Customer Reviews

Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a professional woodworker, I highly recommend any of Jim Tolpin's books. His writing is routinely well organized, clear, and concise. Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets is no expception. Jim takes the reader through design, materials, construction, and installation with the style of a seasoned veteran. It is obvious that he has learned many valuable lessons over the years as a successful cabinet maker. Anyone, even the most experienced woodworker, will benefit from his thoughtful, award winning techniques. If you have basic cabinetry skills, this book will show you how to build and install traditional kitchen cabnets more quickly, to a higher standard, and with fewer mistakes. Do not miss this opportunity to add a truly valuable writing to your bookshelf.

The illustrations and detailed explanations were extremely helpful. It was also helpful that the author explored techniques that could be used to get the same results even though they weren't necessarily the techniques he used. By "offering several different ways to get to the same results" it allowed me to use the tools and materials I was most comfortable with. A definite read for anyone interested in building there own beatiful kitchen cabinets.

Excellent job! I've highlighted and dog-eared this one. It stays with me (literally) every minute of the day. Jim Tolpin is very conversational (if you read my reviews you'll find this an ever-present requirement). "Building Traditional Kitchen Cabinets," holds the coveted position next to Danny Proulx's "Build Your Own Kitchen Cabinets." Danny still pushes MDF as a useful product for cabinetry--the only thing I totally disagree with. Jim Tolpin gives it some mention, but not an endorsement. If cabinets are in your future, I recommend both books without reservation. Just disregard, completely, any and all reference to MDF--...

After reading and reviewing many different books looking for details in constructing traditional kitchen and other related cabinets, I found this book to be my "bible". The descriptions and building techniques of Mr. Toplin are simple, straight forward and practical. He gives several approaches to solve similar and varied applications.

This book has solved many problems and answered almost all my questions in the production of all the cabinets for my home.

This new copy will go to a friend who needs the same questions answered as I did when I started into this very satisfying process of beautifying and making my home more functional.

I would say this book has a lot to offer to the novice as well as advanced woodworkers.

I own several books on cabinet construction. This one is my favorite. It provides step-by-step examples of how to layout, design, build, finish, and install traditional face-frame cabinetry. The graphics are certainly not flashy, most appear to be hand etched, but I find them to be useful.

The book includes techniques and jigs that are great for cabinet construction. I've built several of the jigs that are shown, including the jig for using a biscuit joiner to join the face frame edges, and the cross-cut sled.

You won't find everything in this book, but I've been able to accomplish a lot with this book and Taunton's Trim Carpentry and Built-Ins.

Lists the tools and the measurement techniques on how to make simple traditional cabinets that look great. It is best used with Building Kitchen Cabinets by Udo Schmidt. They cover slightly different techniques using different tools. Between the two books, I was able to mix and match techniques to fit my set of tools. If you had to get only one book, this is the better book of the two.

In the beginning of the book, the author quotes someone saying that you should do what you love, but only write what you know about. He thanks them for that, and I thank the author for doing it. The information in this book, is written in such a way, as to prove to me, the undeniable in depth experience, the author has in the trade. He covers all the bases. True no one book can give you it all. For example, I noticed when I installed a Dishwasher, into my existing kitchen, that it snugged in perfectly, both under the counter, and between the sections. Had it been one eighth of an inch smaller, it wouldn't have gone in. From that I realized that their must be standard dimensions in the industry. The author does not cover those dimensions. What he does do is cover everything else, that most others miss. The real information and what you need to know, in order to avoid costly mistakes. What finishes to use, and when. Prepping properly. How to build your cabinetry, and mark out your layout using a story stick. Drawing a floor plan to scale. He is not afraid to share with you the basics. It really is a step by step guide. I like the guy. His writing style is a natural flow of ideas. Not clamored with egotistical sensationalism. Reminds me of good old down home American craftsmanship. Like he was part of the Shakely shop. Although not caught up in old world techniques to a fault. (He prefers random orbit round sanders to the square finish sanders) After all the Shakelies used power tools as well driven by water wheels outside, and long leather belts and pulleys.
You can build any style kitchen cabinetry from the information provided. The author talks about the Early American style periods, including Shaker, Arts and Crafts, as well as Colonial. I get a feeling of the Old World Americana in the book, and yet the practicality of modern methods, tools, and techniques. He doesn't like fast drying catalyzed, toxic urethanes. He does cover many different types of finishes, and their usability. Has a chart with them all on their including the urethanes.
I guess I'm rambling. What I really want to say, is that I am starting out on my quest for building the ultimate kitchen-cabinets. I spend a lot of time learning, then I begin.I have some cured Hickory that I had sawn from a sawyer. I has a beautiful light brown center. I am sure that 90 percent of what I need to know, will be gleaned from this book. No one book ever has it all, but I just feel good reading this one. It is helpful, informative, and I can't help but feel the contagious love for the beauty of a well built kitchen, that is shared by the author. I highly recommend this book. For the price, it is page for page, thought for thought, a super buy.

This is a pretty good book, showing lots of good techniques and a few ideas. The only thing I found a little disapointing was no help with standard sizes and dimensions for common cabinets. It is very focused on proven techniqes, including finishing. I bought this book to help me build cabinets for a new home and even though there were no project plans, it was still very helpful.

Definitely the best money I have spent on a cabinet book. Tolpin really provides a LOT of valuable information that can be used for DECADES to come.

From what I gather through my readings, Tolpin is a traditionalist / purist at heart, but, he understands the necessity to produce time and resource efficient designs. He provides instruction on both sides of the spectrum: Fast and Effective as well as traditional and effective (a little something for both). In this way, he is able to speak to the enthusiast that is interested in making a traditional set of cabinets, and the professional that is interested in producing a quality set of cabinets more quickly.

I also gather that he really enjoys teaching others his thoughts, shortcuts, time saving jigs that you can really use and appreciate (especially if you have been busting head trying to do it another way). This fact is what really wants me to buy more of his books. His service to carpentry in general is extraordinary; he is a true teacher of carpentry and advises young carpenters in almost every page of this book.

I especially enjoyed making and using most of the jigs he describes. In one chapter he outlines more than 5 jigs. Having built them (extremely easy to make), I have already put them to use in more than one woodworking session and will continue to do so in the future because they are so useful.

If you're interested in cabinet making, buy this book. If you're tight on money, buy a used copy. The point is to buy this book and read this book. If you don't like to read, buy this book because the illustrations can explain a lot too. Building one cabinet will pay for the book.

I found this book very helpful, but still had some unanswered questions such as face frame width in certain areas. It could use more detailed graphics in some areas also.

Overall though, the ratings are well deserved, I don't feel the need to buy another book on this subject.