing and very kind. You looked straight at the camera and told us all that our time is valuable, and that meant a lot (at least for me). I’ve watched all your videos and it was a refreshing change from the how-to dialogue. You’re absolutely right, if this isn’t something one likes to do then it’s not worth their time, and that’s why buying it is worth the penny that it is.

[@ncot_tech]

I like that in your videos you're now starting to talk about the reality of doing the types of projects, and that you explain it in a very honest and straight forward way. It's not the usual "I have to say a disclaimer in case your house falls down" it's "Look, this is me giving you some important advice, pay attention or you are likely to get hurt".

[@aeonspast]

I really appreciate your mentioning of how time consuming the whole endeavor is. Watching people do things on KZbin that a) know what they're doing and b) can jump cut / montage / fast forward really makes the time requirement seem a lot shorter than it is. The additional time taken just because you're new and not sure of yourself can be a huge addition, on top of having to go back and fix mistakes. I'd love to try building some cabinets some day, but maybe I'll do that for my shed and not my kitchen, because working on something like that in between full time work plus other house work would take WAY too long for me. Another great video, can't wait to see how it all turned out!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

It's a good idea to start with something that you can accept being a little wonky. All the cabinets I've made in the past have lead me to this moment.

[@benjaminw309]

Yep. That’s great advice that is often neglected. I’ve spent months working on cabinets for a butlers pantry because I can only work on Saturdays here and there. Glad to see something I created with my own hands, but would probably pay someone to do it if I had to do it again.

[@Caeleinn]

Years ago, when my parents were renovating the kitchen of their (at the time) 60 year old house, they bought base cabinets off the shelf. While they have lasted at least 20 years, they are definitely starting to show signs of wear and getting a bit flimsy, as they are constructed out of presswood, This video helped me in deciding how to go about replacing them for my Mom so she can stop struggling with sagging cabinets and stuck doors. I may have to go custom and build them myself as the house is now 80 years old, the floors are uneven, and there are no straight lines anywhere. 😅 Thank goodness my Dad had a large shop with lots of power tools and he taught me how to use them. That tape idea is genius, btw.

[@NMranchhand]

Absolutely outstanding display of the rubric of cabinet making. You covered the waterfront: design, strategy, financial analysis, project management, and didn’t leave out a healthy helping of DIY skills instruction. And all the while, you never lost sight of the philosophy of life. Truly you served the needs of the decision to be made. Outstanding film making.

[@aaronpops4108]

When I was laid off from work for almost 4 months, it was definitely worth starting my own kitchen cabinets. Now that I'm back working over 50 hrs a week, it's a chore to finish them.

Those literal toe kick drawers are an awesome use of space. Never seen that before. Very cool!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Glad we could introduce you to something cool!

[@MadebyArt_Ehv]

However its already a quite old thing.. The kitchen in my parents' first house already had a drawer like this. That was more than 30 years ago. But maybe we (in the Netherlands) are some time further ;) :P

[@Johnsmei]

Its actually genius, and when you add that feature to the cost the im sure the 14K estimating go up.

[@bmor1074]

We have a small kitchen. We built 4 toe kicks for less than $100 and it’s really changed how I feel about my kitchen. The use of space is perfect.

[@ktulu193]

I did not expect a video about kitchen cabinets to be so heartfelt. Serious Bob is awesome :) Kitchen's looking great! (ready?)

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Yay! Thank you!

[@LD9user]

I've made a custom kitchen. The costs came out to be about the same or very slightly higher than off-the-shelf cabinets. The actual construction took no time at all. Making sure everything was cut correctly took a scaled drawing, careful layout to make sure I got the most out of all the materials and TON of planning. The best part about a project like this is the ability to control the quality. Great video. Lots of great info.

[@tschuler9923]

I built custum cabinets in our kitchen . They are exactly what we wanted with features that you would pay big money for or wouldn't even be an option on off the shelf cabinets. It did take a long time but i wasn't dumb enough to rip out the old kitchen before they were done. The whole kitchen except the quartz countertops cost under $1k

[@GK-qz3cm]

I am starting on a project what you did. How many separate cabinet pieces did you have? And how long did it take you? Thanks.

[@patrickhickey8779]

I call BS on the 1 k figure unless your kitchen was smaller than 10 square feet

[@sethdistler5332]

​@@patrickhickey8779 he paid for material only

[@The314moses]

I find it hard to believe that all the material to build your cabinets cost 1k.

