Frequently Asked Questions
Face Frame Cabinetry - KCD
General Questions on Face Frame Cabinetry
Cabinotch is a ready-to-assemble face frame cabinet box system designed to save cabinet shop owners time and money. Spend your time and labor on the lucrative parts of your kitchen project like custom finishes, decorative accessories, and custom designs. Buy the custom-sized cabinet chassis from us then add the doors and finish (paint or stain) yourself. Our precision-cut parts make a strong and true box that goes together in minutes!
Yes we do. Read our Cabinotch Reference Guide pdf document for an overview of our Face Frame offering, as well as Cabinet Box Specifications
Cabinotch includes the Scribe in the stile width.
For example, a 30" cabinet with a 3" stile (2 1/4" Outside scribe) will finish at 30".
Below you will see the options currently offered here at Cabinotch.
1 ½” Stiles with Various Scribe and Side Panel Options
Click on images to expand
2 1/4” Stiles (locked 1” Outside Scribe) with Both Side Panel Options
2 1/4" Flush Stiles are now Available
Click on images to expand
3” Stiles (locked 2.25” Scribe) with Both Side Panel Options
3" Flush Stiles are Now Available
Click on images to expand
5 ½” Stiles (locked 3.75” scribe) with Both Side Panel Options
5 1/2" Flush Stiles are now available
Click on images to expand
Our shelf pin holes are bored for 5mm shelf pins on 32mm centers.
In KCD, if a shelf is drawn inside an opening, that opening will have “Full Lineboring”. You do however have both the options to “Linebore without Shelves” or, “Half-Depth Shelves” which will affect where holes are located.
Yes, our boxes are built using 1/2" PureBond plywood.
All Shelves are 3/4" PureBond Plywood.
Base Cabinets
Cabinet height is calculated from the bottom of the toe to the top of the face frame. Cabinet depth is calculated from the front of the face frame to the back of the side panel.
- 1.5" All rails and stiles
- 5" Top drawer opening
- 4" Toe height
- 3" Toe depth
The Cabinet Width includes the Stile as well as the Scribe.
For example, a 30" cabinet with a 3" stile (2 1/4" Outside scribe) will finish at 30".
Upper Cabinets
Cabinet height is calculated from the bottom of the face frame to the top of the face frame. Cabinet depth is calculated from the front of the face frame to the back of the side panel.
- 2.25" Top rail
- 1.5" Stiles and bottom rail
- 0.25" Outside scribe
- 1.69" Top scribe
- 0.935" Bottom scribe
The Cabinet Width includes the Stile as well as the Scribe.
For example, a 30" cabinet with a 3" stile (2 1/4" Outside scribe) will finish at 30".
Tall Cabinets
Cabinet height is calculated from the bottom of the toe to the top of the face frame. Cabinet depth is calculated from the front of the face frame to the back of the side panel.
- 2.25" Top rails
- 1.5" Bottom rail, stiles and mid-rail
- 4" Toe height (n/a refrigerator type)
- 3" Toe depth (n/a refrigerator type)
The Cabinet Width includes the Stile as well as the Scribe.
For example, a 30" cabinet with a 3" stile (2 1/4" Outside scribe) will finish at 30".
Our Faceframes are sanded through a wide-belt at 120, 150, 180 grit with a finished graphite platen.
We recommend our customers finish sand the faceframes to their specifications.
Yes, The link below will direct you to the Cabiinotch Youtube page.
Yes we do!
Check out our FAQ-Full Access Cabinetry page to learn about Full Access cabinets. Available now through our Cabinotch KCD Design Library.
Cabinotch offers both Plywood and Faceframes in the below Species.
All of the plywood we stock is "Plain Sliced", we stock no Quarter or Rift-Sawn.
Hard Maple
Hard Maple - Plywood (White "Universal Use" Primer)
Soft Maple
Red Oak
White Oak
Walnut
Hickory (Calico, Non-Rustic)
Cherry
Alder
Reach out to Customer Service (1-877-413-4299) for assistance.
Cabinotch strives to get your product to you as quick as possible. On average, Cabinotch will ship your custom kitchen within 5-7 days.
With our partnership with KCD, Cabinotch gives you the ability to design most any custom cabinet. Reach out to Customer Service (1-877-413-4299) where they can assist you in drawing the cabinet you need, or even get you started in KCD yourself!
KCD Design Software Questions
If your question is regarding Cabinotch products and processes or is specific to the “Cabinotch”, “Cabinotch Overlay”, or “Cabinotch Full Access” then please call 877-413-4299 for assistance.
If you have a question regarding utilizing KCD then please first seek an answer via the Help tool in KCD Software. Help→KCD Manual or Help→Technical Support→Online Help.
