The difference between a cabinet maker and a carpenter
Author: Service CentralWhen asked what is the difference between a cabinet maker and a carpenter one of the first employees at Service Central would respond "about half an inch". All jokes aside, its a question that comes up quite often so hopefully this provides some guidance.
Whilst both cabinet makers and carpenters are masters at working with wood it is the cabinet makers that take the art one step further and focus on the finer details of what can be created with timber. Their focus on detail leads cabinet makers towards a concentration on internal fitting such as kitchens, bookcases, tables, cabinets, and benches. If you are looking at adding or upgrading any of these to your home, it is highly recommended that you use a cabinet maker. The reason for this is that not only will a qualified cabinet maker have a greater attention for detail, the cabinet maker will also be a trained expert at working with high quality building materials and difficult intricate constructions. Another trick up the sleeve of cabinet makers is their vast array of cabinet making tools. These cabinet making tools include a good saw table, a mitre saw, panel saw, planer, jointer, drum sander, bandsaw and dust extraction system. Quality cabinet makers will also have a big selection of hand tools including routers with a selection of bits, cordless drills, laminate trimmers, jigsaws and finish staplers.
Carpenters on the other hand concentrate their skills on the use of wood for large structural projects. These include house frames, decking, pergolas, etc. It is from the experience gained on these larger projects that many carpenters go on to become builders.
Whilst both cabinet makers and carpenters work with wood and it is extremely important for both to get their angles correct, many would say that the work of a cabinet maker is a lot more delicate and difficult.
![[Facebook]](http://cdn3.servicecentral.com.au/images/icons/facebook-icon.png){kind=icon}
![[Twitter]](http://cdn3.servicecentral.com.au/images/icons/twitter.png){kind=icon}
![[StumbleUpon]](http://cdn2.servicecentral.com.au/images/icons/stumble-big.png){kind=icon}
![[Google]](http://cdn1.servicecentral.com.au/images/icons/google-bookmark-big.png){kind=icon}
- More Articles
-
Training courses for tradies: Sustainable trades
The Victorian Climate Change White Paper released last month included many plans for reducing the impact of climate change. One of the items included in that white paper was that the Victorian Government wanted to provide a central, authoritative source of knowledge about climate change and sustainability. They've done this with the launch of the Climate Communities website. Read More...
When the finish is important - get in the professionals
Galvanised by finishing off the front room, I decided that I wanted the living room done too. Of course you don’t always get what you want. I knew from the schedule of works I’d done, there was no point in doing the floors in the living room until the kitchen and bathroom were finished. But, I reasoned, I could do everything else. Read More...
What does the Climate Change white paper mean for the trades industry in Victoria?
Businesses are really just a collection of people, and so many of the changes experienced as individuals will be experienced by trades businesses, especially with the extension of the Energy Saver Incentive scheme to small and medium businesses (previously only for households). But there is also a further effect to businesses who work in trades related to the actual delivery of the goals outlined in the white paper. Read More...
Love this cost effective kitchen cabinet idea!
Talk about thinking outside the box. This kitchen is low budget, flexible and looks awesome. Need a new kitchen fast? Read More...
Staircase design marvels
When it comes to stairs, usually they are built for safety and practicality. Check out some of these stairs designs that are absolutely amazing! Read More...
What kind of tradie repairs chipped granite benches?
So stonemasons work with stone, and cabinet makers work with kitchen benchtops. Who do you request when you want your granite benchtop's chip repaired? Read More...
Carpentry prices: Costs for carpentry work
Carpentry jobs can vary from large to small - building a deck or houseframe to installing a hand rail or refitting a wooden window. How much can you expect to pay for this work? Read More...
How should you fix skirting boards to the wall?
There are a couple of methods of fixing skirting boards to walls, once the corners have been cut to shape. It usually depends on what finish you want on the skirting boards as to which method you use to fix the boards. If you want to stain or varnish the boards then the best bet is to attach the boards using a glue or adhesive. Read More...
