Computer desk – Prepping Cabinet Door

Now that the cabinet frames have been dry assembled, I can prepare the door for one cabinet and the drawers for the other.

I am able to get accurate measurements from the assembled frame. Making some allowance for waste I have cut and started to work the rough wood as shown in next series of shots, to make the rails, stiles and panel for the door.

Prep of rough wood for Door

First step is to prepare the rough pieces (using rough dimensions) for jointing and lamination. As a general rule the pieces to be laminated should have a ratio of 4 to 1, width to thickness, to minimize warping if you are making a panel.

Using 6 / 4 rough for the door rails and styles, and 4 / 4 for the door panel pieces, I have cut them to rough length, and because I am making a temporary panel (prior to cutting rails & stiles to final width) I have bisected the rough 8” & 6” widths using the band saw.

Note: I have found, even with kiln-dried wood, that some of my panels have warped over night. I could probably get by not bisecting the 6 / 4 pieces, but I want to be sure I do not have trouble later. Also, I usually try to wait at least a day, before I plane such pieces to final thickness, in case they do warp a bit.

Bisecting on the band saw …