[@patrickhickey8779]

@@sethdistler5332 I understand that he paid for materials only . I still say bs on the 1 k figure. The last kitchen cabinets I did for someone I charged in the 45k range installed. A bigger than average kitchen but I still had a bit over 12k in materials at my cost which is cheaper than a average homeowner can purchase materials for. That is unless they were to use low grade poor quality everything. He'll I bet the finish we used surpassed 1k. Hardware past 1 k .

[@nabicht]

This is exactly what I was hoping to see -- a great breakdown of whether or not it was worth it to build your own, including time and effort in "worth". Thank you.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheRPhelps24]

Bob is an insightful, intelligent, and thoughtful person.

[@Bryan-fn3yq]

I love how you stated that you do this for a living and that you are tired and it has taken you 3 weeks and you still aren't done. I don't think a lot of people realize just how long and how much effort a project like this can take.

[@denisl2760]

Yeah, but even if it takes you 4 or 5 weeks, saving $10,000 is worth it for almost everyone. It might not be worth it if you make $100k a year or more, but very few people make that.

[@TheSorcerer40172]

but also consider that he stated working more than full time on the project. So let's say 50 hours a week as a minimum. That comes down to 200 hours worth of work. That's $40 per hour for labourcost based on the $10000 saving. So if you make less than 6 times (US) federal minimum wage, then it's a cost saving

[@denisl2760]

@@TheSorcerer40172 Yeah $40/hr is alot for almost everyone.

[@Tikorous]

@@TheSorcerer40172 That's naive, it assumes that that time could be spent at work making that much money, but for most people hours aren't under their control so that time can't be used to make money. To assume that every hour of your life has the monetary value of what your job pays you on a per hour basis is silly. Would you work 20 hours a day for your current hourly rate? Probably not, most people wouldn't.

[@gabemckay6718]

@@denisl2760 also consider you have to invest in about $10,000 in tools to save $10,000. Then the costs of screw ups and redo's and more screw ups and redo's. You're not saving anything.

[@CorsoWorkshop]

"Your time is one of the most valuable things you have in this life." the greatest, truest piece of advice anyone has ever given. Thanks. Great project, can't wait to see the end result.

[@robertmoran9886]

I did this for a living and you did an excellent job of explaining the basics. Terrific tutorial! But the toughest aspect of building a semi-custom kitchen is the finish! Manufactured cabinet companies have curing ovens, automated spray booths, trained finishing professionals, and expert touch-up! This is the great equalizer and the most frustrating part for the home DIY'er.

[@kellym3610]

Great point. I am currently doing this for a living and thought the same thing.

[@bradbrinegar1419]

I'm in the same boat, we build custom desks and alot of laminated cabinets. If we ever do anything for a kitchen we order the drawer fronts and doors. It's next to impossible to get the stain or paint to perfectly match when using different species of wood or even the same species from different trees. You just can't compete with factory finishes. We have cncs that nest the whole job out on the sheets of plywood to save material and labels them. I couldn't imagine how much time and wasted material you would have using a tablesaw and jigsaw. Definitely not a project for the average guy with minimal tools

[@aaad01]

Thank you Robert, Kelly and Brad for giving us the hard truth. Most all of these YT videos lean towards paint grade shaker style for a reason. To hold up in a high traffic environment, the finish has to be professionally applied.

[@ness-ee]

Dude, this is the perfect video for me… thx. I’m good at making doors, but have never made a carcass. Here’s a tip for routing out the shaker styles -> I use a sled

[@IzzoCello]

I’ve been doing cabinetry for 23 years. I don’t find it repetitive but can totally understand how it can seem that way. You’re looking good so far! Even though I can build them I did semi custom and purchased cabinets for my last two personal kitchens for the reasons you stated. I will be trying the toe kick drawers on my next project. Thanks for the video!!

[@EtwasMartin]

I love your realistic approaches on those projects. You are always including alternatives for us folks with lesser tools and tighter budgets. I appreciate the effort to include everyone.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thank you very much!

[@BKMakes]

Great ending, the emphasis on priorities. Solid Bob! and looks great too!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Thanks!

[@flamaster35]

I second that... That's the best way I've seen of framing a project like this.

