Well, you got tons of advice, and there's only one thing I'd add, is that
you'd better get the lady of the house involved. My wife is just plain
unhappy with any project that makes a major mess for more than a week. I've
had to clean up my act a lot to get things done around here.

I suggest that you estimate the time start to finish (and if you're like me,
add 25% for over-optimism and unforeseen problems) then ask SWMBO if she can
live with a torn up kitchen for that long. Might as well know which way the
wind blows before you're committed to the project.

I've done two kitchens, and I did get tired of eating out of the microwave
and the electric fry pan, and washing dishes in the bath tub. (I either
bought or had cupboards custom made, and they were still long drawn out
jobs.).

Good luck, and above all, enjoy the process.

Old Guy



"Chuck" wrote in message
ups.com...
We are planning to redo our kitchen in a year or two. We'll be doing
most of it ourselves, including building the cabinets. I have been
building my skills and my tool collection and think I am just about
ready for this task. We have remodeled another kitchen in the past
using ready made cabinets.

I have one big question though. I'm not sure if it's cost effective to
build my own cabinets or to go out and buy some decent quality ready
made ones. As far as tools go I would have to buy a big router to
handle panel raising and either build or buy a "real" router table (I
am now using the Porter Cable entry level "table" with a PC 691).
Then, there is the cost of materials. My wife wants cherry and I know
it's not cheap. The cost of hardware is obscene and all the other wood
for drawers, shelves and carcasses will add up to a small fortune.

I know I will really enjoy the challenge and feel a major sense of
accomplishment but I'm not sure if it's worth it if I can buy ready
mades for half the price. Has anyone here done a serious cost
comparison?

Also, any advice about ways to save money would be appreciated. I am
planning on building face frame cabinets with raised panel doors and
LOTS of drawers. I can get cherry at my local lumber yard but it costs
a fortune (finished on all 4 sides). I have a jointer and planer but
no source for unfinished kiln dried cherry (I live in NY's Hudson
Valley).

Thanks in advance,
Chuck