How To Make Raised Panel Doors On A Table Saw: #1 Definitive Guide

How To Make Raised Panel Doors
On A Table Saw

Equipment Needed:

• Table Saw with Dado Blade
• Table Saw Push Stick
• Miter Saw or Hand Saw with Miter Gauge
• Wood Glue
• Stain and Paint (Optional)
• 1 1/2″ Pocket Hole Screws

Materials Needed:

• 1/4″ Plywood of MDF Board
• Wood Dowel
• Raised Panel Door Template

Duration: 60 Minutes

Budget: $50-$100 (USD)

Steps:

1. Cut the 1X6 boards to desired lengths. You will need two 22″ panels cut at 45 degree angles, and one 24″ panel cut at a 45 degree angle, and one 12″ panel cut at a 45 degree angle.
2. Using a miter saw, cut the panels in half.
3. Cut the 1X6 boards to desired lengths. We used 3/4″ material on our table saw (for the panels) and 1/4″ material for the frame components (which we will be gluing to the bottom of the panels).
   
   If we were doing this project on a power woodworking saw, we would have used 1/2″ stock for both the frame components and the panels. You may want to also check your local laws regarding your exact height requirements if you are building something that is going to be outside your house.
4. Measure and mark the locations for all your pocket holes.
5. Drill pocket holes into the ends of each board and cut them out with the miter saw. The 1/4″ board only has pockets about 4″ each from each end, while the 3/4″ material will have around 8″. You can also add a 1/4″ piece at each end to give you a little extra room for inserting the 2x4s later.
6. The last step is gluing up the frame components to the panels, which will be done in one of two ways:
   1. Using pocket screws on both sides of one panel
   2. The other method would be using pocket screws on each side of both panels only, and then attaching the frame to the panels using biscuits.
7. If you use a 3/4″ material for your door panels, add a 1/2″ piece at each end to give you a 1/4″ extra room for inserting the 2x4s later. Do these by cutting a 45 degree angle at one end on two pieces and adding them together then attaching them to one of the doors using wood glue and 1 1/2″ pocket screws.
8. Install a door stop on each end of the door frame.
9. Attach all your panels together by inserting biscuits from both sides, through all your pocket holes.
10. Glue up the door frame by first gluing up a biscuit into each pocket hole just as if you were attaching a frame to a panel. Make sure that you have the biscuit exactly centered then continue gluing down all your panels with the biscuits and 1 1/2″ pocket screws in place.
    
    You may have to glue on some additional pieces to fill in gaps. Do not overdo this step! Make sure that you press firmly into each biscuit and do not leave any gaps between them!
11. At this time you may wish to stain or oil your frame and panels before painting. We wanted to stain ours before painting, but after finding out that it would take about 12-15 hours (unboxed and installed) to dry we decided that it would be best to wait until after the paint was dry.
12. Create the raised panel door template by measuring your two 22″ panels along with the 24″ panel using a tape measure and then cutting them out with a jigsaw. The templates are 12″ wide by 4″ tall.
13. Cut out your door frames from the material you will be using for your frame.
14. Once the paint is dry, bevel the edges of each frame piece as shown in the pictures so that when they are installed it will give a nicer look (see picture).
15. Install a 1/2″ piece on top of one panel as well as a 1/4″ piece on top of both panels placed on the door frame.
16. Install doors by first inserting two screws through each opening and into each pocket hole all around (similar to how you would do it on a traditional interior door) then sliding them up to close slightly and install another screw through each opening and into that newly installed pocket hole again (see picture).
17. You can optionally add a raised panel door template on the other side of the door as well (the bottom of the raised panel door does not have any opening, so you will not need to install any additional holes on that side).
18. If using a raised panel door template, cut it out using your miter saw as shown in the picture to help guide you in placing it properly.
19. You now have a traditional raised panel door!
20. You may want to paint or stain your doors at this time before installing hardware and hinges if you chose to do so (we chose not to paint ours but we did stain them with Minwax Wood Stain which took about 3 hours per door).
21. Repeat all these steps on the opposite side of your structure to finish up the doors!
22. Attach a handle with screws through your pocket holes and into each 2×4 piece all around.
23. Add a door knob with screws through the 2×4 pieces into each 2×4 piece around.
24. Spray paint hinges black and install hinges on both sides of each door using 1/2″ wood screws, through the door frame, and into each 2×4 piece around.
25. Install molding onto bottom edge of door using 3/8″ wood screws once you have finished installing hinges.
26. Install raised panel door onto the bottom edge of the door using 1/4″ wood screws once you have finished installing hinges.

The next step is up to you! We wanted to install raised panel door and for some cabinets, but that was completely up to you! If you choose to bring your structure inside, the first step is probably going to be removing all of your swing gates so that they will not change the look of your building.

Congratulations, now you’ve finished making a raised panel cabinet door with a table saw!

How To Make Raised Panel Doors On A Table Saw Video

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