Norm Abrams builds cabinets in Fine Woodworking

[Brent Slone]

Norm authors an article this month's issue of Fine woodworking on kitchen cabinets. I find it interesting that he chooses to build the complete carcass out of 3/4" plywood. He states, and I paraphrase, that cabinet builders use 1/4" plywood backs and stretchers instead of solid tops. But since you are doing it yourself, you can build everything out of 3/4" and have a much stronger cabinet.

My challenge to Norm is, "stronger but is that necessary?" What would be a situation where you need much stronger cabinets than industry standards?

Brent
Alpharetta, GA

[Michael S Murray]

Norm needs to qualify his statements to most box store cabinets and some custom cabinets use 1/4 backs. You wont find any 1/4 in my shop!!Of course you wont find any nailers in my cabinets either....

[Kerry Fullington]

Norm is building for a TV audience, not a real customer in the real world. Think how much a complete kitchen would cost from Norm including the prototype kitchen his staff builds to make sure all the joints look good.

Kerry

[Alan Odell]

I use prefinished 3/4" birch plywood. Find it much easier to lift and move and hold and such when cutting and installing. Don't want to touch melamine any more. Maybe wrong but would much rather substitue the 50 pound piece of plywood for the 95 pound piece of melamine. My 2 cents. I dont use 3/4 for backs and do use stretchers though

[Greg McCorkill]

I dont see the need for a full 3/4 top on base cabs but i do use 1/2 in ply for the backs and a 3/4 web frame on the top