Using Horizontal Raised Panel Bits with Back Cutter

Master the process of building stylish cabinet doors using horizontal raised panel cutters with a back cutter. People love the look of raised panels on cabinet doors, but many woodworkers admit that they are intimidated by the process of building them. Like any technique in woodworking, this one can be mastered by following a set of steps that contribute to the safety of the operation as well as the quality of the final project.

If you want to learn how to make cabinet doors, the first step requires a choice of bit style. Generally speaking, there are three useful raised panel cutters: vertical, horizontal, and horizontal with back cutter. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages, and we will cover each in its own video. Here, George teaches how to effectively use horizontal raised panel cutters with a back cutter. This style of bit is similar to traditional horizontal raised panel cutters, with the addition of one more cutter that is used to cut the back of the panel, and precisely size and position the tongue of the panel.

The key lessons provided here include:

Positioning for height. Because the horizontal raised panel cutters with a back cutter mills both sides of the door panel at the same time, the height must be adjusted perfectly before making a single cut.

Making multiple passes. The approach for making multiple passes is different with these bits compared to traditional horizontal raised panel cutters, in that you are not able to lower or raise the height of the bit once it is set correctly.

Quality Control. There are several steps that need to be followed in sequence in order to maximize the quality of your raised panel doors. By accurately following each step, you will build your doors to be beautiful and long-lasting, and the process will be performed with maximum safety.