Face Framing a Built In

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bad_idea

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Hello all. I am not a woodworker, but I find myself working wood. I am in process of installing a built in cabinet in the living room. I am at the point I need to face frame it. I have seen it is common practice to pocket hole the 1x2's together and then brad nail the whole thing up. Problem I have is the built in is 14' long. I am struggling to figure out how I will build that large of a face frame and install it without breaking it. Looking for some guidance on how to proceed. Thanks all.
 
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PCustoms

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Trim it out piece by piece.

A tight/squat cut and some glue should keep the joint closed, but I've used biscuits or dowels when possible.

What wood?

How are you finishing it?
 
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purplezr2

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Is there a natural break point in the cabinet to have a double still.

I have done face frames up to 12ft long with no issues.
 
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jar944

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bad_idea said:
Hello all. I am not a woodworker, but I find myself working wood. I am in process of installing a built in cabinet in the living room. I am at the point I need to face frame it. I have seen it is common practice to pocket hole the 1x2's together and then brad nail the whole thing up. Problem I have is the built in is 14' long. I am struggling to figure out how I will build that large of a face frame and install it without breaking it. Looking for some guidance on how to proceed. Thanks all.
Click to expand...

How tall is it?

Edit:

you can do field joints to make it more manageable assuming it being painted elsewhere
 
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Bert_

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Someone built these cabinets in my kitchen probably 80 years ago. 12' long.

The face is 2 layers on 1x. It gives a lip for the doors to close against also.

KIMG3689.JPG
 
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bad_idea

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purplezr2 said:
Is there a natural break point in the cabinet to have a double still.

I have done face frames up to 12ft long with no issues.
Click to expand...
In the lower cabinets I do. The upper shelves do not have a spot I could do a double stile. Not a terrible idea for the lower cabinets.
 
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jar944

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If you are just going to nail it on and paint after you might as well build it in place peice meal, and pull the joints together with pinch dogs, it's more holes to fill, but you are already filling holed from the nails.

If you were prefinishing, and gluing/pocket screwing/ biscuits or using a lamello zeta p2 to the boxes I'd say just build the single frame (pocket screws and glue) with a field joint or two to be able to move it for paint and in and out of the house.

This was two frames and a field joint between them.
Screenshot_20260423_155351_Gallery.jpgScreenshot_20260423_155532_Gallery.jpg
 
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bad_idea

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You are asking a lot of questions and using terms I dont quite understand. I fit steel for a living, this wood stuff is a bit foreign to me. I do like the idea of fitting in place and just nailing it up. That makes it much easier. This is a project in my home, so I have time. I just want something that looks good for many years to come. Thanks for the input guys.
 
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gahrajmahal

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I think if you glue and pocket hole (Kreig) screw it together it will be plenty strong even at 14 ft. It depends on the quality and straightness of your lumber. If I was to do a similar job I would go to the dedicated Lumber Yard, Hyde Park Lumber, here in Cincinnati to get recommendations. It costs 10% more, but everything is excellent quality.
 
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Bessy

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bad_idea said:
You are asking a lot of questions and using terms I dont quite understand. I fit steel for a living, this wood stuff is a bit foreign to me. I do like the idea of fitting in place and just nailing it up. That makes it much easier. This is a project in my home, so I have time. I just want something that looks good for many years to come. Thanks for the input guys.
Click to expand...
Any updates on your project at all? Perhaps some photos of what you're working with might be helpful for any of us to see an easy or less obvious location for a joint?

I'm also curious because, while I'm still in the box building phase for our kitchen, I know I've got some 13-1/2 linear feet of face frames to build (poplar, painted white) before I'm done. Remind me again, why I didn't just go to Ikea???
 
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bad_idea

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I'm in Japan for work right now. I have been out here about a month now and fly home tomorrow. I have a bunch of other projects to get caught up on before I get back to this one. Hopefully get it rolling in a couple weeks.
 
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