Stop Overbuilding Cabinet Doors

[@Lincolnstww]

The Best Beginner Woodworking Course...Period Sign Up - www.bestbeginnerwoodworking.com/ Free Cross Cut Jig Plans - www.lincolnstwoodworks.com/store/p/8qz85vaftmrkjdojzl2jr9n27d4j85

[@BTCTim]

I was a finisher of MDF doors for 8 years at a high end custom shop, and here are my tips: Round your edges! If you have a router, a 1/16 roundover is easy to do for the outside edges, and for the inside edges, just some 180 grit paper and 2 or 3 passes is all thats needed. This will help minimize potential cracks in the paint as it dries and shrinks. Light coats of primer are key! Do 1 coat for the back, ensuring even coverage. You're not going to be looking at the back much, so it's not as important. The front should get 2 coats with a sand in between. When sanding primer: KEEP IT LIGHT! The aim is to smooth out the peaks, not sand down to a glorified fill job. Sand through is the enemy. By keeping the sanding light, you have more primer for your paint to bond with. The door should still be completely white. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it does need to still be as white as possible while being smoothed out. Before you paint, another SUPER light sand is needed to scuff the primer. We generally used Scotch Brite (burgundy colour) with a light wipe basically. This will increase the surface area for your paint to stick to. Do this between every coat to keep the bond strong. Happy Dooring!

[@mikeringer7861]

Thanks for the painting tips! I honestly think that painting is the most difficult part of "building" cabinets. ;)

[@TM_Stone]

Great tips. 99% of the Earth's population doesn't know this and painters will hate you for sharing this.

[@bsw051]

Thanks

[@Lincolnstww]

Good stuff thanks for sharing!

[@evianevans292]

Is not sanding in-between coats the reason my cabinet paint isn't scratch proof?

[@tomwilson2804]

I think you need to have a t-shirt that says, "I put the GFY in DIY". Another great video, obviously!

[@Lincolnstww]

Hahahaha I love it

[@ratchetz]

I really enjoy how you show multiple options to get the same job done… makes woodworking far more accessible for people at different skill levels. I also enjoy the humour that you include in your videos. PS - your circular saw crosscut sled is a great idea!

[@eddents]

Showing good, better and best is a service to your viewers and Is much appreciated. Thank-you! It allows newbies to see they can start woodworking with minimal tools and aspire to build with more complexity as time, money and desire permits.

[@eancameron3306]

I am a Brit, who is a time (not that sort of time!) served Carpenter/Joiner who learns, enjoys and respects the honest approach to these videos. Learnt on imperial and metric.....potato/patato does it matter so long as you enjoy what you are doing! Great video looking forward to the next one. Cheers

[@staceyward777]

"Senor Stumpy" lol I'm sure James will appreciate that. Somebody else referred to "that whiskey butterfly" guy in another video I watched the other day. hahahaha

[@YTubeSDD]

That was Flynndogg Woodwork and his review of sanders.

[@darkestdot2752]

Lost all respect for the alcoholic insect after he set a couple shops on fire for the clicks.

[@amwtm]

Thanks for making this video. I have some fancy tools, but I like this because you're not creating a problem and then solving it with some gadget you're selling. It's ... trustworthy.

[@waltertgtpassi.6035]

GFY! 😂 Love it. Adding that to my DIY vernacular.

[@thaejsooriya3313]

SAME😂

[@torque9889]

I remember when you were starting out and looking a bit nervous. If I’m honest I only watched occasionally but your videos are really good quality now. (Not that they were bad before) One of my favourite American woodworking channel now. Keep up the good work!

[@ewcarpentry]

You're correct, you don't need that pocket hole jig...but...you want that pocket hole jig! It puts a smile on my face every time I use it 💪❤️💪

[@rcbax434]

I really love your videos and always can't wait for the next one. I learn, I laugh and I have fun, please don't stop.

[@Lincolnstww]

Thanks for the kind words

[@dbf1dware]

Many years ago, I built cabinets in our living room. The doors were 1/2" MDF with a face-frame made of mitered baseboard molding. Super simple, and ended up a little fancier than shaker-style. After painting, they looked great. No one ever seemed to notice they were not "real doors." The only tools I had were a circular saw and hand-tools (not even a power sander). All it took was patience with the painting prep and they turned out awesome.

