Cabinet doors

[phd1658]

A friend of mine gave me some Cherry cabinet doors. I would like to carve a relief in them, but wish to keep the "frame" going around the center panel. As the center panels are free floating, I'm concerned about holding them down. I do not have a vacuum table. Anybody have any ideas? Thanks!

[hastings]

Bill:

Why not make some wedges and gently tap them in until the panel is firmly wedged in place. I would do it all the way round.

Don't be too vigorous or you might break out the edge of the rabbet!

Hastings

[bleeth]

Bill: You can also Nail them on two adjacent sides or even probably one long side from the back with 5/8" 22 ga (headless) brads. Tiny holes fill with a spot of putty and they can still do their expand/contract thing without problems.

[michael_schwartz]

I would take a piece of scrap material that would fit within the frame but support the panel on one side and screw it down to the table.

I would use double sided tape to secure the panel to the support. Then I would set something up to clamp the frame as a safety precaution incase the tape failed.

[phd1658]

Great ideas, guys. Thanks to all.

[dmidkiff]

Be sure to measure the thickness of the panel. Some panels made at a factory (Merilate, KraftMaid) ect. are only 5/8" thick and are also particle board with a thin veneer. Don't ask how I know.

[phd1658]

Thanks, David. I really got lucky, the panels are solid cherry. I already carved a relief on one of them, but took the frame off because of the "floating" issue......it turned out real nice!