Cabinet Making Course

Lesson 1 • History and Industry Overview

Traces cabinet making from hand-craft traditions to modern production methods. Establishes professional context and career pathways within the woodworking industry.

Lesson 2 • Wood Species and Sheet Goods

Introduces hardwoods, softwoods, plywood, MDF, and particleboard properties. Material selection decisions made here underpin all later construction chapters.

Lesson 3 • Shop Safety and Regulations

Covers personal protective equipment, machine guarding, and hazard communication standards. Safe habits established here apply throughout every subsequent chapter.

Lesson 4 • Measurement and Layout Fundamentals

Teaches accurate reading of rules, squares, and marking gauges for precise layout. Precision established here is prerequisite for all cutting and joinery work.

Lesson 1 • Sketching and Drafting Cabinet Layouts

Guides learners through hand-sketching and basic CAD-assisted layout of cabinet elevations. Accurate layouts translate directly into cut lists and material orders.

Lesson 2 • Generating Cut Lists and Material Takeoffs

Converts finished drawings into organised cut lists and material quantity estimates. Accurate takeoffs minimise waste and control project costs.

Lesson 3 • Ergonomics and Accessibility Standards

Applies universal design principles and accessibility guidelines to cabinet height and reach zones. Designs that meet these standards serve a broader range of end users.

Lesson 4 • Interpreting Shop Drawings

Explains orthographic views, section cuts, and detail callouts found in professional cabinet drawings. Accurate drawing interpretation prevents costly construction errors.

Lesson 1 • Rough Lumber Milling Sequence

Establishes the jointer-planer-table saw sequence for producing flat, square, dimensioned stock. Following this sequence prevents twist and bow from carrying into finished parts.

Lesson 2 • Sheet Good Cutting Techniques

Covers panel saw, track saw, and table saw methods for breaking down plywood and MDF safely. Consistent panel dimensions ensure accurate cabinet box assembly.

Lesson 3 • Jointer and Planer Operation

Details machine setup, feed rate, depth of cut, and grain direction for optimal surface quality. Correct technique produces parts that require minimal sanding before finishing.

Lesson 4 • Table Saw Setup and Safe Operation

Covers blade selection, fence alignment, splitter use, and anti-kickback procedures for the table saw. Safe setup habits prevent the most common serious injuries in cabinet shops.

Lesson 1 • Butt Joints and Pocket Screws

Covers the simplest cabinet joints reinforced with glue, nails, and pocket screws for rapid assembly. These methods are the baseline against which stronger joints are compared.

Lesson 2 • Dowel and Biscuit Joinery

Covers doweling jigs and biscuit joiners for aligning and reinforcing edge joints and miters. These methods are widely used in production cabinet shops for speed and consistency.

Lesson 3 • Dovetail and Box Joint Techniques

Introduces hand-cut and router-jig dovetails and box joints for drawer boxes and decorative applications. These joints signal craftsmanship quality and are expected in premium cabinet work.

Lesson 4 • Mortise and Tenon Joinery

Introduces layout, cutting, and fitting of mortise and tenon joints for face frames and door construction. This joint provides superior long-grain glue surface and structural integrity.

Lesson 1 • Toe Kick and Nailer Construction

Builds integrated and separate toe kick bases and top nailers for wall cabinet attachment. These structural elements transfer loads and anchor cabinets securely to walls and floors.

Lesson 2 • Quality Control and Box Inspection

Applies diagonal measurement, winding sticks, and visual checks to verify box accuracy before finishing. Catching errors at this stage prevents costly rework after hardware installation.

Lesson 3 • Shelving Systems and Adjustable Supports

Installs fixed and adjustable shelf systems including pin holes, standards, and dado-supported shelves. Proper shelf support prevents sagging and accommodates varied storage needs.

Lesson 4 • Face-Frame Construction and Attachment

Covers building and attaching solid wood face frames to plywood boxes using pocket screws or biscuits. Face frames define the cabinet's visual style and door/drawer opening sizes.

Lesson 1 • Fitting Doors and Drawers

Planes, sands, and adjusts doors and drawers to achieve consistent reveals and smooth operation. Precise fitting is the mark of professional-quality cabinet work.

Lesson 2 • Door Style Selection and Sizing

Covers overlay, inset, and lipped door styles and how each affects sizing calculations relative to the opening. Correct sizing at this stage prevents fitting problems after finishing.

Lesson 3 • Slab Door Fabrication

Produces flat slab doors from MDF, plywood, and solid wood edge-banded panels. Slab doors are the most common door type in contemporary cabinet production.

Lesson 4 • Drawer Box Construction

Builds solid wood and Baltic birch plywood drawer boxes sized for undermount and side-mount slides. Accurate drawer box dimensions are critical for smooth slide operation.

Lesson 1 • Drawer Slide Installation

Installs undermount, side-mount, and centre-mount drawer slides with correct spacing and alignment. Proper slide installation ensures smooth, level drawer operation over years of use.

Lesson 2 • Leveling and Aligning Cabinet Runs

Levels, plumbs, and aligns adjacent cabinets and scribes fillers to walls for a seamless installation. A properly aligned run is the final proof of accurate planning and skilled installation.

Lesson 3 • Wall Preparation and Cabinet Hanging

Locates studs, establishes level lines, and installs hanging rails for wall cabinet mounting. Correct wall preparation ensures cabinets are plumb, level, and structurally secure.

Lesson 4 • Concealed Hinge Systems

Covers cup hinge boring, clip-on plate installation, and six-way adjustment for overlay and inset doors. Concealed hinges are the industry standard for frameless and face-frame cabinets.

Lesson 1 • Stains and Dyes

Covers oil-based, water-based, and gel stains along with dye application for colour consistency. Colour selection and application technique determine the visual character of the finished cabinet.

Lesson 2 • Surface Preparation for Finishing

Prepares wood surfaces through final sanding, grain raising, and defect repair before any coating is applied. Thorough prep is the single greatest factor in final finish quality.

Lesson 3 • Topcoat Application Methods

Applies lacquer, polyurethane, and conversion varnish topcoats by brush, roller, and spray gun. Each method produces different film quality and requires specific safety precautions.

Lesson 4 • Rubbing Out and Final Inspection

Levels and polishes cured topcoats using wet sanding, rubbing compounds, and paste wax. Final inspection confirms sheen uniformity, adhesion, and freedom from defects.