There are two Libraries in KCD which may be utilized for Faceframe cabinets orderable from Cabinotch, “Cabinotch” and “Cabinotch Overlay”.
Inside of the "Cabinotch" Library, KCD gives reference for the "Door Lip", this is for applying a "Standard" overlay for all of your cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
For example, a "Door Lip" of 1/2inch would be appropriate for a 1/2" Overlay across the entire job.
You may also choice to make this "Door Lip" a negative value in order to setup for an Inset application. For example a "Door Lip" of -.125" or -.1875" would be appropriate for Inset Doors and Drawer Fronts.
By utilizing the "Cabinotch Overlay" Library, you can manipulate the "Reveals" on ALL edges of the framed openings. This would allow you to setup for more custom door overlays.
Right now we have an extensive cabinet box library of over 40 cabinet styles available for purchase. If you do not see the box style you are looking for, contact us; we might be able to help.
The following must be set and applied to some or all of the cabinets which you desire to be quoted and or produced by Cabinotch:
- Choose Species
- Box Species
- Drawer Species
- Construction Method
This selection will determine the hardwood species for both the Face Frame, as well as any Finished Ends or on cabinet interiors when a cabinet is specified RAW Interior under the Options tab when editing a cabinet. These are the available options:
- Soft Maple
- Alder
- Cherry
- Hickory
- Hard Maple
- Red Oak
- Walnut
- White Oak
- Hard Maple Primed
Note that all hardwood plywood from Cabinotch is "Plain Slice".
Determines the interior of the cabinet box. Note that you do not indicate here that a cabinet is “RAW” ply on the interior, but rather in the drawing directly by editing each cabinet and highlighting the option for RAW Interior. Each cabinet interior ply may be referenced once the Validation Report is generated. See below section for "Cabinotch Request a Quote - Validation Report Face Frame". These are the options available for Box Species:
- UV Maple
- UV Natural Birch
Sets the material selection for Drawer Box sides.
- FJ Birch
- Maple
- No Drawer Box
Cabinotch is not only a cabinet solutions company but is also the namesake of our patented joinery and cabinet box construction method. If you are familiar with our faceframes you will note that case components interact with the frame using wood-to-wood sliding connections.
With our “Cabinotch” Construction method, theses sliding connections are also present in plywood-to-plywood joints, i.e., cabinet bottom sliding through the cabinet sides from the back of the cabinet.
If a selection for “Dado” is selected here, then those plywood-to-plywood joints will be straight cut dados in lieu of a dado with an additional keyway.
See below pictures for clarification:
Cabinet Bottom machined for "Cabinotch" carcass construction
Cabinet Bottom to Side Panel joint - "Cabinotch" Construction
Cabinet Bottom machined for "Dado" carcass construction
Cabinet Bottom to Side Panel joint - Dado Construction
The generated Validation Report should be used in conjunction with the cabinets drawn to determine what is being quoted and produced by Cabinotch. We strongly recommend that you utilize the “Show Details” button to expand this report and then print this report for your own reference. The following information is given in the Validation Report:
- Unit – This number is prescribed in the KCD Drawing and will be the number present on components produced by Cabinotch
- Code – Any units indicated as *Invalid* will not be produced by Cabinotch and therefore also excluded from the quote.
- Description – The cabinet model which was pulled from the Library into the drawings.
- Species – This indicates the species for the Faceframe, and any side indicated with an “F” under the columns titled Side L. and Side R.
- Ply – This column indicates whether or not the interior of the cabinet is a prefinished UV Maple, UV Natural Birch, or Raw Species Hardwood to match the face frame.
- Side L. / Side R. – These columns indicate whether a side is Finished “F” (Raw Hardwood Veneer) or Unfinished “U” (Shop grade or mill select exterior part).
- ¾ Scribe L/R – Gives indication that a ¾” scribe was selected for a particular cabinet side. *ONLY APPLICABLE ON 1-1/2” Stile Widths!
- ¾ Sides – Indicates that the cabinet left and right side panels will be ¾ instead of ½” *This indicates sides noted as “U” Unfinished ONLY, as “F” Finished sides are automatically ¾” thickness.
- Shelves – Gives number of “Adjustable Shelves” drawn in each unit.
- Type – Can be given as a “C”, “S”, “CJ”, or “SJ”. While the C and S are not relevant, a “CJ” or SJ” in this column will indicate that a unit is Joined to another unit.
- Width
- Height
- Depth
- Room – The ROOM in which a cabinet is drawn inside the KCD file.
