Why do any basecabs with doors?

Gene Davis · Post by **Gene Davis** » Thu, Nov 01 2007, 10:30AM

This was a topic over at WoodWeb's cabinetmaking forum, and I thought I would ask here.

Other than where you need them, why do any basecabs with hinged doors? Why not do drawerstacks everywhere?

I am not talking about budget-conscious jobs where a pair of doors has one or two adjustable shelves behind, but one where a lot of the basecabs will have rollout drawers inside.

For plain old user convenience, isn't it better to simply grab a handle and pull a drawer, one motion needed, rather than to open doors and THEN grab the drawer?

Doesn't it relieve the cab maker of the tedium of doing spacers to boost the drawersides in enough to clear hinges?

The tradeoffs in costs come out to about a zero sum. A drawerstack will have taller drawerboxes (likely), and more pulls or handles, but will have no need for drawerside spacers, or for any hinges, when compared to a cab with pullouts.

Forrest Chapman · Post by **Forrest Chapman** » Thu, Nov 01 2007, 11:37AM

Gene,

The only reason to not do \"all drawer stacks\" is aesthetics. It looks better to have a balance of doors and drawers.

Forrest

Rick Palechuk · Post by **Rick Palechuk** » Thu, Nov 01 2007, 2:13PM

We do all drawers where we can. Even doors mounted to drawers (garbage pullouts etc.)

Glenn Van Reason · Post by **Glenn Van Reason** » Thu, Nov 01 2007, 3:30PM

Over here in Oz there's a big move towards all drawers in lower cabs, corner drawers, soft close tandemboxes are all we seem to build here. We also do the full height door/drawer bin and laundry hapmper style as well.

Steve Dyches · Post by **Steve Dyches** » Thu, Nov 01 2007, 5:08PM

We do a lot of jobs with all drawers (except sinkbase) in the base cabinets for the very reasons you stated.

steve

Terry Hall · Post by **Terry Hall** » Fri, Nov 02 2007, 6:56AM

Yep, been doing more and more drawer stacks every year and like Forrest said, the only reason not to is aesthetics. Some folks just prefer the look of doors.

Chris Robinson · Post by **Chris Robinson** » Fri, Nov 02 2007, 8:45AM

On our higher end jobs, I like to design using drawer stacks except for the sink base. I try to design using 5 pc drawerfronts. I think it produces greater efficiency for storage and with the 5pc drawerfronts, it's very attractive.

Chris

Tom Panks · Post by **Tom Panks** » Sat, Nov 03 2007, 7:04PM

I guess I am the one that intiated this question on Woodweb. I did just what many advised me to go ahead and do. I designed the kitchen with drawers in all the base cab's but one. Kitchen is in a G shape.. Customer...she looked it over carefully and was very pleased with it. So I guess I made a friend, again, and thanks to the guys at Woodweb that encouraged me.

Thermwood / eCabinet Systems

Why do any basecabs with doors?

Why do any basecabs with doors?

Doors versus Drawers