Slab-Style Cabinet Door Plans

Before beginning to make the tongue and groove joints on your slab-style cabinet doors, it is a good idea to lay out the boards according to their grain patterns. Since each of the boards likely came from the same original piece of stock, the grain patterns for each board should be quite similar.

If you look at the end grain of each of the three boards (as shown in the image above), you'll likely notice that the grain on each board arcs upward or downward. The best method for laying out your boards is to alternate the grain pattern so that each board's grain is the opposite of the next.

Also, take a look at the face of each board, and make sure that the color and grain patterns of each corresponding board are similar. You may choose to adjust the order of the boards so that the colors and grain patterns match before alternating the end grain.

Mark the end of each board so you know the order that the boards should be assembled. This will help to make sure that you don't make any mistakes when assembling the joints later on.