[@withJordanFrank]

Truly one of the best DIY KZbinrs at explaining things. Bob could easily be an instructor/teacher/professor at any professional institute. Always impressed with his ability to convey important information without making it boring and without a lot of filler. Kudos to the editor as well, I know that's part of it. There's a reason ILTMS has so many subscribers

[@dukeninja]

Bear in mind that you can use high end fixtures like Blum soft close drawer slides and hinges if you do it yourself, rather than be at the mercy of whatever the big box store uses. I built my kitchen cabinets earlier this year (having zero experience) and it was a huge learning curve. That was on top of a full time job. I used 17mm formply for everything. You can do it too.

[@TheGingerWorkshop]

Awesome video/project! I respect the approach you took on this. The toe kick drawers....love it. That attention to detail about utilizing space is perfect. Eventually i will be redoing our kitchen and that will be a must have. The insight and analyzing at the end was a nice touch.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

I appreciate that!

[@telathomason57]

Agree, love the toe kick drawers, and maximizing space. Especially for small kitchens!

[@robertmiller8918]

Cabinet Maker here, I think you did a great job on your kitchen. I can really appreciate the efforts you put in, it’s a daunting task to make cabinets let alone an entire kitchen. Great job man, keep up the videos!

[@bobbray9666]

Daunting it is not. Certainly for your average homeowner with limited tools, but if you've dabbled in woodworking, cabinets are not difficult as long as you have a good plan. They are simply big square boxes with simple joinery. Just need to keep organised and batch cut as much as you can. Cutting and assembly is the easy part. Setup and accuracy is tougher for a non-professional shop.

[@SpecificLove7]

That kitchen is looking great. I'm excited to see the finished product.

[@JDW240]

I think one important thing you pointed out is that you learned a lot. Many of us enjoy utilizing our time to learn. That adds a huge value factor to a project like this. Yes, it will be tedious, but the added knowledge and skills will SAVE you time on other projects in the future. In the end it is a personal choice and thank you again for such a valuable video.

[@joshuakallenberger915]

One tip I have seen from a couple of creators, when it comes to router and getting clean cuts, is to do a shallower pass and then a finish pass for your cuts. It takes more time, but they say it helps cut down on splintering.

[@ryanwilson5936]

That’s basic woodworking 101. Several shallow passes is always better than all of it one pass. It not only helps with splintering but it’s also less taxing on your tools/cutters and is a safer practice that can significantly reduce most problems people have with using power tools. One wouldn’t attempt the final cutting depth with hand tools so why would we need to with power tools? Sure, most modern power tools can handle pretty much anything the average, but that doesn’t mean one has to push it to its limits every time. Also, a lot of the times, the work price requires multiple shallow passes to ensure a quality finished product. I like to use power tools the same way as I would hand tools but I just let the power tools do the hard work so I don’t have to. I don’t look at it as increasing speed but rather increasing power. Hence, “power tools”. I highly recommend studying and learning your “speeds and feeds” when using any power tool. “Speed” is how fast your cutter is moving and “Feed” is how fast it’s covering the surface area of your work piece. Both are directly related to how dense the working material is. It mostly applies to metal work but it still very much applicable to wood working. Especially routing and especially deep routing. Have fun and good luck!

[@zebfischer6088]

I like to run the piece backwards on the first pass so the piece floats across the router bit easier and wont bite on that first pass.

[@wolfrig2000]

​@@ryanwilson5936having never worked with wood before I can tell you I would absolutely try to rip the board with one cut using hand tools, your assumptions are wrong. That being said I'm learning a bit from these videos and comments. I'm attempting to make cabinets for one of my rentals, the last tenants dogs destroyed the nice cabinets and despite my efforts to save them they're just not going to look right if I cut and swap doors and panels. Best to just start from new cabinets.

[@JesseHires]

Just a warning on the "off the shelf" option. I lived just down the street from a popular big-box store. I started a remodel of my kitchen buying the cabinets as I went to save on storage and spread out the cost a bit. Two weeks into the project after I was about 1/3 way done buying cabinets, they discontinued the line of cabinets I was buying.

[@kevinr3263]

Ouch

[@RonnieRoss]

I have watched many cabinet builds, but this is the most thorough. The most valuable piece of information is that you’re not just building a single cabinet to build a kitchen... better get ready to work!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Fact. We didn't need to show every cabinet being made because they are all essentially the same carcass. But there are tons of them!

[@ericfox5210]

Really loved the video! Really impressed at how you gave attention to the cost of time. As a passionate renovator the time needed for projects is often over looked. It is easy to find a KZbin video that inspires and saves you money but there is always a cost to that savings. Before watching this video I was completely up for building our cabinets. Factoring in time it doesn’t come anywhere close to a bargain. Appreciated the perspective.

