Asked on Jun 08, 2013

DIY cupboard doors

Jmhaskell
by Jmhaskell
I purchased 2 shaker style cupboard doors from the ReStore for a project. The project turned out so well that I now have several orders for them. The ReStore doesn't always carry them and I don't want to buy new. Can anyone help me with making them cheap. I found a video that showed how to, but it required more equipment than I have... The picture shows what I am trying to make and it measures 27 X 12.
Thank you for any suggestions.
This is the door I would like to make. It has been painted.
  14 answers
  • Z Z on Jun 09, 2013
    Hello fellow Nebraskan! What type of cutting tools do you have? If you have a table saw, they are somewhat easy to do depending on you skill level. I won't go into detail until I know you have one because I'm just checking in before heading to bed.
  • Jmhaskell Jmhaskell on Jun 09, 2013
    Hi Becky from Blair, NE - no I don't have a table saw. But might be able to use my dad's. I think my mom still has it in her garage. We have a router, chop saw, miter saw, those type of things. Thank you! Looking forward to your ideas.
  • Tradition Wood Works Tradition Wood Works on Jun 09, 2013
    You would at least need a table saw, not a small table top model. You could do it with a router, mounted to a table with a fence, but depending on the wood and amount of doors and the size of the router it might be to much for it to handle.
  • Debra Debra on Jun 09, 2013
    Check ana-white.com, there's probably a set of plans to build this exact style. Take the plans to a lumber store or a building supply store and find out how much they would charge to make the cuts if you buy their lumber. Sometimes they charge per cut, sometimes they don't charge at all. Then take it home and make some money!!
  • Betsy Betsy on Jun 09, 2013
    What are you using the doors for? When you get things done at the lumber store it ends up not being profitable for resale. I would just get as many doors as you could and keep checking back as our Restore is always changing their stock.
  • James Austin James Austin on Jun 09, 2013
    It's a frame and panel door.. Without tools you cannot do it the conventional way..have the lumberyard cut panels 27 x 12 out of 1/4 inch thick birch plywood. HomeDepot will do this for free with reasonable lead time.. For the framing use 1-1/2 or 2 inch wide poplar strips 1/4 inch thick, cut to proper length, and glued to the plywood panels.. look at your original to determine layout..this may not be cheap, but will be quick and easy..
  • James Austin James Austin on Jun 09, 2013
    You could even make your strips from the 1/4tk plywood as well especialy if you are going to paint it.. if only one side will show , you only need strips on that side..
  • Z Z on Jun 09, 2013
    Oh I do hope your Mom still has your Dad's table saw @. They are so versatile.Though you can use a router (we have three of them) to make this type of door I think it's easier with a table saw. I found a video of how I do them so I don't have to try and describe how to do so. No worries about whether you understand what I'm saying either. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3C1kNHLd0c Once you get the styles and the rails cut, assemble the bottom rail and the two side stiles, slide in the panel and then attach the top rail. It's that simple!
  • Jmhaskell Jmhaskell on Jun 09, 2013
    Thank you everyone for your help. This site is awesome! Becky the video was great! It doesn't look to hard.
  • Z Z on Jun 09, 2013
    No it's not Jeanie. I figured it out on my own on a project I wanted to do and didn't want to change the routers that my hubby had set up for the window trim he was working on at the time.
  • Miley Schaeffer Miley Schaeffer on Jun 10, 2013
    A friend of mine made pseudo shaker styled cabinet doors by gluing yard stick pieces to flat doors and paint stick stirrers to the drawers, then painted...looked genuine and awsome!
  • Pamela Bendall Pamela Bendall on Jun 13, 2013
    Miley, great idea, and afford. Think I will pick up some today and try it.
  • Z Z on Jun 20, 2013
    @Miley that is another possibility, a friend of mine did something similar only using purchases lattice, to her Mom's kitchen and turned out wonderful.
  • Miley Schaeffer Miley Schaeffer on Jun 21, 2013
    It looks great and what a clever idea!