How does everyone one make their cabinet doors what's your set up

smiley99er

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Sep 5, 2015
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I'm switching to a two router table setup one with a groove bit and the other for the tongue bit. I'm wanting to stream line doors they are my down fall at the moment. Just wanted to see what everyone uses.
 

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I have a buddy who has a cabinet shop.  He built a double-sides router table setup for just this purpose.  He can run his rails and styles to completion without a setup change or even a break between ops.  I always thought that was very cleaver given how simple the idea is.

I've built doors a few ways and, currently prefer a different method.  Rails and styles are slotted and then I use either dominos or pocket screws.  Doors/drawers share the same design.  Since I couldn't find a door pic before assembly, here's a drawer.

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The simplicity and universitility of the op is why I like it. 

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The op could easily be done on a router table however I tend to use the tool I'm most comfortable using for an operation.  In this case, it's a CNC knee mill.  Can't really beat the accuracy and repeatability.

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Another thing I like about using the CNC is I can cut any size a lot with a single 1/4-inch up cutting end mill. 

Kinda different than most I would guess.
 
I have a big (I rout a lot of big plastic pieces for store fixtures) self made router table, 49 x 32 with a PC-7518 in a Benchdog lift, and the Incra LS Super system that I built years ago.  I recently bought the CMS MFT VL (bigger table) to use at a different location.  I like it so much that I'm planning to purchase the plain version to mount back to back for doing stile and rail work.  PS, Don't tell but the 2200 works great in that setup.  I do not run the vac off that switch however, actually I seldom run my tools through the vac as most of the time I'm spending a long time between switching functions so I run vac and tools separate.
 
I use shapers. I have one setup for each process.

Another local cabinet maker has 2 router tables setup for the cope & stick. He uses a shaper for the panels. 
 
smiley99er said:
So your buddy has the routers back to back on a cabinet I might need to looking into this

Yeah, it's a slick setup.  Wish I snapped a picture.  Essentially it's two router complete setups back to back.  Use one, walk around to the other side of the table, use the other. 

Haven't seen him in a few years due to some family and then business stuff he went through in a short spell.  If I can find him I'll ask him to take a picture.
 
I am an amateur but have made one complete kitchen and doors for other purposes too.  I have no shaper (or space for one) so I use my router table.  I have two but usually just use one, the one with a lift.  I have used a cope and stick bit you had to rearrange the cutters but it is my least favorite.  I think I like the stacked bits the best followed by the two bit sets.  I use a sled for the end grain and it is almost the perfect thickness so I can mould the edge then cut the end grain without a height change.  Usually I have to give is a fraction of a turn, however (less than 1/16 change).  Going back and forth would be pain but I make all the doors for the cabinet or cabinets I am working on at once.  My shops have never been big enough to make a full kitchen so I make a few cabinets at a time, install them, then make the next few.  When I did the entire kitchen, I had a very understanding wife. 
 
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