Hello. I've gotten some great advice in this group related to my
current project of refacing my kitchen cabinets. I've started
preparing for the job and and I'm at a little impass. I can't make
raised panel inserts for the doors (my router isn't up to the task and
I don't have the bits or the time to glue all the boards). I'm
planning on using oak plywood for the inserts but I'm a little
confused.

I've got some sample pieces of 1/4" oak plywood, finished on one side
but it measures 3/16", not 1/4". If I router out a 1/4" slot in the
rails and stiles, won't that be too much looseness for the panel?

Also, the 1/4" plywood seems awful flimsy. Do you think it's thick
enough for the middle insert?

Are there any other ideas? Is there a little bit thicker panel than
1/4" or do I have to go all the way to 1/2"?

Another question...Would it be a better idea to use 1/2" oak plywood
(Is there such a thing as 3/8") and rabbet out the back of the rails
and stiles instead of cutting a groove? I suspect that I would simply
glue the panel into the back of the door but I doubt the finished look
would be as good as sliding it into a groove, right?

These sound like dumb questions but I'd rather get it figured out now
instead of finding out a week after the project is completed.

Thanks in advance!

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello. I've gotten some great advice in this group related to my
current project of refacing my kitchen cabinets. I've started
preparing for the job and and I'm at a little impass. I can't make
raised panel inserts for the doors (my router isn't up to the task and
I don't have the bits or the time to glue all the boards). I'm
planning on using oak plywood for the inserts but I'm a little
confused.

I've got some sample pieces of 1/4" oak plywood, finished on one side
but it measures 3/16", not 1/4". If I router out a 1/4" slot in the
rails and stiles, won't that be too much looseness for the panel?

Also, the 1/4" plywood seems awful flimsy. Do you think it's thick
enough for the middle insert?

Are there any other ideas? Is there a little bit thicker panel than
1/4" or do I have to go all the way to 1/2"?

Another question...Would it be a better idea to use 1/2" oak plywood
(Is there such a thing as 3/8") and rabbet out the back of the rails
and stiles instead of cutting a groove? I suspect that I would simply
glue the panel into the back of the door but I doubt the finished look
would be as good as sliding it into a groove, right?

These sound like dumb questions but I'd rather get it figured out now
instead of finding out a week after the project is completed.

Thanks in advance!

*Most* 1/4" plywood is actually 7/32". You can get router bits that size.
You can also use a table saw and, with a little testing, run your rails and
stiles (the "frame" of the doors) through once and turn them end for end and
run them thru again to widen the slot to the correct thickness. The so
called 1/4" plywood will work Ok because the strength of the door will be in
the "frame" not the panel.
These doors have the 1/4" (7/32") panels.
http://tinyurl.com/3dvhhj

Max

wrote in message
ups.com...


I've got some sample pieces of 1/4" oak plywood, finished on one side
but it measures 3/16", not 1/4". If I router out a 1/4" slot in the
rails and stiles, won't that be too much looseness for the panel?

Buy a smaller bit, the same width as your panels. Or, cut thin shims and
place them in the slots behind the panels.



Also, the 1/4" plywood seems awful flimsy. Do you think it's thick
enough for the middle insert?

Absolutely, glass is often used and is thinner.




Are there any other ideas? Is there a little bit thicker panel than
1/4" or do I have to go all the way to 1/2"?


You can go 3/8' but it will be slightly thinner, rabbit the edges to fit
the slot.