Customer Reviews

Cabinets and Built-Ins: A Practical Guide to Building Professional Quality Cabinetry

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This book on cabinetry was published by Rodale Books in 1994, before that company veered away from practical how-to literature toward its current interest in spirituality and alternative medicine.
It is truly an outstanding example in its field, describing step by step how to build cabinets using just two power tools: a table saw and a router. I'm an occasional cabinet maker, so I go back to it and review critical chapters whenever the time rolls around to build a new project. The text is clear and concise but not over-simplified, the illustrations are helpful. The minimally experienced home carpenter can make very nice cabinets using the information in this book alone.

This book is outstanding. The author takes you through pragmatic advice to making cases, raised panel doors, etc. There are clearly 100's of books out there on the topic. However, the author gives advice like how to deal with the fact that all plywood sheets have some warpage or variations in width. He talks about how to ensure that your cabinets are identical without measuring down to the 1/16 of an inch.

I've recommended this book a number of times, and my friends always come back with thanks.

This author's floating tennon method is wonderful. You can think of it as a super biscuit. Basically he recommends creating 2 motises in adjoining frame members and using an undersize tennon, length, between the two. He supplies a jig plan to accomplish the mortises. (A bisuit template plan for the router is also included.)

He also writes in detail about his method for builiding the cabinet cases. This detail in method is something that a master craftsman would have to show you or you could figure it out for yourself in a few years and many cabinet builds. He also discusses wood types.

The book is dated in its graphics. I would like to see an updated version with more pictures.

The method uses a table saw, plunge router, and a belt sander or orbital sander to accomplish the builds. Nice and simple.

All that I expected in terms of planning,assembly etc. The joinary used is a bit dated when you consider much of it has moved toward staples and Kreg (pocket) joinary.

This is my first and, most likely, my last Amazon review. I am so ridiculously inspired by Cabinets & Built-ins by Paul Levine, and I feel like I owe something to the author, not that this review will every equal the amount of information I learned from his book! Anyways, I have been searching for a great book about cabinet making for years. THIS IS IT. The authors techniques make more sense, logically and efficiently, than any other book I have ever read (and trust me, I own a million of these types of books). The description provided is perfect, with great pictures to help. Everything about this book is top notch. This book is well written, and truly is "a practical guide to building professional quality cabinetry."
Bottom line - This is THE book to read, own, and refer back to for any cabinet maker of any skill level. After reading the book, I am convinced it is worth 10 times what it sells for. It is complete, and very well done. Best cabinet book you will ever find.

This is a first class book that will explain to the beginner everything they need to know to do a proper job of making cabinets and builtins. Also great for the intermediate and advanced cabinet maker, amateur or professional. I do not recommend this book as a anniversary present for your wife. Get her a vacuum instead. I know about these things.