Picking materials doesn't have to be stressful. At TKH Woodworking, we pride ourselves in ensuring you pick the best products to suit your project needs. Below are some tips and suggestions, but please do not hesitate to have a conversation about what is best for you.
What type of wood
should I use?
Picking out the right type of wood depends on the project. You need to first determine if you want hardwood or softwood.
Hardwood is more durable but more expensive. Some examples include Oak, Hickory, Maple, Birch, Ash, Poplar, and so many more.
Softwood is more economical but may be prone to dings. Cedar and pine are the most common choices.
What do you recommend?
The majority of my cabinet boxes and shelves are made out of birch plywood. This keeps the cost down for the customer and is very sturdy. The face frames are typically made of hardwood. However, you can customize your preference.
Rift-Sawn, Plain-Sawn
or Quarter-Sawn
There are several reasons to pick one type of board over another. Rift-sawn is the most expensive and Plain-sawn is significantly less.
Quarter-sawn and Rift-sawn are less likely to cup and expand making them more durable. Plain-sawn is more economical, but people often prefer the straight-grain provided by rift-sawn or quarter-sawn.
What do you recommend?
From a stability standpoint, quarter-sawn is more stable. The biggest difference between rift-sawn and quarter-sawn is the look. It depends on the wood species too. I'm a fan of quarter-sawn oak.
Face Frame or Frameless?
This is a personal choice based on your style preference. If you pick a frame, you will need to determine how you want the doors and drawer fronts to sit on the face: full overlay, partial overlay, or inset doors.
What do you recommend?
Although less typically used in a kitchen, one of the big benefits of being frameless is that there is no frame getting in the way of the opening. It is also a simpler construction since there are fewer pieces. Although, I prefer inset doors in a frame for aesthetic reasons. You will need to choose whatever fits your style best.
Higher-End Quality
Undermount
Drawer Glides
Side Mount
All drawer glide images are taken from cabinetparts.com.
Additional things to consider are whether you want
soft-close and/or push-to-open.
More Economical
European
Door Styles
Shaker
Shaker
Flat Panel with applied molding
Cove- Rails & Stiles with
Flat Panel
You can build a wonderful masterpiece, but the finish makes all the difference. Which option do you choose?
Shaker
Cove- Rails & Stiles with
Raised Panel
Slab
You finish on your own.
This keeps the cost down and quicker to complete the job.
Paint
Paint will require primer beforehand and will not require polyurethane afterward. I tend to stick toward Sherwin-Williams paint as it provides the best results.
Stain
water-based or oil-based
This will allow you to change the tone of the wood. Keep in mind that you will still need to apply polyurethane afterward. The stain may affect which polyurethane can be applied.
Polyurethane finish
- Water-based offers a clear finish
This is more expensive but not as durable.
- Oil-based leaves an amber glow