[@LutherBuilds]

This is one of the best videos I've seen on building doors and drawer fronts for beginners. You did an excellent job explaining and showing different methods that anyone can do. This is further proof that you don't need a bunch of specialty tools to get great results.

[@axellajohannesson447]

Thanks!

[@Lincolnstww]

@@axellajohannesson447 thank you!

[@robinhewitt2819]

Love that you started with, just get some MDF and glue it together. Works. Starting with the cheapest, easiest way is such a great confidence builder

[@DC9V]

Congrats on finishing a project, and thanks for making these videos. I feel motivated now.

[@Lincolnstww]

Thank you so much. Go do it!

[@Mstyleswoodwerks]

Great video with detailed explanation, and a hint of sarcastic remarks! Just what I was looking for! I'm going to be replacing some doors on my bathroom vanity so this video helped out tremendously!

[@gavinmarch]

You have the best stuff on youtube. Always informational and good for some laughs while you're at it.

[@davidguinta4550]

Not sure if I enjoy your knowledge or sense of humor, so I will continue to tune in and have the best of both world's!! Great job!

[@SugarFreeTargets]

7:00 I'd recommend putting a sealant on the MDF first before painting. I needed to replace the baseboard in my bathrooms because the moisture ruined the MDF. However, I really like the profile of them.. So I tested a scrap piece by sealing it with a flex seal spraycan I had laying around and threw it in a tub of water for 24 hours. It was perfectly fine after that test. Flexseal does add some texture to it but I'd imagine there's far better alternatives compared to what I had laying around.

[@AnimatorsatWork]

I’m sure there’s a waterproof/sealing primer that works the same

[@studibakre]

I just use oil primer. Works as a sealant, and doesn't absorb Just hard to find anymore with so many places banning it

[@MacDa-yy8xn]

Here is a great tip i found on another site for making doors. Make the doors 1/4” bigger in both directions. Build the door the best you can. After the door is fully assembled cut the doors down to the final size. The joints will be perfect on the outside of the doors.

[@STANWoodwork]

Great video. Really helpful. It is just showing is no excuses to make some nice looking doors. Without professional tools.

[@azpcox]

21:54 probably the best argument for metric system. :) You should try a metric door and see how close it is to the inch door.

[@billboy7390]

Finally, someone who understands the easy way to do a simple door. Great video.

[@edmundnyamupepema]

Thank you Sir! I love how you spice up things with strategic woodworking humour! I wish I could like this 100k times

[@batteredredbox]

Thanks John, I've been scratching my head (and procrastinating) for a few weeks now on how to build the doors on a cupboard project I've done. Plenty of ways to skin a cat! Love this style of video, I think I'm going to try both the basic and more advanced solution and see which I prefer. I need two doors after all!

[@mateostabio]

Love this style of video showing different methods. I still don't own a router! As always, love your narration.

[@albertklassen6055]

Smartest woodworker on KZbin. Love the wit and humour.

[@Lincolnstww]

appreciate the kind words. (But definitely not the smartest)

[@steveo9578]

You forgot to address the commenters who will claim that you're not a real woodworker unless you can carve a full entertainment center from a block of wood using nothing but a prison shiv and a spool of twine....

[@thewascallyrabbit]

you must be a NavyEOD tech or MacGyver

[@Lincolnstww]

Damnit, good call

[@eddents]

@@steveo9578 When asked what to use to hollow out for a wooden bowl I'll answer that you can use a gouge, an adze, a scorp, a travisher, a chainsaw, an Arbortech, a Dremel, a Foredom, a stairmakers rasp, a card scraper or a dull spoon. Using the spoon it takes longer.

[@zacramer]

Helpful and entertaining (as always). One thing I noticed when using the Kreg guide (at @4:12) is that you're relying on the piece being cut to act as your edge guide. Given that the guide extends the width of the MDF, you could extend the circular saw nearly to the end and that way you're not cutting off the piece being used as the edge guide. That way it's not falling off as you reach the end of your cut.

[@mcguiganmike]

Another great video, thanks. I am probably never going to build doors or cabinets, but I love watching your videos!

[@Lincolnstww]

Glad you enjoy them!

[@Headdancer1]

Another great one and just in time as I’m making my building! Keep it up!

