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A front frame is a wooden outline used for appearance and function in cabinets. It can add stability, decoration, and a traditional look. Face frames are made by connecting posts and rails with mortise and tenon joints, and can have decorative trim. They are usually made from plywood and can accommodate various door hinges. Cabinets without front frames are called frameless and have a more modern look.
A front frame is the pieces of wood that outline the outer front perimeter of a cabinet. It is used for both appearance and function. A front bezel allows for easy mounting of hardware, as well as adding stability to the entire cabinet. It can also decorate the wardrobe and give it a more finished look. Front frame cabinets have a more traditional look.
Cabinet makers have used face frames for hundreds of years. Vertical pieces, called posts, connect with horizontal pieces, called rails, usually using a mortise and tenon joint. The mortise is a hole drilled into the post and the tenon is a peg cut into the rail. The two provide a secure joint that has a clean look. While mortise and tenon joints are traditional, butt joints or pocket joinery can also be used.
Cabinets that include a face frame take much of their design from the furniture. They usually have a more decorative and traditional look. The process of building a cabinet with a front frame takes longer and requires more wood than building a cabinet without one.
A router can cut decorative trim, such as beadwork, into styles, which can provide a more ornate look. Cabinet frames are usually made from some form of plywood. Plywood is made by layering thin wood veneers together and has a rough final grain. A front bezel covers the ends of the plywood giving the cabinet a more finished hardwood look.
Vertical face frame styles usually give ample room for many styles of door hinges to be easily installed. Some of these hinges add to the overall decorative look of the cabinet. Not all hinges will work on both face frame cabinets and frameless cabinets.
Depending on the material, the worktops placed on the bases can be heavy. The face frame on a cabinet, while not crucial, adds a small layer of structural integrity. Face frames are generally about 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) thick.
There are also cabinets made without this type of construction. Frameless furniture is often called European or European style. This style gives the cabinets a more modern look. The hinges on this style of furniture are usually hidden and add little decorative value. In this design, the end grain of the plywood is covered by gluing thin strips of hardwood veneer to the edge, which is usually very thin and can be prone to damage.