[@resn2enak]

I absolutely love the fact that you are 100% transparent. The end actually hits so many feels, time is money and the fact that plenty of us WANT to do these projects, but simply time being a factor. We can’t, its possible, but not ideal. Love this video.

[@lovetrump1088]

Great - a very honest summary for anyone considering taking on such a job. Most shows don't take time to explain all the challenges one will face in taking on such a project so thanks for that. PS: One other thing you may have let out, is the Tools! Not everyone will have the tools to perform this type of job. Just buying the router/bits, saw/dadoes blades, jigs, et al...etc....can easily add on several hundred....if not a $1000 or more to a job this size. Just another consideration on the cost side to think about.

[@jnewmy14]

I like the tow kick drawer, very cool. For me saving about 10k to do it myself, it's definitely worth it. Obviously your not saving 10k once you factor in how much your time is worth, even after that I think as long as your not taking a ridiculous amount of time your still coming out ahead doing it yourself. Nice video!!

[@stimulatemyexistence5669]

Yeah I'll take 4 days off work to save 10k, to him 10k must not be alot

[@northernlightsrenovations1710]

@@stimulatemyexistence5669 He didn't say 4 days, he said several weeks to build them full time. Additionally, he never talked about the tool investment to make this work. If you already have all those tools just laying around then yeah, makes sense. If you were starting from scratch you would spend $10K investing in the proper tools, assuming that you purchased new tools. Finally, if you are a new wood worker then you will need to factor in the learning curve. He has experience on his side, so for a newbie you can easily double the amount of time, and increase the amount of wastage created from false starts.

[@fraided88]

For quality 7m x 3m L shaped kitchen with an kitchen island. It would cost me 40k+. Materials cost about 7k. Yeah, I'll save 33k doing it. No brainer.

[@ChristinaBiasca]

@@stimulatemyexistence5669 we built cabinets in our last house. Took a long time doing it nights and weekends. However the money saved was worth it for us. My husband’s time is worth a lot, but for this new house $3,000 plus countertop cost we can get a completely remodeled kitchen. For us that’s worth it. We can also get the exact colors that match the rest of our house and any end panels and trim we want to add on to the sides of the island etc…. You can’t get a custom cabinet job like that for $14,000 around our area.

[@ChristinaBiasca]

Just to add- it took us a couple weekends to get the base cabinets built. The hard part was the doors and drawer fronts. This time around we might be just buying those instead and doing custom everything else.

[@marcsidenstecker7728]

The toekick drawers are awesome! I'm looking at redoing my kitchen next year, and you have definitely given me things to think about!

[@whatsupwithsteve]

Yep just remember you are going to have a gap at the bottom, no shoe allowed..:)

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Kitchen is starting to take shape. Glad you talked about real world wants and needs. One thing folks need to think about is the time to build and finish all the cabinets needed for the job are you willing to have your house tour up for whatever time is needed to complete the cabinets? Also as others have stated do you have room to store them until they are installed?

[@rawdawg29]

Ha! I like how you keep it 100% real Bro. I am a Finish Carpenter and love your workmanship, detail and explanation in this video but most of all, I like how you break down prioritizing one’s time. Like you said, a project can get “old”..quick and if saving money is the only reason you’re doing it..in all honesty it either won’t get finished or will be very stressful or both. I learned a lot and I appreciate you taking the time to film and educate. Peace and blessings to you and yours.

[@jeffwilder7117]

As a cabinet builder at a custom shop, and after retiring, in my own shop I’ve built many, many cabinets. One tip to make things easier on the stiles and rails, I use the Woodpeckers coping sled to cut the ends of the rails. More accurate and safer. Keeps your hands away from the bit and no chance of unwanted movement. Appreciate this video. Well done. My choice though wood be to make them only for the enjoyment of woodworking and the challenge to make it work. Thanks again.

[@WolfLarson]

Awesome video. Thanks for being so straightforward with the cost and time and how much work it is. Most channels glamorize it all. Making something like this involves a lot of blood sweat and tears.

[@animemenga125]

can you do one of these "is it worth it" for small storage sheds?

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Now that's a decent idea.

[@willydmankal]

Yes please

[@Roct3874]

Went through this last year and with the price of construction lumber being what it is it wasn't worth it with the time it would take to build it also for me.