How to cut and fit skirting boards
Skirting boards are one of the weird things that you don't notice until you don't have any. Generally skirting boards are there to protect the bottom of the plaster and to hide any gap between the floor and the plaster, providing better insulation and protection from dust. Fitting skirting boards can be tricky and is something that the less experienced renovator might want to call in a carpenter to help with. Read More...
Choosing local wood for your carpentry project
Taking locality and origin into consideration when choosing wood can reduce costs and your carbon footprint. Check out the Good Wood Guide. Read More...
Two common carpentry styles
Carpenters are useful for projects spanning across a wide variety of jobs - from small jobs like getting a wooden window to open easier to massive jobs like major construction projects involving complete house frames, and pretty much everything in between. What types of carpenters are there? Read More...
Who do cabinetmakers think they are anyway?
Cabinetmakers are a specialised field of wood workers, and are sometimes called 'artistic carpenters'. Cabinetmaking is s kill that uses hand skills and machines to make and install furniture - usually custom made built in furniture or traditional style furniture - not like the flat-pack furniture at IKEA! So what does a Cabinetmaker actually do? Read More...
Laminate flooring or cabinets - what comes first?
So. You're putting new laminate flooring into your kitchen but your kitchen cabinets are already there. Do you take the cabinets out and rebuild the bottoms when the flooring is in, or not? Read More...
Pergola price: How much does a pergola cost to build?
Pergolas can be purchased 'out of the box' or made specifically for you to a unique design. How much do they cost? Read More...
Pricing for decks: How much does a new deck cost?
Pricing decks before designing the job or seeing the terrain is virtually impossible, because not only are there many options in terms of materials, but also lots of different things can affect the cost. But, this guide should give you an idea of which options are more expensive and a very basic idea of the cost. Read More...
What is Vibration White Finger (VWF)?
Also known as dead finger and hand/arm vibration syndrome, Vibration White Finger (VWF) is an industrial injury that is usually caused by ongoing use of vibrating handheld tools. Read More...
What is an air chisel?
Air Chisels are an absolutely genius invention. They work on a similar principle to jackhammers, but they cycle faster as they're much smaller. Read More...
What is T&G (tongue and groove)?
Tongue and Groove is a method of fitting wood together, commonly used in floors and panelling. It is also used in commercial construction to fit concrete panels together. T&G joints enables two pieces to be joined smoothly and strongly together. Read More...
How to tell if an internal wall is load bearing
Load bearing walls are walls that can support their own weight as well as the weight of the additional structural loads placed on them. Most importantly, they have additional support underneath them, as they also need to be able to carry what are called 'live loads' - furniture, people, carpets etc. While they may look the same as non-structural walls they aren't. Removing these walls without replacing them with RSJs or some other method of transferring the load will compromise the structural integrity of the property. Read More...
How to hang a door
Hanging doors is notoriously difficult and time consuming, although irritatingly a professional carpenter will make it look very easy and quick to do. For the sake of your blood pressure it is usually a good idea to let a professional handle this task. However if you decide that you want to try taking on this job yourself... Read More...
How to fit door handles
Door handles are finicky things to fit, but if you're careful you'll be fine! Read More...
How to install a shelf
An easy video guide to installing a shelf. Read More...
Questions to ask a Tradesperson
A tradesperson's answers to your questions can give you a good sense of whether you could work with him or her. Here's a list of questions to help you work out which tradesperson is best for you. Read More...
Preparing for Christmas
Are you ready for Christmas? Hosting Christmas at your place can take months in preparation, especially if you're home isn't up to it. Is your kitchen big enough? Can your oven cook a Christmas meal for 20 people? Do you need a 2nd or even 3rd toilet? Is there somewhere for everyone to go outside? All these questions and more and addressed in this guide to preparing for Christmas. Read More...
Want to contribute an article or have a good story? Email it to enquiries@servicecentral.com.au for submission. Service Central reserves the right to edit articles as necessary.