Frame and Panel advise

[Alan Tolchinsky]

Hi All,

I'm going to make a low entertainment center that will have a HD tv on top. I want to make this using frame and panel for the doors as well as the carcass. Can you give me any advise on bits to use and have you seen a good article on this technique? Any help appreciated here. Thanks. Alan

[Bob Smalser]

The Shaperless Shop.

Use your table saw followed by your block plane to bevel the panels.

Mortise and tenon your frame, then simply clamp it together dry and rout the molding profile you prefer followed by the panel slots using a slotting cutter. You can leave the inside molding at the corners round for a Victorian look or square them off using a chisel.

These heavy cedar french doors were made that way:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594265/216362645.jpg

So were these oak bookcases:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594265/39181107.jpg

[Alan Tolchinsky]

Thank you Bob. That makes a lot of sense and seems like it would result in a very strong frame and panel. The only frame/panel I've done were with a router bit set that produced a coped (?) joint but I don't feel that's adequate for this.

[Bob Smalser]

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594265/216441043.jpg

This is a TV cabinet with a solid tilting top for access. Shown is the rear rail-side joint with the top raised. The Victorian-style frame and panel sides are connected by rails with dovetail joints and the sides don't require much structural strength. So you can simply assemble them using you panel slots as mortises.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/2594265/216441041.jpg

Doors here at the front of the cabinet however, require a much stronger corner joint. The best practice is to cut M/T's or slip tenons like in my previous post, but you can also assemble a door using just the panel slot as the mortise followed by reinforcing the joint from the ends using large dowels. These TV cabinet doors are 30+ years and 3 children old mounted using Blum adjustable hinges and (surprisingly) are still perfect. All assembly was with UF Plastic Resin glue.