[@andysalvador8289]

I built a 12x16 shed in the yard in March 2020 It took me 5 weekends to finish it. I saved almost 4k even with the price of lumber going up. I like to build so it was worth it

[@denisl2760]

@@andysalvador8289 so that's about 10 days, or 2 work weeks, $2k a week, yeah I'd imagine its worth it for the majority of people.

[@trentevans8820]

Not gonna lie, that sax that hits right around 18:05 is kind of amazing. Also, nice cabinets

[@Iliketomakestuff]

The saxophone is the real star of this video.

[@bahrin84]

One the most honest explanation I’ve encountered.

[@dr.floydpowell8160]

One of the best videos I’ve watched on the subject. Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Answered a lot of questions.

[@AaronChancey75]

When making rails and stiles I like to route the end grain first. Usually and blow out gets clean up be the bit used to route the profile on the long grain.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Good tip!

[@paradoxx64]

Also to avoid that scoop that happened on the cope cut, pull the fence up flush with the bearing on the bit.

[@trcmf]

I’m currently building my kitchen cabinets. It was about $35,000 for a full custom kitchen. So we decided to build full diy. My only problem is that I didn’t have the space to build them. So I built a workshop and kitchen for $20,000. I had all the tools needed so that was already taken care of. The kitchen consists of 13 cabinets, flooring, paint, corian countertop, sink, etc.

[@brx017]

My kind of guy. I can't really think of a single case I've ran into that going the DIY route wasn't cheaper for me even after accounting for the tool purchases. I'd much rather buy myself a new specialty tool and keep a little folding money in my pocket at the end of the project, but that's just me

[@HiroProtagonistak]

I retired from the Marine Corps at 39 bought a house that needed completely remolded. I got a part time job at a cabinet shop just to learn how to do all this. I ended up buying all the returns and creating a kitchen out of that. We have several people come in the shop and buy returns for the same reason. It's so much work to remodel and if you don't have the more advanced tools, a shop and the motivation it's not worth it.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Haha, that's a great idea. I didn't know you could do that.

[@sdgrenavy]

Reminds me of the person who got a job at Comcast so they could fix their own cable.

[@roballen3026]

This is an excellent video.. I have worked both as a cabinet maker ( not very good at it) but I worked in the industry for 15 years. Also I spent a year and a half working at a big box store as a kitchen designer. First off I will say that at a big box store with the semi custom approach you are not going to get the main thing that I think creates good cabinetry and that is the use of good quality 3/4 inch cabinet grade plywood. Even in high end cabinetry from a big box store you are getting 5/8 plywood boxes that you pay extra for. Secondly the assembly of the cabinetry is sub par. Thirdly some of the manufacturers have very poor quality customer service. If there is an issue it can take weeks to get them resolved and you cannot resolve them yourself. The cabinet designer has to do that for you and they are typically extremely busy and it's going to get done when it fits their schedule and that may not be in your time frame. When I left the big box store the time frame for receiving an order of semi custom cabinetry was 12- 18 weeks due to backlogs at manufacturers. Lastly I recommend NEVER using the off the shelf cabinetry it is junk! no other way to say it it is absolute garbage. Construction is 5/8 particle board slapped together as fast as possible damage is very common and the boxes essentially have no structural integrity. In short what you are doing is getting you far superior cabinetry than you can get from a big box store.

[@CreeXLR]

Great video. Location definitely matters too, in UK the quote i got for a kitchen a third of this size was over £20k with an estimated 3 weeks of work time. By that point difference between custom and DYI would be over a year's salary on median income. Soooo yeaaaah, DIY it is! :) Another budget option to consider is taht (in UK at least) people give away/throw away old furniture all the time, even when it's in good condition. So picking up some old hardwood boxes for the price of a car trip and then just refacing them and making doors is also a way to do it! Minimal differences in depth or otherwise can be covered by counetrtops/front panels too. (e.g. you will never notice that one cabinet is 1cm further away from the wall than the other if you have a countertop on it that is flush)

[@davidflosi6540]

Great video. I learned a lot here; thank you! One additional benefit (that I may have missed) is that the cabinets you built are much stronger than what is typically offered at the big box stores. I'd really rather have the plywood than the MDF stuff, especially under the sink where if it gets wet, it usually swells and falls apart.

[@Wordsnwood]

Kitty Cat @22:16 .... oh yeah, great video, Bob! Pretty bold conclusion, but I'd have to agree with you. I only built the fronts on mine and it took many many evenings and weekends. Ready?

