Building Cabinet Doors & Drawers (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Here is a virtual encyclopedia of cabinet door and drawer styles and instruction for designing, constructing, and installing them. Slab, MDF, simulated and true raised panel, frame and panel, arched frame and panel, mitered panel, cope and stick, glass, and tambour: all of these types of cabinet doors—and the drawers to match—are illustrated and explained with step-by-step construction notes and measurements. In addition, all of the common methods of joinery, such as dowels, biscuits, splines, miters, dadoes, tongue and groove, and mortise and tenons are explained and illustrated.

About the Author

Danny Proulx is the owner of Rideau Cabinets, a contributing editor for CabinetMaker magazine, and a writer for Popular Woodworking. He is the author of Build Your Own Kitchen Cabinets, The Kitchen Cabinetmaker's Building and Business Manual, and Smart Shelving and Storage Solutions. He lives in Russell, Ontario, Canada.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Linden Publishing (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941936562
• ISBN-13: 978-0941936569
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #153,197 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointing, April 14, 2004

By	McB "KM" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

I eagerly awaited the arrival of this book after reading the 5 star reviews by other readers. I do not know where to begin to express my dissapointment with the book's contents. I guess I am a more advanced woodworker than I previosly thought. I am starting my own business specializing in custom made, solid wood, raised panel doors. Obviously, I already know how to make them (one would hope !). Since this is what the book's title is all about, I figured I could pick up some good tips. Well, this book is obviously for beginners only. With this in mind, I feel bad for any beginner trying to make sense out of some of Mr. Proulx's "formulas". I got to the chapter where he shows a picture of drawing an arc for an arched panel door. I thought, "Hmm, at least I can see if he as an easy formula I can adapt (there are many !) to draw an elipse/arch based on the door width". Nope, he states the radius of the arc once, with no explanation of why, how, where he arrived at this figure. To add insult, in later pages/chapters involving similar cuts to be made, he says "Refer to chapter #, or page so and so where this procedure or formula was explained/illustrated". Aggravating to say the least. Also, all door types made are with a router and router bits (no mention of shapers in here). Nothing wrong with this, but while I have always gotten by making raised panel doors on a table router all these years, I would think that a pro/author of such a book would mention that a shaper is the way to go, especially when rasing a panel !. He also mentions 3 possible thicknesses of panels to be used in conjunction with frame (rail & stile) thickness. He completely omits my favorite: a 3/4 thick panel that is "back-cut" to make the panel flush on front and back side of the door. There's a lot more, but I'll stop here. If you already know how to make a cabinet door and drawer don't waste your money on this book. If you don't already know how, you can pick up some decent general basics. However, if you're a beginning woodworker, don't even try to understand the section on european hinges (drawings and explanations). These belong in a more advanced edition.

57 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must" for turning out professional quality cabinetry., September 7, 2000

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

The fundamental key to successful design and utility for any piece of finely crafted cabinetry are its doors and drawers. They are also the bane of amateur and professional cabinet makers. In Building Cabinet Doors & Drawers, Danny Proulx draws upon his more than thirty years of professional woodworking to provide authoritative, detailed, "how to" information on the construction and installation of a wide variety of doors and drawers including the calculating of drawer size; melamine, inset, and cabinet-grade plywood drawers, slab, frame, flat-panel, multi-panel, stick, tambour, pocket, and glass doors. Profusely illustrated throughout, this highly recommended manual will substantially assist any novice in turning out professional quality cabinetry.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the stuff that really matters. Buy this one first., September 23, 2001

By	Bob Feeser "MillCrafters.com" (Springfield, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Danny Proulx created a book that has all the ingredients that really matter. He covers all the different types of doors and drawers, and the essential techniques required to build them. Combining this book with experience at woodworking basics, and you are on your way to making first class custom cabinets and doors. I like his tips, notes, and safety notes. Gleaning from 30 years of experience, he mentions the common pitfalls in many of the applications.
I had bought some router bits from a gentleman in Canada, who was very helpful. He referred me to someone he knew, who really knew what they were talking about. He referred me to Danny Proulx the author.I coincidentally had bought his book the week before, and was then recommended to him. So I wrote to him about some questions I had. He was kind enough to get back to me with specific answers. I was impressed that a renowned author with many publications to his name, would take the time out to respond to my questions. The nice thing about the author is that he really cares.
This book is a keeper. One to keep at the ready to refer to again and again when developing your next project, or for reviewing the specifics of one. It's an easy read. Engineered to simplicity. All in all I give it 5 stars.