What is the best way to make "window" styled cabinet doors?

Question

mission in appearance, i am basically planning on taking a piece of sheet 3/4 in width and cutting the "panes" out of it as i dont have the experience to do anything else that i know of.
i will then, instead of glass be putting sheets of wood inside it.
this im thinking will give the panel look without the tools and experience needed for that.
Am i correct in my thinking? - and what is the best way to cut those out.
i have a table saw, router, jigsaw and creativity.
any thoughts or advice would be greatly appriciated and are HIGHLY NEEDED.
thank you very much

Answer 1

Go to your local home improvement center and look at the cabinet doors. What you could do, is get molding and build it onto the doors. Easier than all that cutting, after all it's only for decoration right?

Answer 2

you need to make absolutely sure that all your doors are square, so i suggest making a jig first since you have multiple items that are the same. this will save time and ensure all doors are exactly the same. then your joints have to be strong so the doors dont sag later. you might want to do research on the internet but a mortise and tennon joint is the strongest and you already have the router so all you need to buy is a M&T jig. you can get that at sears, lowes, home depot. it will cost about $50.00. you only want the total thickness of the doors to be 3/4''. i suggest making the stiles and rails with M&T joints, then using your table saw run the EDGE of the inside of the panels. then you can rout the inside with any profile you want. or you can but small molding and cope the corners to fit. then buy a sheet of 1/4'' finish grade plywood the same wood type as your stiles and rails unless you plan on painting, then it dont matter. the 1/4'' sheet should be cut to fin in the saw kerf you made on the edge of the stiles and rails. dry fit everything to ensure a good fit. then take apart and add glue to all joints and put back together and clamp it all. make sure it is all square. if it sounds like alot then go to websites like DIY.com and other sites will give you pics.

Answer 3

Youve almost got enough to make standard door frames from scratch.... you didnt mention owning a 'stile and rail' router bit set. If youve got those, then you can buy stock lumber and make the doors from scratch. If not, then you might consider making a mitered frame.

You might consider buying the doors ready to finish, or at least the door frame.... you can check with your local building supply, or.. check out this link - http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?Offerings_ID=5986&TabSelect=Details

The problem you're going to run into with sheet stock, is the edging... you didnt state if you plan on using plywood, or MDF...if plywood... then you could have a problem with voids in the layers, let alone the look of the layers themselves. And if you havent priced quality plywood lately, you may decide it's cheaper to buy lumber, and make stiles and rails. (Rockler also has a number of router bit sets for this type of project).

If you really want to use sheet stock, then there are a couple of ways to approach this...the router, or the saws. You'll cut the outside dimensions of the doors on the tablesaw...but then youve got some choices on what kind of profile or edge you'd like to put on them. To remove the sheet stock from the 'interior' of the door, you can use any of those tools you mention... (tho, the jigsaw would be my last choice). The router and a straight edge would probably be the easiest method, just use a plunge bit (straight edge) to remove the sheet stock to the face panel dimensions you want... then you'll want to flip the door over and put a rabbet around that edge to seat the panel in.

Personally, I would make a solid panel door, if sheet stock was all I had available. Simply cut it to size, shape the edge with the router, and attach the hinges.

It is REALLY easy to make your own 'framed' doors tho, with a few simple additions to your tool inventory. The first thing I would do, is make a small router table. (There are many on the market of course, and once again... Rockler has some good choices there...take the time to browse their site, you can get a lot of good ideas). Mitered frames are very easy to make, if you dont have a stile and rail bit set for the router...you simply edge your frame stock any way you like, then miter the corners, and secure them as you wish (biscuit joints, dowels, dominoes, etc).

The 'panels' whether raised or flat, can be secured with small 'quarter round' trim on the backside, glazing tabs (often used to secure glass panes), or even staples shot sideways into the frame (leaving the crown out a bit to act as a clip).

Again... take the time to browse the Rockler website...visiting http://woodworkersjournal.com/ can be a source of good ideas too.

Have Fun

Answer 4

If you want a 'window` or paneled look, and can't
do it properly, the closest you'll get would be to
use a thinner plywood, say 1/4" or so, and add
molding strips and laths to form the thicker sections.
It's cheating but if you're careful with your joints,
it won't look too bad.
It's almost as much work as doing it properly, but
a bit easier for the amateur.