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Right on

[@aaronhgaines]

Two minutes in and I've come to the conclusion that I need to buy mine.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

Glad we could help

[@chrispalmer6552]

Thank you Bob for the perspective you gave in the last 3 mins of this video. It's very wise advice to let the audience decide what their priorities are and how much work it is to take on a project of that scale. I really like in the previous video how your plans changed as you worked through the demo of the kitchen. It's good for people to see how an initial plan or idea can evolve as you work through the project.

[@sohamc]

The final conclusion was the best part. "Your time is finite", so simple, yet so true and often taken for granted. Thanks for the video!

[@BenTaylor11]

Love this video. One of my favorites you’ve ever done. The balance of information and entertainment was on point. I don’t know if there is a more detailed explanation of this topic anywhere. Your kitchen is going to be incredible and I love the secret storage in the toe kick. What an awesome use of space.

[@worldcitizenra]

The one thing I would have liked to see addressed that was either left out or that I missed is the quality of the cabinets. I have no doubt that full custom cabinets would have equaled or exceeded the quality of cabinets that were finally built. However, I can't imagine that either basic semi-custom or off the shelf cabinets from a big box store would have come close to matching the quality of materials. So the benefits from DIY were savings of almost $10,000 plus a higher quality build that specifically fits the user's needs. Of course, if the family intends to change out cabinets frequently, then getting the lower big box quality is not a big deal. But if the cabinets are intended to last, perhaps only with door and drawer face changes or paint color in the future, then the extra quality for 1/3rd the material costs makes a lot of sense IF the person has either the skills to build them OR the time and patience to correct for mistakes to make up for skills that are a bit lower than those of the group rebuilding this kitchen.

[@curriergroh]

ya 100% A plastic gusset with 2 staples in it... does not make a joint. Off the shelf is so bad.

[@kthoennes]

@@curriergroh Off the shelf really is terrible. We're doing a basement remodel and I shopped the big box stores for cabinets. Incredibly cheap, and I don't mean price. On the other hand, our kitchen was a custom, local cabinet job. They did good work, but I'm confident I can at least match it and I'm just an amateur. Granted, maybe a notch above amateur -- for example I'll be doing dovetail drawers, but that's the thing about doing it yourself, you pick the quality and craftsmanship level.

[@jbrnds]

Biggest takeaway and most important quote: “If you want to do it, you should do it”. I feel the struggle through the vid & podcasts but I am sure the satisfaction and pride towards your family is just as big! Way. To. Go! We are rooting for you.

[@sid1010reddy]

You hit the nail on the head! Time is the most valuable thing. I find myself taking up projects and not be able to finish them for long durations because of available “time” for projects away from family, work and friends. Thanks for sharing!

[@vibezwrld_ent1631]

The best part of this video was the last few minutes u spend analyzing the whole project and offering your personal opinion great video thankyou

[@wDeXteR4]

I'm probably not alone with this but these videos came in a perfect time for me. I'm doing a full apartment renovation right now and the kitchen gave me a really hard time from designing it to picking materials and videos like this help a lot seeing what it's like to actually do it. I'm still not sure if I want to use waterproof MDF or plywood for the cabinets tough

[@Iliketomakestuff]

I'm glad I could help with your decision making. You got this.

[@donnygrahambuilds]

Solid video Bob (& team)! The breakdown of time, money, and actual desire to pursue something this involved was all really well explained. Looking forward to the next vid!

[@purefury702]

I made two cabinets for our laundry room, first and only ones I've done. They turned out...okay. For me, the DIY curse is having to look at something that I've built and only seeing the flaws. There are some lessons learned for next time, like after spending all that time and attention to detail on building the cabinets, make sure that the cleats are consistent, too, so they don't hang on the wall uneven.

[@Iliketomakestuff]

That's great advice! It'd be a shame that you go through all that effort and the way they hang irritates you.

[@Jonny_O]

I know that curse well, but it cuts both ways. Consider the alternative: if you get pre-made cabinets you'll eventually start seeing design decisions that you don't agree with.

[@ariyanadumon4549]

@@Jonny_O I struggle with the whole picking apart other people's design decisions than my own. I am a huge perfectionist though, so eh.