Understanding "OPTIONS" in KCD
Options may be selected by locating the [Options] button at the bottom of a cabinet edit screen. If the [Options] button is not immediately present, you may have to first select [More…]. Note that if an option is selected(highlighted) then it is Active. See below for each option as there are some details to note; for example, when to select specific options and how they affect cabinets dependent on what is drawn. Note that these options are intended to override defaults which are prescribed by various logic which is already running 
in KCD.
In our construction, cabinet side thickness is first and foremost determined by the selection made (or automatically) for the [Sides] of a cabinet. Any “Finished” End being a 3/4” thick component and an “Unfinished” Side being a 1/2” part by default. By highlighting the OPTION for “3/4 Sides”, you have effected changed your “Unfinished” Sides to a 3/4 component. Note then that this OPTION makes no affect to any cabinets which already have “Finished” Ends on both sides. Confirmation of this selected option is viewable upon receipt of the Validation Report which is generated immediately prior to Submitting a Quote via the “Cabinotch-Request a Quote” tool.
In KCD, there is some logic which is being automatically prescribed dependent on what is drawn. Generally if a cabinet has Solid doors (not glass) drawn on every opening, that cabinet is automatically UV Interior and conversely if a cabinet has Glass doors drawn OR doors are removed by default this cabinet will be determined to be Raw Interior. The OPTION(s) for Raw Interior and UV Interior are intended to overwrite this inherit logic. Note that upon receipt of the Validation Report which is generated during the process of requesting a quote from Cabinotch there is a column which will indicate for EACH cabinet unit whether the Interior Ply is RAW (Matches "Species" Selection) or UV (Matches "Box Species" Selection).
This OPTION is most commonly selected when a customer has intent to apply a Deco/Paneled End on the side of a cabinet box and behind the faceframe. For example, you may choose to highlight this option on a base cabinet (24”) which is the end of run and requires a decorative applied panel. This OPTION will allow you to apply direct to the “Unfinished” side panel of cabinet a 23-1/4” wide “door”.
PLEASE REFERENCE ABOVE IN FAQs, UNDER GENERAL QUESTIONS, “WHAT ARE MY SCRIBE OPTIONS”. DESPITE THIS OPTION BEING PRESENT ON EVERY CABINET, REGARDLESS OF PRESCRIBED LEFT AND RIGHT STILE WIDTH, THESE OPTIONS WILL ONLY YIELD A 3/4 SCRIBE *IF THE APPROPRIATE STILE IS 1-1/2”. IN THE EVENT THAT A 3/4 SCRIBE IS HIGHLIGHTED AND A WIDER STILE DRAWN, THE SCRIBE WILL INSTEAD REVERT TO THE “LOCKED” SCRIBE WHICH IS DETERMINED BY THE WIDTH OF STILE. THIS MEANS THAT THE SELECTION FOR A 3/4 SCRIBE WILL OVERRIDE WHETHER A CABINET SIDE IS “FINISHED”.
In both of our Face Frame Libraries, Cabinotch and Cabinotch Overlay, Lineboring is typically present in ONLY the openings of a cabinet where an Adjustable Shelf has been added. This selectable OPTION will add lineboring to all opening of a selected cabinet where Shelving has not been added.
*This option does NOT remove shelves which are already drawn in.
*Cabinotch recommends that you select in KCD under the VIEW tool (Top tool ribbon) that you wish to “Show Shelf Lines”. This will make adjustable shelving visible through the cabinet doors while viewing a wall elevation.
By default, ALL Adjustable Shelves are “Full Depth”. This OPTION will do exactly as it says.
*Note that this will NOT function on ANY Angled or Pie-Cut (90°) Corner Cabinet.
These OPTIONS will force exactly as they state. HOWEVER, Cabinotch’s patented joinery will still be present on carcass components (if selection for No Face Frame) and on the back of Frames (if selection for No Box Parts).
Receiving Component Parts Shipments
There are three pallet sizes, one is 31" x 63", another is 46.5" x 98" and the last size is 35.5" x 95". If you have tall cabinets like a pantry, linen, or tall slab end panels, or asked us to provide your toe kick material or tall fillers for Full Access cabinetry, then we will use either the 46.5" x 98" or 34.5" x 95" pallet.
If you do not have a fork truck with long forks or fork extenders, then you might want to consider having your pallet delivered to your local FedEx terminal, and picking it up there (they will set the pallet on your trailer, or into your truck bed for you).
Ideally, you will unpack and check-in all your components as soon as they arrive to make sure nothing is damaged or missing. By doing this, you provide time to get replacements for damaged or missing parts before you are in desperate need of them.
