Bob Lang's The Complete Kitchen Cabinetmaker, Revised Edition: Shop Drawings and Professional Methods for Designing and Constructing Every Kind of Kitchen and Built-In Cabinet (Fox Chapel Publishing)

As an overwhelmed novice looking to build a whole kitchen, I found this guide to be clear, comprehensive, and firmly rooted in the everyday problems you have to solve in the shop when putting cabinets together. It's not a bad idea to look at other books/videos to give you broad-strokes ideas about the principles to get you started. But when it comes to the step-by-step, nitty gritty of actually building and installing cabs, this is the book to reach for. Who knew most sheets of even the highest-grade plywood don't ship with 90 degree corners? Or how to position a drawer front perfectly on to a drawer with the use of screw-tip? If you need one book to get you through the process, this is it.

I have both this book, and the "Kitchen Cabinets Made Simple" book. Studied them both. My take is, if you are patient, and really want to learn about building and installing cabinets, this is the book for you. If you are not patient, and think, "just tell me how to build a damn cabinet" maybe the "made simple" book might be more your speed. This book is about twice the content by page count alone, and the "information density" how much is conveyed with fewer pages/words increases this even more. the "made simple" book is a quicker, easier read, and you can be out building some (likely suitable) cabinets quickly. However, this book teaches you the ins/outs of all the choices you might make (perhaps frustrating the impatient reader) which I liked. I also note some differences in approach. Mr Lang makes some design choices that may make for a better result down the road. His method for constructing the back of the cabinet and "nailer" can more readily accomodate imperfections in the wall during installation time (installation isn't really covered in the "simple" book). Also, the "simple" book technique leverages the factory edges of the plywood, assuming that these are straight and square. Lang explains that you can't rely on factory edges being square, and shows you how to: a) determine if they are out of square, and if so, b) how to mitigate this. Lang goes into great detail about making a storyboard, making lists, using spreadsheets, cut-lists, installation, really giving you insight into the thinking of a pro cabinet maker. I've read the entire book, and now reading again, and now the first chapters make more sense, having the perspective of all the info in the later chapters in my head now. You might at first get frustrated that Lang is a bit like a newscaster, reporting all the options, and giving you the ins/outs of each option, but never really saying "I like this one best" (but the pro/con lists he does gives you a good clue), but as you get through it, you will discover they way he "often does it" or "likes to do it" for certain things. If you understand, follow, and execute the advice in this book, you should be able to build a fine set of cabinets, and understand and explain your choices to others and yourself. I did get good info from the "simple" book, but as a more patient guy who wants more info on "why" I'm doing something, and don't mind reading twice as much info to get there...I like Lang's book better. If I wanted a more simple, step A, B, C approach to building cabinets, I might prefer the Paolini book ( I just ain't that guy).

This book is perfect for those who want to learn how to build quick and easy cabinets for living.. but, at least in my case, it’s disappointment to find out that the cabinets I usually build for my customers, are way better designed and constructed.. when a book relies on pocket holes and biscuit joints, or even worse, butt joints held by brads, nails or staples!!, This is for me is the definition of cheap product.. This book is a good guide to reproduce what is in the markets right now. Type of cabinets that you find in your house or when you visit Home Depot or Lowe’s.. but it’s not the right source for building high end cabinets, the kind that satisfy a furniture builders like myself.. Over all.. it’s a good book worth to have space in your books collection..

I really like this book. I have two other books on kitchen cabinets, and while both of those books provide good information (I have no regrets buying them), I like this one the best. The author does a very, very good job of explaining the building process and devotes a lot of time to the organization process. He tells you why it should be done, why it's important, and what can happen if you don't do it. The other books by Udo Schmidt and Randy Johnson don't really delve too much into this. What the other books lack is real information on European or frameless style cabinets. This book has far more information on that subject, which is of particular interest to me. Yes, this book is a bit dated in some aspects (like using biscuit joinery instead of pocket screws or Dominos) but the illustrations are well done. I wish the photographs were color, but this is a small thing and doesn't really impact the book. I really suggest this book for anyone wanting to build cabinets but honestly would say that it would be good to get the ones from the authors mentioned above as well (Building Kitchen Cabinets -Schmidt and How To Make Kitchen Cabinets -Johnson). One can never have too much information and each book is a valuable resource.

Excellent if you're not sure how measure and put together cabinet boxes. Very technical covers frame and frameless cabinets.

Damaged

This is a must-have reference for beginner & intermediate woodworkers; perhaps even for advanced/ pros. Well written, easy to understand and well-illustrated. I consider myself an intermediate DIYer. This book provides all of the tips I needed. I bought the spiral version so I can take it into the shop and lay it flat on my work bench while putting its knowledge into practice. Highly recommend.

I am glad I bought this book. I was making a cabinet from the ground floor up, and it was very helpful. I would recommend it!

Good book very informative, have not had chance to put to practice as wood is very expensive were I live unfortunately.

Buen libro

Libro molto interessante sulla costruzione di cucine. Rappresenta le differenze nella costruzione in Europa e negli USA. Non è modernissimo, ma molti concetti sono sempre validi. Per la cifra lo ritengo valido anche solo a livello culturale, ma ha anche validi spunti nella progettazione e realizzazione. Mi sarebbe piaciuto avesse più fotografie, ma con l'evoluzione continua sarebbero fuori moda!

I like the design ideas and the cabinet building techniques were very clearly described

Excelente Libro!!