[@jharvey433]

The pain of the cabinet guy lol

[@codacreator6162]

If you don’t enjoy the work, you can also virtually guarantee it will show in the end result, too. Care and pride, along with a little bit of passion and desire go a LONG way toward making your projects great. I’m not entirely convinced that I have enough skill to pull off something this big, yet. But I would absolutely love the challenge and definitely look forward to the immense satisfaction doing a great job would bring. Just thinking about building stuff brings a little blossom of warm excitement inside. It’s that excited anticipation of creation that does it. And I will always believe that’s the most essential part. Stuff I build often is not cheaper than its store-bought equivalent. But the quality and durability (hopefully) more than make up for the price difference. Added to the satisfaction of creating something really great, that’s a price I’m more than willing to pay. Thanks for a GREAT video. Priceless instruction and honest, easy to understand explanation. The bigger the project, the greater the savings in dollars, but the greater the personal investment in time. Jason at Bourbon Moth did an office remodel in a similar mode. The biggest consideration for me (new, not very confident) would be whether or not I could match the quality of a pro install (or get pretty close). I wouldn’t want to muck up something as important as a kitchen. Same time, I don’t think taking on a smaller project would be out of the question. I’ve seen some pretty shaky DIY stuff. All in all, I think it would be worth it to try. Thanks, again. This is invaluable information. Cheers!

[@markpalmer3071]

I've put in an Ikea kitchen in our old house and will do another one this time. I would absolutely love to build my own kitchen but you're right, it's the time it takes.... I built an ensuite vanity and highly custom wardrobes and it has taken ages, I can't imagine how long the kitchen would take. Plus, here in Australia, the price of Ikea is about the same, if not cheaper than the material costs. Great video, loving the series.

[@jgn1977]

As someone who renovated their kitchen recently, big box stores are not the cheapest option for prefab cabinets. We actually used a company called cabinets to go and saved a significant amount. Check in your area if there are alternative cabinet stores that are not big box but also not full custom.

[@andrewm8531]

To be honest they are sometimes more expensive than semi-custom or even some custom. We had a builder decide to start using Ikea cabinets because they were "cheaper", but the time his workers took to build and install, the cost was pretty much the same for an inferior product.

[@CodeMonkey66]

Did my basement...I estimate I saved $25,000 for it's size. Did my kitchen, I estimate I saved $15,000...even after appliances. In both cases though...as mentioned...I was all about doing it for myself. I especially always wanted to make my own kitchen. Feels good.

[@tappertrainman]

I think a very important distinction to this whole decision is whether you have corner cabinets or not. There is a fair amount of design and engineering that goes into overlapping corner doors and drawers that may not be easy for a layman to produce easily the first time. Ask me how I know this...

[@geoffreymills9932]

Everyone has a corner or three, it's how you handle them is determined by your skillset

[@ryanfourie1043]

Thanks for this video! I did my kitchen and I agree- the time factor is the big one. I also found a saving of about two thirds. One idea for the guys who don't have the table saw- a lot of your wood shops will cut the wood pieces to size for you if you give them a cut list. Then it is just the assembly that you need to do. Oh ,and figuring out what piece goes where as it all comes together on a big truck!

[@Liquid188]

This kitchen is amazing... handy at all corners... Big. Thank you for this lovely video Bob!

[@smm_66]

I've built few cabinets so far, i have a suggestion for people who wants do it themselves, instead of using plywood for the body of cabinets go for laminated MDF if you think about realistically, when you want to take something like a glass from the top cabinet would you actually pay attention to the walls? you just take it and close the door and for bottom cabinets with lots of drawers as he mentioned you just cant see anything only use wood for edges this way you will remove a ton of sanding from you work and i mean a ton most of your sanding will the body if you go for plywood unless you have drum sander just forget about it, for the strength purposes using only screws will last for long time but if you want to go for something stronger with faster alignment for assembly use biscuit joints with some wood glue

[@kathleenkostiuk-huguenin2197]

MDF is really heavy material a mere 1/4" chipboard or thinner material would suffice. Work is worthwhile should a person enjoy these types of projects.

[@khaledrjoub]

As an unemployed engineer I'm gonna go on a limb and say it, your time means nothing if you are not doing what you like

[@Iliketomakestuff]

It takes a lot of bravery to break out from convention and pursue what you love. But every minute has value.

[@thezayofzays6802]

Oooh, now all I need is a house that I own. Great vid!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

You could surprise your landlord.

[@thezayofzays6802]

@@Iliketomakestuff I'll tell him Bob told me to lol. Love the channel!

[@vincegrey8718]

I am retired and my son needs about about 12 new cabinets for his kitchen. He doesn't have thousands to spend. My labor is a gift of love, he will buy the material and I have the tools. It is a no brainer. He will help assemble and install with me when ready, so some time spent together is a bonus. Good content! And he will remember his dad made those for him and his family.

