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Need cabinet maker in Cleveland

coffeymaker | Posted in Help/Work Wanted on December 18, 2008 08:17am

Looking for referrals for a good cabinet maker in the Cleveland OH area.  I’ve found lots of cabinet orderers (I could do that myself), but can’t seem to find anyone who actually makes cabinets–particularly one who will deal direct with the homeowner (me). 

Not looking for anything real elaborate, but paneled doors, dovetail drawers and the ability to put a factory grade painted finish a must.  Have plans that need pricing soon.

Anyone?

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Replies

  1. jimblodgett | Dec 18, 2008 09:53pm | #1

    You mnd me asking what you want dovetailed drawers for?

     

    1. User avater
      coffeymaker | Dec 18, 2008 09:57pm | #2

      to me, they're a sign of quality and skill. 

      1. jimblodgett | Dec 18, 2008 11:52pm | #3

        In what way is a dovetailed drawer more high quality than a stapled or pocket screwed drawer? None of them will come apart under regular use. None of them will stand up better to abuse.There was a time when dovetailed joinery was important to maintain structural integrity through seasonal humidity fluctuations. Drawers were built with dimensional lumber in those days.With the plywoods, glues and fasteners we have available today (and for the past 50 years)dovetailed drawers are just for show, not a legitimate way to build a better drawer.Sign of more skill? I'd agree they are a sign of an antiquated skill - similar to the ability to cut rafters with a handsaw, or bore a hole perpendicular to a deep beam with a brace and auger. "Better"? No way. 

        1. davidmeiland | Dec 19, 2008 12:52am | #4

          Jim, I either make or order dovetailed maple drawers for all of my jobs. A lot of people want them. People always say, oh with the new ball bearing slides you will not need anything more than a stapled plywood drawer... but after it has had 20-30 years of use are you sure that's true?

          1. jimblodgett | Dec 19, 2008 01:53am | #6

            People use the same drawer slides, regardless of how the drawer is built, right?

            All I'm saying is, the time and energy spent building dovetailed drawers is essentially wasted.  Like the next poster says "it's just common perception...it's about the look"

            Seems to me these forums are a great opportunity for professionals to speak up about some of these perceptions consumers have.  People believing dovetailed drawers are somehow "better" is one of those misconceptions I'd like to dispell.

            The idea that undermount slides provide greater storage room is another.

            Speaking of hardware - when the heck are they going to stop making 3/4 extension slides?  What educated customer will say "4 bucks extra per drawer?  That's going to cost me 50 bucks to go with all full extension slides.  I'd rather have 3/4 extension and save the money"? 

        2. User avater
          jagwah | Dec 19, 2008 01:29am | #5

          I still make dovetail drawers in all my cabinets except utility or shop type cabinets and it has nothing to do with strength. It has to do with perception of quality. Every client I've had percieves dovetail drawers as the best. It allows me an upgrade in charges and really doesn't add much more time.

          Stapling, pocket screws or just screws may make a drawer stronger than dovetail but they don't look as nice. Sometimes it's just about the look.

            

          Just A Guy With A Hammer

          1. jimblodgett | Dec 19, 2008 01:55am | #7

            "Stapling, pocket screws or just screws may make a drawer stronger than dovetail but they don't look as nice. Sometimes it's just about the look."

            My point exactly.  

          2. davidmeiland | Dec 19, 2008 02:09am | #9

            Jim, suppose we tested a dovetailed drawer and a stapled plywood drawer, put them on one of those machines that opens and closes them dozens of times per minute for days on end. Which is going to fail first? Dovetailing is much stronger. As far as I'm concerned it's objectively better.

            I *mostly* agree that dovetail is not necessary for the average user, but for some it will last longer. Maybe your kids are old enough so that you've forgotten how they climb on open drawers, yank them open, etc.

          3. jimblodgett | Dec 19, 2008 04:27am | #10

            You might have me there, David. 

            (Are you saying you have drawers in the kitchen you live in? You know about the cobbler's kids, right?) 

          4. User avater
            hubcap | Dec 19, 2008 05:31am | #11

            Schlabaugh Cabinetry in Holmes county. Ask for Willis.

            Fantastic craftsmen. whadya know I found their card- Schlabach Wood Design

            330-897-2600

            They are in New BedfordNo Tag

          5. User avater
            coffeymaker | Dec 19, 2008 04:19pm | #16

            Thanks!  I'll get in touch with them. 

          6. davidmeiland | Dec 19, 2008 06:10am | #12

            Oh yeah, Jim, we're living LARGE around here! We got:

            large list of unfinished projects

            large number of projects started but not completed

            large quantity of urgently needed work unable to be started

            large projected budget deficit

            What you got??

            I'm waiting for my daughter to get old enough to say "Dad, this house is embarrassing, I don't want my friends to come over here."

            Edited 12/18/2008 10:10 pm by davidmeiland

          7. jimblodgett | Dec 19, 2008 10:56am | #14

            "What you got??"

            When our middle daughter was in about 4th or 5th grade she would slump down in the seat of my old van if she had to catch a ride with me - she literally was embarassed to be seen in it!

            We raised all three kids in the same house, the youngest is now 24, and we STILL use a rolled up towel as weatherstripping across the french doors in the living room!

            The new house?  Took so long to remodel and move into the 20 year roof we put on early in the project was 1/2 way through it's expected life span before we moved in!  Beat THAT!

            Oh man, I got a million of them.  Don't get me started.  Bought a new hot water heater for the old house once.  Brought it home and set it out on the back porch next to the door we always used.  Sat there so long we all forgot it was there.  Finally did install it, though - in a duplex we used to own!  Freaking thing must have sat out on the porch 4, maybe 5 years.

            Oh man.  I am one derelict when it comes to my own house. 

