The
Illustrated Guide to Cabinet Doors & Drawers
Design,
Detail and Construction
by David Getts
Softcover
215 x 280mm
185pp
Published by Linden Publishing, Fresno, CA, USA
R.R.P.$29.90
ISBN 0-941936-83-X
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 122
The Illustrated Guide to Cabinet Doors and Drawers by David Getts is an extensive guide to the design and construction of timber, glazed and metal doors and drawers. While the information provided relates to any door or drawer application, much of it is particularly applicable to kitchen cabinetry.
After a brief discussion of face framed vs frameless cabinets, safety issues and basic design principles, the book looks at the options for construction — frame-and-panel, slab, composite and specialty. The doors and drawers can be made from solid timber, MDF, plastic or metal, with infills of plywood, cane or glass. The frames for the drawer carcasses can be plywood, solid timber, coated steel or stainless steel.
The chapter on hardware explains the different types of hinges including concealed and self-closing, as well as drawer runners, catches, locks, bumpers and handles.
Providing plenty of ideas for your next project, the following chapter contains over 160 colour photographs of different door/drawer styles. This marks the end of the ‘design’ portion of the book. The remaining chapters are devoted to construction.
The fabrication techniques cover glues, clamping methods, selection and preparation of joints, banding, veneering, assembly, finishing and installation of hardware. Both machine and hand methods are used to prepare the work, with an emphasis on equipment that may be found in a small cabinetmaking shop, rather than in larger commercial enterprises.
The Illustrated Guide to Cabinet Doors and Drawers is a comprehensive overview of door and drawer design and construction, heavily illustrated with colour photographs. It is a good introduction to the subject and for the advanced woodworker, it provides plenty of ideas for new door and/or drawer designs.
About the Author: David Getts is a professional cabinetmaker in Washington state, USA.
Photos: Colour
Units of Measurement: Imperial
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter
1: Introduction to Doors and Drawers
Cabinet Construction Evolution
Door
Applications
Chapter
2: Safety
Shop Safety
Field or Installation Safety
Client Safety
Chapter
3: Door Design and History
Designing a Cabinet
Material Selection
Door
Styles
Cabinet Construction
The Nine Variables
Chapter
4: Types of Construction for Doors and Drawers
Frame and Panel
Glass
Slab
Doors
Specialty Doors
Drawer Box Construction
Drawer Material Options
Chapter
5: Hardware
Hinges
Drawer Slides
Specialty Hardware
Locks
Door-Mounted
Convenience Hardware
Decorative Hardware
Chapter
6: Door Gallery
Frame-and-Panel Doors
Glass Door Frames with Mullions
Frame-and-Panel
Doors with Curved Rails
Square Frame-and-Panel Doors
Frame-and-Panel Doors
and Drawers
Applied Moulding Door and Drawer Styles
Mitered Door Frames
Multi-Piece
Doors
Mullion and Glass Doors
Plastic Laminate and RTF Doors
Composite
and Specialty Doors
Metal Doors
Solid Wood Doors
Various Door Styles
Various
Door and Drawer Styles
Chapter
7: Small-Shop Door Fabrication
Glue Types
Clamping Methods
Frame-and-Panel
Solid
Wood
Composite
Miscellaneous Doors
Chapter
8: Small-Shop Drawer Fabrication
Construction Basics
Edge Banding
Materials
Face
Attachment
Corner Joints
Drawer Bottoms
Commercial Hardware
Specialty
Drawer Faces
Metal Drawers
Chapter
9: Commercial Shop Tour
Chapter
10: Finishing
Wood Preparation
Finishes
Sealers/Fillers
Stains
Clear
Finishes
Opaque Finishes
Wood Care and Maintenance
Chapter
11: Installation
Installing Door Hardware
Installing Drawer Hardware
Other
Drawer Hardware
Specialty Hardware
Decorative Hardware
Sources
of Supply (USA)
Index