For the home builder I would suggest going with face frames. The
flexibility to get all the doors and drawers lined up to the most
exact requirements and also have eveything look perfect when you open
the doors. FF construction is still used in many of the very top
cabinet jobs in the country so you aren't making any sacrifice in
quality, just going a little more traditional.


On Oct 29, 6:14 pm, wrote:
I want to try and make a few cabinets for things in the garage before
attempting to make some for my kitchen but I keep going back and forth
trying to decide between face frames and frameless cabinets.

Are face frames THAT much stronger? Even if you made the frameless
with dowels? And maybe strengthened the corners?

It seems to me that this is probably true, to an extent, but does it
make that much of a difference in the long run??

Does it simply come down to which look you prefer? I see advantages
and disadvantages to both. Frameless seem so much easier to build and
probably cheaper, too. In addition, the door openings are a lot
bigger and the hinges are more forgiving.

But the framed cabinets seem so much stronger and I think I may like
the look of a frame better--but that may be because that is what I am
used to seeing.

I wonder: Is there a way to marry the two styles so that is would look
good? Can one build a carcass like a frameless cabinet but put a
frame on the front? Seems to me that would work but maybe I am all
wet.

Opinions?