This is a key differentiator from hollow core doors, where the skin or mould is literally glued together with only spacers in between each skin. In addition to the strength of the dowel construction, glue is also applied in the dowel bore for an even stronger bond. Same function as the top rail, except this horizontal rail sits at the bottom of a door to connect the vertical stiles on each side and panel/s above.ĭowels are used for making strong and tight joints where rails meet the stiles for ultimate strength and durability. Panel designs are customizable, so you can still achieve the look you want without compromising on quality. In a traditional door, the rails are the parts of the frame that run horizontally and the stiles are the pieces that run vertically. Panels can be raised or flat, and are set into the frames of a door.

These are the vertical components on each side of the door that join the rails with dowels. This is a horizontal rail that is situated between the vertical stiles at the same height as the lockset for hardware. A basic frame and panel item consists of a top rail, a. But the stiles and rails are what gives your cabinets their structural integrity and makes them look great In this video, Ill show you how to. Intermediate rails are not used in hollow core or solid core construction, which is another reason wood stile and rail doors are much sturdier than moulded and flush door options. The vertical members of the frame are called stiles while the horizontal members are known as rails. The cabinet door frame is often overlooked. If you like the look of styles and rails and want to use ply wood for the panel, I would go with solid wood for the styles and rails and use. If you are going to use plywood, a dimensionally stable product, you could just make a solid plywood door. These are rails built in between the top and bottom rails, including the lock rail. Using a rail and stile bit set will allow you to make the frame elements for the door with repeatable accuracy, while the raised panel bit will allow you to make the field panels from solid stock. The function of rails and styles is to provide strength and allow for wood movement of the panel. This is the horizontal rail that is the top frame of the door and connects the stiles on each side and panel/s below.

Making stiles and rails