Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: False Cabinet panel design ideas?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Southeastern MA
    Posts
    204

    False Cabinet panel design ideas?

    I’m building some shaker-style cabinets for a home bar. I have an appliance that I’d like to cover, but due to clearance issues, Standard cabinet doors won’t work.


    So I’m thinking of making a panel that looks like two cabinet doors and a single wide drawer above (perhaps two drawers, if that works better?): but I’m unsure how to go about it. I don’t want to make it too heavy, and there isn’t enough clearance behind the panel due to the appliance protruding (so I can’t simply mount a couple of doors and drawer face to a piece of plywood greater than 1/4”.


    I’m wondering if building the frame as a single unit and then routing in a “gap” to simulate different panels would work? Such as the dotted lines shown in my crummy sketch?

    49508048-05B6-43EB-ABD3-383E3C019AE6.jpg


    Or is there a better method I’m missing?


  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Southeastern MA
    Posts
    204
    Sorry for the duplicate photos...

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    santa clarita ca.
    Posts
    155
    your idea of a routed line will work, but i think i would make 4 fronts and glue/join them edge to edge.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Ramona, CA by way of Phliadelphia
    Posts
    270
    That's the way I've done it in the past. All you need is a saw kerf for the shadow.

    "I’m wondering if building the frame as a single unit and then routing in a “gap” to simulate different panels would work? Such as the dotted lines shown in my crummy sketch?"

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    10,301
    I don't get it. If you have a clearance problem with two conventional doors, how would it help to make them one door?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    McKinney, TX
    Posts
    2,060
    Sure that will work. Either rout or saw for the reveal depending on how wide you want it. When I make fronts for a bank of drawers I make it as one unit then crosscut at the center of the rails. This gives a continuous grain on the stiles and matching grain on the rails.
    Steve Jenkins, McKinney, TX. 469 742-9694
    Always use the word "impossible" with extreme caution

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Southeastern MA
    Posts
    204
    Quote Originally Posted by larry senen View Post
    your idea of a routed line will work, but i think i would make 4 fronts and glue/join them edge to edge.
    Its a big panel, and my selection of clamps at the moment isn’t the greatest (working on it!). I considered this: but just figured trying to use one piece of stock would be easier with the tools I have.

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Malakoff View Post
    That's the way I've done it in the past. All you need is a saw kerf for the shadow.

    "I’m wondering if building the frame as a single unit and then routing in a “gap” to simulate different panels would work? Such as the dotted lines shown in my crummy sketch?"
    Ah: I have no idea why I didn’t even consider a saw? How wide and deep do you typically recommend? Does painting the gap black help with the effect any?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jamie Buxton View Post
    I don't get it. If you have a clearance problem with two conventional doors, how would it help to make them one door?
    The appliance faces a narrow entrance to the bar: adding doors on hinges wouldn’t give me the room needed to maneuver the appliance easily.

    If if I make a panel that mimics doors, I can just slide it aside and get to the appliance if needed much easier.

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Jenkins View Post
    Sure that will work. Either rout or saw for the reveal depending on how wide you want it. When I make fronts for a bank of drawers I make it as one unit then crosscut at the center of the rails. This gives a continuous grain on the stiles and matching grain on the rails.
    Ah, that’s a smart idea!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    10,301
    You might consider magnets to hold the panel in place. They unsnap without tools. Look at lee valley for them.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Southeastern MA
    Posts
    204
    Quote Originally Posted by Jamie Buxton View Post
    You might consider magnets to hold the panel in place. They unsnap without tools. Look at lee valley for them.
    Thats what I was hoping to use... if I can find a set that will fit the application!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,638
    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Malakoff View Post
    That's the way I've done it in the past. All you need is a saw kerf for the shadow.
    That's how I handled the "doors" and "drawers" on the back side of some cabinets in our kitchen that are exposed to the eating area. The reveals are essentially saw kerfs on the edges of the "doors" and "drawers" which were built to fully fill the space so no light would leak through. The kerfs are about half the thickness. The only clue that they don't open is that there are no visible hinges on that side. (my cabinetry uses butt-style hinges and it's all face frame with full inset)
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Modesto, CA, USA
    Posts
    9,811
    You can hang the panel on some small screws or nails. May need magnets anyway to stop it rattling when the appliance is on.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Ramona, CA by way of Phliadelphia
    Posts
    270
    Andrew,

    No more than an eighth of an inch wide and a quarter to three eighths deep, as for painting I have used a sharpie and/or a carpenters pencil in a pinch.

    "Ah: I have no idea why I didn’t even consider a saw? How wide and deep do you typically recommend? Does painting the gap black help with the effect any?"

    Rick

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •