TIL the old trick of using a playing card for cabinet reveal gaps actually works

Was fighting with inconsistent 1/16 inch gaps on a set of shaker doors in my shop yesterday, tried the playing card method an old timer mentioned at a meetup back in 2022. Anyone else still swear by this over feeler gauges, or am I just late to the party?

3 comments

3 Comments

robinf517d ago

Hate when that happens with solid wood... you think you've got it dialed in perfect and then the seasons change and everything shifts on you. Feel your pain on that one for sure. The card trick is great for fast work but I've had the same issue with walnut doors where the gap ended up looking sloppy after a few months. Think there's something to be said for leaving just a hair more room on solid wood so the movement doesn't mess with the reveal too bad.

river_allen7d ago

Took me about six months of fighting with feeler gauges before I finally caved and tried the card trick on a set of oak cabinets last spring. Felt stupid for being stubborn about it, honestly. The old guy at that meetup was right, a standard playing card sits right at 0.011 inches which is dead on for most door gaps. I still keep a deck in my apron just for this, way faster than digging out feeler gauges every time. Can't believe I wasted so much time overthinking something so simple.

river_allen7d ago

Are you cutting all your own doors from sheet stock, or are you working with pre-made shaker doors from a supplier? I ask because the card trick works great on plywood and MDF, but I've had trouble keeping consistent gaps on solid wood doors that move after installation. Had a set of cherry doors shift on me last winter that were perfect with a card when I hung them, then opened up to almost an eighth inch by spring. Ever run into that problem with the solid wood stuff?