How to Attach a Cabinet Face Frame to a Cabinet
George VondriskaDescription
One challenge woodworkers face as they learn how to build cabinets is gluing the cabinet face frame to the case. A cabinet face frame is the wood fixed to the front of a cabinet case—sometimes called a carcass, which hides the edges of the case and provides the fixing point for doors and other external hardware. Properly attaching the cabinet face frame to the case is crucial to ensure your cabinets are sturdy and endure the wear and tear of repeated use.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Master Woodworker George Vondriska walks you step by step through the entire cabinet face frame gluing process with simple, easy-to-follow instructions.
In this four-minute video, you’ll learn to properly attach the cabinet face frame, including:
- – How to use brads for preliminary attachment that won’t be visible later
- – The gluing process made easy
- – How to prevent the face frame from sliding on the case during attachment
- – Clamping methods and carcass manipulation for a cleaner finish and stronger fit
- – Tips for cleaning up the glue after attaching the cabinet face frame
From Beginners to Pros
Everything you need to know is included in this video, and George’s detailed walkthrough ensures you’ll understand each step. This project is accessible to cabinetmakers and woodworkers of all levels. Whether you’re attaching your first face frame or you are a woodworking veteran looking for an easier way to complete the process, Woodworkers Guild of America can help you along the way.
I've got this cabinet carcass and it's face frame ready to go put the two together, confirm that everything works, everything fits the face frame is going to go on there just right. So I'm ready to put a bed of glue on here put the face frame on it and then clamp it in place. Now, you may have experienced this little issue which is when the face frames in that bed of glue it slips and slides all over the place. So I want to show you how you can take care of that. And here's the deal. We're going to start on this corner down here with a small brad this is a four penny brad. That's the start of the solution but it's not the end of the solution because that would really be in the way of my face frame. Next step is a pair of side cutters and clip that off. So that it's about a 16th inch above the edge of the plywood. Leaving that little spur right there. I'm going to work my way around do the same thing to all the corners. Now what's cool about this, is that I'll put the glue on and then when the face frame comes to the project it's sitting up on those spurs. So it's not going to be swimming around in that bed of glue. And once I have it correctly located I can just sit it in those spurs. They grab it and it prevents that whole slidey business from happening. So it makes it a whole lot easier to put the face frame on. Ready for glue. And now we're ready for a face frame. I'm going to start on my side and just make sure the frame is where I need it to be relative to the case. And then just start clamping. And then come to the middle and it's quite possible you got to manipulate the carcass just a little bit. You got to pull it in and out in order to align it with the edge of the face frame. And then on this side we're going to manipulate this just a little bit to get all our parts to line up just like that. A overhang got away from me just a little bit here. So I'm gonna move that over. We sure don't want the plywood, projecting past the face frame cause that pretty much can not be fixed. And whoever said you can never have enough clamps was absolutely right. So the trick of using those brads and leaving that tiny little spur proud to engage the back of the face frame really simplifies this, makes it very easy to get the face frame on. Make sure that everything is properly aligned we still got a chance to move it if we need to. Cause the glue is still wet. If it looks okay, we're going to let that sit. Now, those big glue beads that you can see leave those alone, give them 10 or 15 minutes to turn rubbery and then slice them right off of there with a chisel. It's a much easier way to clean them up than trying to wipe them with a damp rug. That takes care of getting the face frame onto the cabinet.
Thanks for the information and the demonstration. Also, finally, someone said not to use a wet rag for glue removal. However, I use an older, heavier bladed putty knife. A little time with a sanding block cleans up the putty knife. Wouldn't want to give my chisels that kind of treatment. Also, the putty knife is less likely to cut into the wood.
I liked everything about this method....except that it was not checked for square... Both frame and carcass could be wracked a bit and still match up. Just saying.............
You can avoid the use of clamps, screws or metal fasteners by using Raptor Nails, brads, or pins. They are sandable, stainable, and sawable. Won't break your tools, bits or sander belts. perfect for temporary hold applications.
Hi George, as usual great information. I wonder if these arrogant woodworkers realize they look so foolish criticizing someone who obviously knows what he is doing and has years of experience? If they have a difference of opinion all they have to do is give an alternative method and keep their arrogance to themselves. Anyway I have a question about doing the same method with melamine. Would gluing a kitchen cabinet's face frame without pocket screws work as well with Melamine as with plywood? Thanks for all your superlative content. Hope you will have some contests Canadians will also be able to participate in soon.
Excellent tip, or actually series of tips, all the way down to scraping the glue drops with a chisel. Thank you!
Thanks George. I hope the comments and questions you get are posted respectfully. I for one appreciate your tips and information. We all know there are many ways to do almost everything in woodworking so we shouldn't criticize when someone shows us their tried and true methods...even if we have questions or concerns. Keep up the good work, I think this is a great tip!
What is a brad nail? Little goofs like this really make me question that if the presenter is really a master.
I'm shocked that a master woodworker would not use a joint of any sort to attach a face frame. Biscuit joint? Half dado? Dowels? Any of those would not only attach the face frame with more strength, but would also help to align the frame to the case. A butt joint? Especially on plywood edges would be especially weak.