My old mentor called face frame cabinets "training wheels" and I think he's dead wrong

Robin Ross · 2026-10-20T04:00:05.486414+00:00

Had coffee with the guy who taught me the trade 20 years ago, and he told me face frames are for people who can't cut a straight box. I've built both, and I've fixed plenty of frameless boxes where a $2,400 cabinet run started sagging after 6 years because someone skimped on the back panel. He grew up in a shop in Grand Rapids where every job was face frame and hand fitted, so I get where he's coming from, but a good frameless job with proper cleats holds up just fine. The look is different, sure, but calling one method "amateur" feels like a guy defending the way he was taught rather than what actually works. Any of you run into this with older guys in the shop, or is it just my area?

🐿️Pinecone Attack

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My old mentor called face frame cabinets "training wheels" and I think he's dead wrong | Cabinetmakers - Pinecone Attack