Expert: Jamie Yocono - 5/18/2009

Question
What Guage staples should I use to assemble kitchen cabinets?  I am building some cabinets and considering buyng a staple gun.  Not sure if I should go with 16 ga or 18 ga staple gun.  I will staple the cut MDF for boxes after placing back, bottom, and shelf edges into dado grooves in sides with glue.  Do I use any staples attaching the oak face on cabinets or is that all done with pocket screws?  Should I also glue the face on?

Answer
Dan,

A staple gun would be one of the last tools I would consider using when making kitchen cabinets. I don't like the crown of the staple, it looks too crude for my taste. I do, however, use an 18 gauge finish pinner (a headless brad) to assemble some of my cabinets, and would recommend that if you're really determined to nail something, use of one those, instead of a staple gun.

For cabinets that I don't want to see any nail holes, I'll simply glue and clamp them. They stay together just fine, remember they're usually butted up against another cabinet, so there isn't usually any wracking to pull those nails out.

I use that pin gun for attaching face frames, too. I glue them, and then pin them into place. I assemble the face frames in one of two ways. I either use a small biscuit cutter, which cuts a slot about 3/4" wide, or I assemble them with dowels. Either way is fine, since the frame doesn't really experience that much stress at the joints. The joints stay together just fine with either method. I don't own a pocket hole jig, that's why I don't use one. But I suppose I would use one if I owned one! I've heard great things about them, but honestly, I'm at a point where I'm cutting back on my tool purchases, rather than buying everything that I see. :)

OK, I hope this helps, write back if you have any other questions.


Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com