The clear down-side to this process is the parts might be in your way if you go through this process and just stack them against a wall, so we suggest you either make or purchase carts to store your parts in that are mobile so you can move them around to get them or keep them out of your way until they are needed. Typically these carts full of parts will take up no more room than our pallet/box, so there is really no downside if you invest in the carts.
The up-side is you are not just checking the parts in, you are sorting them, and ideally you will sort them by cabinet number which will make assembly much easier and far quicker. Take a look at our Blog post on Sorting Your Cabinotch Components for a more in-depth look at this process.
Drawer Box Questions - KCD Cabinotch and Cabinotch Overlay Libraries
*Cabinotch highly recommends that upon submitting a KCD .job file to your account, you reference the REPORT for "Cabinotch Drawers". This report will reflect the drawer dimensions being purchased.
The shallowest under-mount drawer guide that Blum makes is a 9" slide, the shallowest cabinet that a 9" drawer guide will fit into is 11-1/2". In KCD, you should not expect to get a drawer box if the cabinet depth is less than 11-1/2" depth.
For cabinet depths from 11-1/2" to 13-7/16", Cabinotch will produce a 9" drawer.
For cabinet depths from 13-1/2" to 16-7/16", we will produce a 12" depth drawer box.
For cabinet depths between 16-1/2" and 19-7/16", we will produce a 15" depth drawer box.
For cabinet depths between 19-1/2" and 22-7/16", we will produce an 18" depth drawer box.
For cabinet depths between 22-1/2" and 25-7/16", we will produce a 21" depth drawer box.
For cabinet depths equal to or greater than 25-1/2", we will produce a 24" depth drawer box.
*Cabinotch highly recommends that upon submitting a KCD .job file to your account, you reference the REPORT for "Cabinotch Drawers". This report will reflect the drawer dimensions being purchased.
Drawer box height (the exterior of height of the drawer box from bottom to top) will be determined by the framed opening height as follows:
If a cabinet drawer opening is between 3-5/16" and 4-3/4", we will produce a 2-1/2" height drawer.
If a cabinet drawer opening is between 4-13/16" and 5-3/4", we will produce a 4" height drawer.
If a cabinet drawer opening is between 5-13/16" and 6-3/4", we will produce a 5" height drawer.
If a cabinet drawer opening is between 6-13/16" and 8-3/4", we will produce a 6" height drawer.
If a cabinet drawer opening is between 8-13/16" and 10-3/4", we will produce an 8" height drawer.
If a cabinet depth is greater than or equal to 10-13/16", we will produce a 10" height drawer.
KCD Release Notes - Version 10
*These release notes are those produced by KCD which are specific to Cabinotch®. For release notes prior to 2018, please reference those published inside KCD Software via Help → View Release Notes.
10.097 – 11.8.21
- Updated Cabinotch Species choices for face frame cabinets
- NEW option for ‘Hard Maple Primed’ under ‘Species’ choice set at Cabinotch® – Request a Quote screen.
Cabinotch® is now offered a “Universal”, water based, white primed finish on Faceframes, Finished Ends, and Interior of cabinets drawn in either the “Cabinotch” or “Cabinotch Overlay” faceframe libraries.
- Added construction method choice for Cabinotch Faceframe Cabinets
- NEW option for ‘DADO’ under ‘Construction Method’ choice set at Cabinotch – Request a Quote screen.
10.096 – 1.13.21
- Updated internal specifications for Conestoga™ link in “Cabinotch® - Request a Quote” system
- Updated Drawer Box pricing for Cabinotch® in “Request a Quote” system
- Updated Species and (interior) Box Species choices for Cabinotch® faceframe cabinets
10.088 – 3.6.19
- Added ability to order Conestoga™ doors for Cabinotch® cabinets in “Cabinotch® - Request a Quote” system.
10.083 – 4.23.18
- Modified default sizes and allowed sizes for “Cabinotch Full Access” cabinets.
- Added “Base 2 Horizontal Drws over 2/3 Drws” cabinets to “Cabinotch Full Access” library.
10.082 – 3.16.18
- Added “Vanity 2 Drawer” cabinet to “Cabinotch Full Access” library.
- Changed name of “Mid Shelf” and “Mid Rail” adjustments to “Fixed Shelf” for 2-opening cabinets in “Cabinotch Full Access library.
- Adjusted Molding Overlap for Top Applied End cabinets in “Cabinotch Full Access” library.
- Added “Edgeband for Adj Shelves” and “Edgeband for Top and Btm of Upper Cabinet Sides” settings to “Cabinotch® - Request a Quote” system *Specific to “Cabinotch Full Access” library
- Added “No-Integral Kick with Toe Notch” to list of “Leg Leveler Machining” choices for “Cabinotch®- Request a Quote” system *Specific to “Cabinotch Full Access” library.