          8. Hazlett | Dec 19, 2008 04:38pm | #17

            Jim---shame on you for pointing out what is essentially true, :>) I own a house right now that was built in 1941
            before that I owned a house built in the 1920's both of those houses involved raising several generations of children----kitchens and built-in cabinets throughout not a single dovetailLet's think about it----when these kitchens were built in the 1920's---the kitchen was essentially a no-nonsense workroom---and you would no more invite your geuests into your kitchen-----than someone today would host a party in their laundry room NOW however--for some reason people hold parties---and expect their guests to stand around in their kitchen( perhaps to hide the fact that they haven't been able to properly furnish their living room?)soooo----when we stand around next to someones rediculously oversized SubZero refrigerator next to their dovetailed kitchen drawers while eating microwaved tid bits purchased from Sams Club------ I will have a hard time believing those drawers will actually outlast the site built ones cobbled together here 80 plus years ago.but hey--let's not let facts enter into it!!!
            best wishes,
            stephen

          9. User avater
            coffeymaker | Dec 19, 2008 05:52pm | #18

            If I had my druthers, I would still have the site built cabinets that were built for this house.  There's remnants of them in the kitchen today, and they're bulletproof.  I'm looking for a cabinetmaker precisely to replicate what was taken out of most of the kitchen, which had (you guessed it) dovetail drawers. 

          10. Hazlett | Dec 19, 2008 06:25pm | #19

            hey--out of curiousity---roughly where is the house?
            I am not terribly familiar with which neighborhood is which up in cleveland--- I go to the art museum a lot---and the cedar-lee theater SPECTACULAR old houses east of the museum & little italy---shaker heights etc.- i wonder what's in those?Was up on weds. eve. on the west side----cleveland public theater in the gordon square theater--which they claim is clevelands oldest standing theater great fun there-and next door at a fun coffee house( gypsy beans and baking co.) had great fun walking around-party of 8--been there several times--love visting----but seeing that neighborhood in the daylight might scare me off!
            best wishes,
            stephen

          11. User avater
            coffeymaker | Dec 19, 2008 06:43pm | #20

            I'm in Lakewood, actually.  Featured in TOH Mag as one of the best places to find old housing stock.  The wife and I bought a house that needed a lot of work in a great neighborhood near the lake. Should only take me a lifetime to fix all the damage that's been done over the years. 

            Familiar with all the places you mentioned.  The owner of the Gypsy Bean is a friend of mine for many years.  Gordon Square is booming, but it has a ways to go.  If you want to see a real gem of a remodel, next time you're in CLE, check out Stone Mad (North of Gordon Square).  All custom milled walnut, penny round floor tile, gorgeous work.  They aslo have a bocce court.  Ask someone there about the story behind the place. 

          12. dovetail97128 | Dec 19, 2008 07:53pm | #21

            I grew up in Lakewood. Nice city to be growing up in back then. Still have nieces and nephews living there and raising families. You down along Lake ave. or Clifton Blvd.?
            They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.

          13. Craig530 | Dec 30, 2008 08:36am | #23

            Coffey there are a lot of great cabinet shops in northern Ohio.  All custom shops made to order, a wall that is 9' 8"  3/8  will get a cabinet made to that exact length.  Not a bunch of cabinets screwed together with fillers at each end.  And you don't want site built cabinents if you want a furniture grade finish.  Funiture grade finishes require a post catalized varnish only available in a spray shop.  Oil based urathanes will be unavailable in Ohio after Jan.1, 2009 anyway.  I'm in northeast ohio and worked for a cabinet maker/ carpentry contractor  for 15 years, now working for a G/C.  Try Swiss Woodcraft in Rittman, Ohio.  Top notch shop.  Expect $400-$600 a running foot for any custom cabinetry.  Oh by the way around here you better have dovetailed drawers that compliment the quality of the granite countertop that you will be putting on your new cabinets, am I not right?  That is the only route we ever took.   

            Edited 12/30/2008 12:45 am ET by Craig530

          14. rez | Dec 30, 2008 06:31pm | #24

            Thank you.

          15. mike585 | Dec 30, 2008 10:47pm | #25

            Reminds me of a few years ago. A few of us on BT agreed to get together for a bike ride. We were to meet at the home of a noted author of FHB articles and Taunton books. I was expecting his home to be complete and of perfect craftsmanship, making me bum out about my unfinished projects (DIYer in an endless remodel). Got in the house and found what was done was beautiful, but there was a lot that looked like it had been waiting a long time. Man I felt better after seeing that! A few mistakes would have been better yet.

  2. mikeroop | Dec 19, 2008 02:01am | #8

    Miller cabinetry in Plain City outside of Columbus has an office / showroom in the north up there somewhere because they do exactly what you are looking for on our jobs all the time. and some of the guys would tell me they had to go to toledo to install a couple days a week might be worth a try if you can't find something closer.

  3. User avater
    SteveInCleveland | Dec 19, 2008 07:36am | #13

    I've got a great Amish gentleman I've used on a few kitchens.  He has a state-of-the-art shop out in the Burton area.  All tools run on compressed air.  Interesting shop.  Great guy.  Excellent craftsmanship.

    If you want, I can get you his telephone number.  The last time I used him was for a kitchen in Shaker Heights.

    Regards,

    Steve

     

     

     

    "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi



    Edited 12/19/2008 7:55 am ET by SteveInCleveland

    1. User avater
      coffeymaker | Dec 19, 2008 04:16pm | #15

      thanks for the info.  Please forward his phone number.  Outof curiosity, the Amish have phones...?

      1. User avater
        SteveInCleveland | Dec 22, 2008 08:03pm | #22

        I sent you an e-mail with his contact information. 

         

         

        "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."  - St. Francis of Assisi

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