[@elijames7409]

One of the best explanations on why or why not it would work for anyone to make them themselves.

[@joshuahulce5630]

i opted to build my own cabinets during my remodel... mostly due to them being 4" deeper than standard. also built out of 13ply birch 3/4". would have been really costly to have built. cost me ~$3k vs nearly $15k as quoted. took ~6 weeks only working on them evenings and weekends. also added benefit is biscuit joint construction rather than pocket screws, exterior glue so better waterproofness, routered inset drawer guides for maximum drawer space.

[@agisler87]

Nice. I'm about to do the same. Did you paint your cabinets? If so what did you use?

[@joshuahulce5630]

@@agisler87 yes I painted them. A slight off white cabinet paint from lowes.

[@catinabox3048]

Another thing that needs to be pointed out is that this is probably not the project you want to be undertaking if you're a complete beginner testing out the waters. Test out building, like, a bookshelf or a nightstand from scratch first. Less commitment and less waste.

[@thehumantoeRD]

Especially with material prices where they are now. Oopses cost alot more now than they did a few years ago....

[@1petrofski]

Very true, some high end skill required on those cabinet builds.

[@WinterSo1dier]

The cabinets are looking great! I’ll be building my own next spring, can’t wait. I’m planning to do a quarter round toe kick in place of the traditional square cut out. I think it may help soften the look of the cabinets from across the room.

[@angelysquierdo5067]

Very good communication and thought out for the viewer. I'm sure there were a million retakes lol, but one of the best videos I've seen when it comes to cabinet making and explaining it. Thanks!

[@OasisCarpentry]

Really appreciate the new direction you took this video. I watch your channel for inspiration and to see how you come up with creative solutions to problems. This video had just enough of that to feel familiar, but also a new perspective on the how/why of pre-build planning (should I make them or buy them). It was natural and clearly communicated. Can’t wait to see you keep developing in this new direction. Great job!

[@BadDadio]

You don't mention that by making the cabinets, you are getting better quality materials and craftsmanship. Thanks for emphasizing the time it takes to build these cabinets. Time is always my limiting factor.

[@gavjlewis]

Well it took me about 4 weeks to complete a flat pack kitchen. If I had to make my own it would probably take me a whole year! I would probably spend all the savings on takeaway! 😂

[@Iliketomakestuff]

I think a combination of flat pack and hand-made is a good plan.

[@mrstephentgarrett]

I appreciate the shirt...Bill and Ted reference!

[@Iliketomakestuff]

It's a great message

[@mrstephentgarrett]

And a great movie as well!

[@travelndiybyhassan]

I'm in the midst of constructing my kitchen and the cabinets, I wholeheartedly resonate with your statement at the end. It's undeniably a labor-intensive endeavor, and its true value only if one is genuinely driven to tackle it

[@Default654]

I’m impressed ! This video is so informative and inspiring! You have a talent to explain complicated things in very digestible way. Thank you a lot! The only problem I have now is that you explained everything so well and made it seem so doable, I’m afraid I’m gonna rip my kitchen off. My hands are itching now to do new cabinets. Thank you a lot

[@justpassingthrough4802]

My advice would be to keep your kitchen cabinet boxes. Remove the doors, measure them and send the measurements to a company that will make new ones. I had 16 shaker style doors made and bought a jig to install soft close hinges. For around $600 I had brand new cabinets. That included everything, including paint.

[@ModernBuilds]

7:50 the backwards toss!! 🔥

[@fernoelpuki123]

You need to build a kitchen too Mike!

[@christopherwilson2406]

Lmaoo!! (Love from the Bronx, NYC!!)

[@wisenber]

If I took the time to build my kitchen cabinets, I'd never finish building my boat.

[@krysc2009]

I have nothing to say about the cabinets, as I am just learning about building them, but thank you for using a push stick on the narrower cuts on your table saw. Some other videos I've seen with other content creators they're pushing through material that only has maybe 3 in between the fence and the blade, and it makes me nervous every time.

[@MrToySolja]

My kitchen was in a serious need for a redo. Fortunately all the carcases are compleletly fine! The cafe i work at got a Reno last year and threw out all this timber that i collected. So far i've in the process of doing the work myself without any knowledge on how to make frames, doors panels, drawers but i don't mind. The process has been so fun to learn something new! Best thing yet i was originally quoted $6000+ for a new kitchen. I've spent $500 so far. Watching your video reassured myself that i've made the right decision!