[@jascogoods]

😂😂😂 great video brother. I get the same comments about tools. I made a video saying I am going to start a channel showing how to build everything with butter knives!! 😂

[@MichaelWilkins-zs9cd]

Thanks for the refresher-I have used all 3 methods

[@IhabFahmy]

Oh, you pragmatist, you! 🤣 🤣 🤣 Thanks for the advice, the humour, and the tips.

[@DenimNeverNude]

When I did 20+ doors for my kitchen remodel, I did a hybrid of your 2nd and 3rd methods, from a video I found from Saws on Skates. You make the poplar frame from your 2nd method, using pocket holes, but instead of rabbiting the panel into the back, you use a router table with a 1/4" straight bit to cut the panel groove on the inside of the frame (before you assemble), much like your interior groove from Build #3. The tricky part was dropping the stiles into the router bit so that you don't cut the groove from end to end. I think this method was overall faster than rabbiting the backside, looks nicer, and was convenient because I didn't own a table saw.

[@gregj2647]

Very well done video. Simple is good even for an advanced woodworker. 👍

[@devastatn]

GFY at 5:20 was priceless...

[@mrmoto7682]

Those look really good. Thanks for sharing the different methods.

[@Ghost6007]

You take the crown in terms of project time, I am hobby woodworker and it took me only 9 months to do my double waterfall work desk. 🤣 But I love watching your honest and straightforward videos.

[@karsimhguvjb9413]

Damn. Just finished building my tool cabinet, sure would have looked nicer but would have also been heavier. Gives us begineers a lot of convidence knowing that simple builds can look so good. Thank you for your informative and entertaining videos. Geetings from Nepal.

[@JDderd]

I’m sitting in my unfinished laundry room looking for some motivation. That last line got me.

[@AviusL]

I really like listening to you explaining stuff.

[@Lincolnstww]

@@AviusL thank you!

[@waylaid]

Great tips. I did once make doors using hand tools including a 50 year old hand plane to cut the grooves. I even cut mortice and tenon joints and all on a very wonky kitchen table. It was a lot of pain and effort so every subsequent door has been made with your second method! And once painted it’s very hard to tell the difference from the front.

[@1959mikel]

Good follow up on your cabinet video and likewise very informative by giving us options.

[@lightspeedguru]

I too purchased the Graco paint sprayer from Home Depot. My project was a fence but I've since used it for a shop cabinet and it's not half bad. It takes a little experimentation with the speed control but the result was much better than a brush or roller. There is a learning curve as you need to follow ALL of the instructions, and clean up is still a chore... but I like it.

[@Lincolnstww]

That’s been my experience with it

[@SandyMasquith]

ah! Such a lovely build. Thank you for taking the complicated out of panel doors! I've always called those rail tongues "stub tennons". Not sure if that's what the masters call them. Don't much care. As long as it works, and we understand what is being described, I think that's what counts. Thanks again for another great video. :)

[@Steve00036]

Loved the video, it was very helpful. Haters will always hate because they have nothing better to do with their lives. Your followers don't listen to them anyway. Please keep the instructional videos coming

[@anneoreilly4900]

Love your humor. Great video

[@jamesburton6661]

Consistently top quality content. Thank you as always.

[@gretchen_needs_a_dog]

I love the multi-level options and learning my new favorite text abbreviation GFY. 😂

[@marcbarash6045]

Thanks John, another great video!

[@SzechuanChickenDog]

This dude is so smart. I mean it. All the self deprecating humor is help us dumb people relate more to him... Im convinced that most of the youtube wood workers are some of the smartest people on earth. Like comedians are ...its not what they do but the process and thought behind the explanation of why to do something in specific situations. Much respect. I know you're secret bud ... you're smart af

[@joko-kc3wc]

GFY - Good for you. That’s what I tell them anyway.

[@johnhaller5851]

That was my first thought, until I thought some more.

[@phd_gaming5010]

I needed the back to be flushed and just went with dowels since I had a dowel jig. Worked well. So that's also a possibility if you like dowels

[@bobjhags]

And to that I say...great writing! Good stuff, comrade. I *will* GFM 😀

[@lightspeedguru]

Good tip with the DAP. I had never considered that before but with MDF and paint, why not? Looks fantastic!

