Kitchen Cabinets Doors

Few issues back, I read your article in Fine Woodworking magazine on how to build better doors using mortise and tenon instead of the regular 7/16 joint made using matched stile and rail set.

I would like to say thank you very much for that article and ever since then, I have been using your described approach to build doors. However, the process is time consuming since you have to do each step, profile, 1/4 slot, cutting 45 degree where the stile meets rail etc..

My question to you is whether or not there is a match stile and rail set that produces long or deep tenons, like 1-1/4" long tenon. Is there an alternative or much quicker approach to achieving 1-1/4" deep mortise and tenon.

Please review and let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you

-Ali
Yorkville, IL

Our Expert

The molding profile around the inside edges of stiles and rails is referred to as "sticking". Where the intersects in the corners it must be mitered or coped. Both methods have their advantages.

One advantage to mitering the sticking is that you can choose most any profile, even those, such as Amana Tool no.54162, that are impossible to cope. However, mitering each corner and removing the excess sticking at the mortise is time-consuming, especially when you're constructing a kitchen full of doors.

A much more efficient method is to cope the sticking. Amana has a Cabinet Door Bit Set, nos.47515 and 54175, which are part of the Stub Spindle & Cope Cutter Door System. The first bit shapes an ogee sticking profile and the matching cope bit, no.47515, cuts the cope on the tenon shoulder. With this unique system you can make the tenon any length that you want.

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