Wall cabinet nailer info?

[Mark Rios]

May I please get some opinions/guidance on the placement and positioning of nailers in upper (wall) cabinets. I can't find any info in the Tolpin book that I have about placement (other than top and bottom of course) and number of nailers.

I am making 42" uppers and I'm wondering if just a top and bottom nailer is enough. Should I add a third in the middle?

Also, many moons ago when hanging cabinets on tracts, the nailers were visible and I have always (:rolleyes: actually very few times) made them that way since. But I've also recently seen nailers behind the backs.

As far as material, I guess that I could edge band the plywood nailer and put a decorative edge on it so that there's not a plywood edge (shaped or not) showing. Or should I use matching hardwood, in this case oak?


What about width? Is there a standard width for nailers? I have used 2 1/2" because it seems wide enough to provide support but not too wide to look too ugly.


Thanks very much for your help.

[Steve Clardy]

I use 2" nailers, attached to the back, top of carcass, before the 1/4 back goes on.
Sometimes I use ply, only when I don't have an excess of solid wood around, or I get way too many ply scraps lying around. I don't worry about the plys showing on the bottom of the nailer too much, unless its high end cabs.
Top nailers are all I use. No middle, lower.
I double screw each stud, thus no need for other nailers.

[Brent Harral]

is just to use 1/2" backs (for just uppers of course)....no strips, very stout, and a little more pretty.

[Matt Tawes]

On smaller wall cabinets I use hanging cleats at the top only made from ply or 3/4" solid stock (anywhere from 2-4" wide) that is screwed from the sides of the cabinet (on end cabinets I skin over the ends which hides fasteners). Really large wall cabinets and corner cabinets I make the back out of 1/2" ply and don't worry about hanging cleats. Double fastening on each stud or through banding behing the wall is plenty strong enough support at the top and just put a couple screws through the back at the bottom to prevent it from lifting away from the wall. I don't mount haing cleats behind the back as I like to have a 1/4" reveal on backs for scribing to wall if needed and the cleat behind the back would get in the way.

[Bart Leetch]

I have taken to using a french cleat system with the cleat on the wall & the other half of the cleat recessed into the back of the cabinet I just lift the cabinet into place & thats it. I can put 1 or 2 screws into each stud.