[@rolfetimm1801]

Very good I like your delivery

[@ambitiousunorthodox]

I love DIY made easy and this channel is awesome!! Thanks for your videos! I just wish I had a garage or workshop.

[@Lincolnstww]

Glad you like them!

[@jimrosson6702]

Great video John Thanks for sharing

[@Lincolnstww]

Glad you liked it!

[@4legdfishman]

They all look good. I'm not going to guess. But 14 months on a laundry room!? My wife would be jealous that it could happen that soon! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Oh, and a great sense of humor to boot.

[@steevemachine118]

Great video. All 3 types or doors are great. Once painted, they'll look g8! But...I'd bet they will end up in a landfill...

[@eduardocolon-gonzalez2408]

GFY! jajajajajajajaja I'm going to use that! Also, good way to explain this

[@markjohnston1466]

I know you’ve talked about your small shop a lot but have you ever discussed how you manage other tools/supplies etc for things other than woodworking? Kids toys, handyman tools for around the house, all the usual stuff that gets tossed in the garage - where do woodworkers put all that?

[@Lincolnstww]

in the shed!

[@markjohnston1466]

@ now that’s the shop tour I need to see!

[@joe7327]

Great video. Learned a lot from it. Thank you.

[@catsmeow5566]

Thank you for this video. I know it costs more, but I personally prefer to use plywood instead of mdf. I absolutely despise mdf, but to each their own. Paint does NOT seal mdf well enough from my experience. Also, I live in a very humid/damp climate to begin with so mdf does not do well here. Plywood tends to last longer- my bathroom vanities are all entirely plywood (except for the formica top of course). I don't have a track saw or good circular saw but I do have a portable table saw. LOL at the GFY. I appreciate the free plans. Gang of domestic terrorists? LOL. Cats or kids? I've got cats. They love to claw things. My miter saw was one of the best investments. Came in very handy when renovating my bathroom. Back in the 80s my dad made similar doors using red oak rough-cut lumber planed and ripped to size on top of plywood with red oak veneer panels. Not sure if they even sell those panels anymore. There used to be a sawmill near us but it closed down. If you want to impress the dishes in your cabinet? LOL! I do love the humor. Fat Bottomed Girls you make the rockin' world go 'round! You called it. I don't have a router table (yet). I'm not the best painter in the world, but that art class in high school over 30yrs ago came in handy. LOL. The key is preparation. Wood filler/putty, sand, primer, sand again (lightly), paint, sand, paint. A lot of sanding. LOL. Then cover with a coat of non-yellowing poly (for bathrooms/wet areas). I can't tell which door is which. They all look nice to me. I think I'd stick with the beginner method but use my miter saw and table saw. I might use some short screws and screw the rails and stiles on from the back as extra reinforcement along with some finish nails or pin nails. Ooh, those drawer faces look nice! 14 months isn't bad. I started a bathroom renovation in 2008 and didn't get the floor fixed and toilet installed until 2023. I still need to sand and re-paint the vanity and doors and put the doors back on. And need to hang up a towel ring, change out the triple switch for the vent/fan/heater and add a vanity light-- oh, and put in a GFCI outlet instead of the regular one that should not be there. I also need to build some wall cabinets. but I have a working toilet and shower so that's a bonus. I'm wondering if the first method could be modified to do flat panel cathedral style doors. I think only the top rail would need to be altered to have the curve. Have you ever made that style? Thanks again!

[@jasonk.7534]

Enjoyed the video! I think the pro one is either a,b or c! Then again, I get into land wars with Sicilian's (yes, I know that isn't the correct quote). Keep up the good work!

[@ngarber]

How about a hybrid of these techniques: panel in groove but doweled joints? You just need to stop the grooves before the end or the rails and stiles. Easy-ish with a handheld router and easy on a router table.

[@larrycarlson9342]

Gee FY made my day!

[@Kosh42EFG]

I love the drawer fronts where the Kreg lig lives.

[@robertberger8642]

Good video, good lessons.

[@sharifsircar]

Impressing the dishes in the cabinet had me dead

[@Lincolnstww]

Thanks!

[@MikeandLauraFrame]

On the mdf cabinets, you can save yourself a ton of putty and sanding if you just make the back panel, rails and styles a bit wider and taller than you need, say 1/4". Once they're glued up take them to the table saw or track saw and cut 1/8" off each side. You'll get flush sides and tops with zero putty.

