In cabinetmaking, frameless construction of cabinets uses flat panels of

engineered wood Engineered wood, also called mass timber, composite wood, man-made wood, or manufactured board, includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding or fixing the strands, particles, fibres, veneers, or boards of wood, ...

— usually particle board,

plywood Plywood is a composite material manufactured from thin layers, or "plies", of wood veneer that have been stacked and glued together. It is an engineered wood from the family of manufactured boards, which include plywood, medium-density fibreboa ...

medium-density fibreboard Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibre, often in a defibrator, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming it into panels by applying high tem ...

— rather than the older

frame and panel Frame and panel construction, also called rail and stile, is a woodworking technique often used in the making of coffered doors, ceilings, wainscoting, and decorative panels for cabinets, furniture Furniture refers to objects intended to s ...

construction. A common construction method for frameless cabinets originated in Europe after World War II and is known as the ''32-mm system'' or ''European system''. The name comes from the 32-

millimetre 330px, Different lengths as in respect of the electromagnetic spectrum, measured by the metre and its derived scales. The microwave is between 1 metre to 1 millimetre. The millimetre (American and British English spelling differences#-re, -er, i ...

spacing between the system holes used for construction and installation of hardware typically used for doors, drawers and shelves. There are numerous 32mm based cabinet systems, one such system is Hettich's System 32. In North America, it is also often referred to as "European Cabinetry". With frameless or full access cabinets, thicker sides (boxes) keep the cabinet more stable while avoiding the use of the front frame found in face-frame cabinets. Frameless cabinets are usually edgebanded to finish the front faces. By eliminating the front frame, there is more room to place large objects inside, and more usable space.

References

Woodworking {{Woodworking-stub

See also

References