Do you buy or build your cabinet doors?

[chopnhack]

Buy or build is the question, this pertains to kitchen, laundry and bathroom type cabinets. Is there a point where you decide to buy versus build? Where do you buy your doors from?

[sailor55330]

I've been looking at building some cabinets for a laundry area. The other half wants them to match the base cabinets. I can buy an unfinished oak door that matches for $14-$20 at a local big box. I can't even buy the lumber for that let alone the bits it would take to produce.

That makes it really tough not to buy the door.

[bfrikken]

I've been looking at building some cabinets for a laundry area. The other half wants them to match the base cabinets. I can buy an unfinished oak door that matches for $14-$20 at a local big box. I can't even buy the lumber for that let alone the bits it would take to produce.

That makes it really tough not to buy the door.

I'm even seeing a lot of options pop up on CL that are cheaper than I could build. I suppose if I wanted the experience, I could justify it that way

[cabinetman]

If time doesn't permit, I'll order doors. there are a few local shops that are set up just for doors.

.

[Black wallnut]

I build them. I build them for my projects and the projects I do for others. I enjoy the whole woodworking process short of applying finish. I guess that is what makes it a hobby. I know of a pro cabinet maker that outsources drawers and doors as he can buy them for less than he can build them.

[JimD]

I also build my doors. I don't know about the cost argument. If it is a few doors I suppose you might save money buying the doors. Bits wear out very slowly, however, so at this point I can build several styles with no tool expense. I make flat and raised panel doors with cope and sticking I cut with router bits on the router table. This is fast and easy to do. I've done one entire kitchen, one bathroom, one kitchette, and other cabinets.

Advantages include lower cost (at least after the bits are paid for), greater flexibility in cabinet dimensions, higher quality (more on that in a minute), and greater flexibility on door design. I like to finish raised panels before assembling the door. You do not have that option with purchased doors so you are pretty well guaranteed of seeing an unfinished edge of a panel if you finish enough doors. Purchased doors can be quite well constructed but are either pre-made of a fairly narrow range of dimensions (if somewhat reasonably priced) or you have a long wait and a high price if you want a custom dimension. I also make some glass doors and do it without additional tooling expense.

I think you can justify whatever you want, make or purchase, but I think if you like woodworking and are realistic, the cost argument favors making the doors. If you only dabble in woodworking and are sure you won't make many cabinets, then it is probably cheaper just to buy them.

Jim

[chopnhack]

Thanks guys.

JimD, I am not at that point just yet, I am not tooled up to make them, just wanted to see what other folks were doing. At this point I need to buy them, but don't know where to look. I see some quotes online for a maple door starting at $32, but the time you get the door at what you need its nearly $80 shipped...