[@johnhiemstra1464]

Another fun and informative video. Thank you for that!

[@Lincolnstww]

Glad you liked it!

[@scottakam]

I've used lots of expensive woods for cabinets/furniture and the look great. If I'm doing something that will be painted, MDF all day long!

[@mattv5281]

The flipping method on door number three does center the cut, but it makes the thickness of the groove relative to the thickness of the piece. If your lumber dealer is like mine and doesn't sell stock of a perfectly consistent thickness, it ends up frustrating. Some pieces will be too tight amd some too loose if you run them all with the same fence settings.

[@leejohnson7293]

I have built many doors using the beginner method, both for personal projects as well as for customers. Never had a complaint, nor an issue.

[@Lincolnstww]

Yeah it’s a nice way to do it

[@acubley]

GFY. Perfect comment for all the gatekeepers out there. Just Awesome.

[@zlyzly5940]

the best and my fav youtwoodworker

[@ericparham1086]

I 100% agree with buying used when starting out with exclusion to consumables like saw blades. My first miter saw was a Bosch 12" glide that I bought off Facebook Marketplace. If it still has the stock blade on it, throw it out immediately. A cheap Diablo blade is better than the stock blade. I sold the saw to another starting woodworker about a year after for the price I bought the saw at, when I jumped to a Kapex. Same for my first planer, it was a DeWalt 735.

[@cadewilson909]

Well done!

[@slooney64]

I made door design number 3 a few months back and was puzzled that my grooves were tight in some places and loose in others. Turns out the stock I was using had thickness variation of around 1/32". Using this technique, the grooves were perfectly centered, but the width varied enough to be noticeable. Better stock or a thickness planer are the only solutions I'm aware of. Just something to watch out for. The doors turned out great otherwise.

[@StevePlaysGames158]

Nice job man! Keep up the good work!

[@Lincolnstww]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@tpaulsmith7194]

As normal, entertaining and informative. Top notch. Thanks!

[@macsworkshop]

Great video, love your digs at the comment trolls :D

[@paoloaccomando4778]

As a 40 year wood worker- Perfect,Funny,educational Video as usual-Teach would be proud bro!!!!!🎉

[@Lincolnstww]

Thanks!

[@markhagen7777]

I think you’re a good teacher

[@Lincolnstww]

Thank you!

[@davidwright9688]

Great video. I always enjoy your presentations! One small mention...MDF and Plywood dust are very toxic and will hang in the air for a good 4 hours. The particles go right through the usual dust collector bag, since they are smaller than 3 micron. Wear your mask until you can count on it all settling out, and/or then blow it out with a leaf blower into your neighbor's yard...especially if they have a barking dog that drives you nuts.

[@bjsmithart]

A is the high-end door. That’s my guess since the hole for the knob has been drilled. I’m renovating my shop (built drawer boxes yesterday). Great timing!

[@Lincolnstww]

@@bjsmithart thanks! A is not the high end door though

[@bjsmithart]

@@Lincolnstwwha! Well done. The hole fooled me.

[@ScottJ5860]

Don't know which door is which, but the premise of the video was brilliant.

[@Lincolnstww]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@klemenskonig845]

Great video and great comment at 16:58 skinny lad

[@ewcarpentry]

I like the table saw comment. Not everyone does have a router and most have a table saw. You can do a lot with a table saw! I saw a guy make colonial crown molding with a table saw (not in person)

[@chrisw1462]

Make the doors 1/8" larger in every dimension - add that to the width of the stiles and rails, too. Glue it up, then cut it to actual size after it's dry. This will allow a decent amount of leeway when placing the stiles and rails, and should result in an edge that only needs sanding - no filler.

[@sixpotshot]

Brilliant 🔥You Rock it 💥

[@ronniefromOR]

Awesome stuff!

[@chriswhite6784]

I say "GFY".. that made me chuckle

[@lukemilligan2051]

"To that I say: GFY" LOL

[@sevenismy]

MR MDR is a game changer when it comes to water resistance. I hate the rails on my fake shaker doors, it is just a dust catcher.

[@mikewarfel7511]

Good tips, thank you