Red Seal Cabinetmaker flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Riving knife function

A riving knife sits behind the saw blade and rises and falls with it, preventing the kerf from closing and reducing kickback risk during through and non-through cuts.

Wood dust TLV

ACGIH threshold limit value for hardwood dust is often 1 mg/m³ and softwood 5 mg/m³; hardwood dust is a confirmed carcinogen, so local exhaust and respiratory protection are required.

Lockout/tagout purpose

Isolating and locking all energy sources - electrical, pneumatic, and stored kinetic energy - before blade changes or maintenance prevents unexpected startup and injury.

Third-angle projection

In third-angle projection the top view is placed above the front view and the right-side view to the right, matching how the object would unfold from a glass box.

Scale rule use

A scale rule reads dimensions directly at a stated ratio such as 1:10 or 1:4; never measure a scaled drawing with a standard ruler because paper stretch and reproduction alter size.

Nominal vs actual lumber

Nominal dimensions are the rough green size; finished S4S lumber is smaller, so a nominal 2x4 measures 1-1/2 by 3-1/2 inches and a 1 in board measures 3/4 in.

Equilibrium moisture content

EMC is the moisture content wood reaches when it balances with surrounding air; at 68°F and 45% relative humidity, interior wood stabilizes near 8.5%.

Tangential vs radial movement

Wood expands and contracts about twice as much tangentially (flat-sawn face) as radially (quarter-sawn); flat-sawn boards therefore cup and move more with humidity changes.

Chisel bevel angles

A 25-degree bevel suits softwoods and paring, while 30 degrees gives a stronger edge for hardwoods; hone a micro-bevel and remove the wire edge on a strop.

Router bit shank sizes

Half-inch shanks resist chatter and allow deeper cuts than quarter-inch shanks; large-diameter bits must be run at reduced spindle speeds per the manufacturer's rating.

Table saw blade height

Set the blade just above the stock, roughly 1/8 in above the top of the cut, to limit exposed teeth while completing the cut cleanly.

Jointer outfeed setting

The outfeed table is set level with the knife at top dead center, or 0.001-0.003 in below, to support the planed surface and prevent snipe at the end of the pass.

Dust collection CFM

A 4 in duct supports about 400-500 CFM and 6 in duct about 800-1000 CFM; hood capture velocity for wood dust should reach 3,500-4,000 FPM.

Face joint then plane

Mill one face flat on the jointer, joint one edge square to it, then plane to thickness and rip to width, preserving a true reference face and edge throughout.

Chip load formula

Chip load equals feed rate divided by RPM times the number of cutting edges; it predicts cut quality and tells you when feed or speed must change.

Tenon thickness rule

A mortise-and-tenon tenon is typically one-third the rail thickness; the tenon length should reach at least half the width of the mortised member for adequate strength.

PVA glue types

Type I PVA is waterproof, Type II water-resistant, and Type III interior only; exterior and high-humidity work requires Type I adhesive with adequate open time.

Panel expansion allowance

A floating frame-and-panel door needs about 1/8 in total movement allowance for a 12 in wide panel; the groove must be deeper than the panel's seasonal expansion.

Diagonal squaring check

Measure both diagonals of a case; equal diagonals mean the assembly is square, and a 1/16 in difference over 24 in is roughly 0.15 degrees out of square.

Raising grain before finish

Wipe the surface with a damp sponge, let it dry, and sand lightly with 220 grit so water-based stains and finishes do not raise fuzz after the first coat.

Dry film thickness target

Cabinet finishes typically build 3-5 mils dry film over three or four thin coats; too thin telegraphs grain and too thick risks cracking and poor adhesion.

HVLP spray settings

Hold the gun 6-8 in from the surface, overlap passes by 50%, and set cap pressure near 8-10 psi; reduce viscosity to the gun's rating before spraying.

Standard counter height

Finished countertops are typically 36 in above the floor, and upper cabinet bottoms sit about 18 in above the counter, or 54 in above finished floor.

European cup hinge

A concealed hinge uses a 35 mm cup bored in the door and offers three-way adjustment for side, height, and depth; overlay or inset determines the door reveal.

Upper cabinet anchoring

Upper cabinets must be fastened into framing with screws penetrating at least 1 in; toggle bolts suit hollow drywall but drywall anchors alone cannot carry cabinet loads.

32 mm system holes

European frameless cabinets use shelf-pin and hinge holes spaced on 32 mm centers, about 1.26 in, so hardware from different makers aligns consistently.

Dining and desk heights

Dining tables and desks finish at 29-30 in, counters at 36 in, and bars at 42 in; seat height usually sits 10-12 in below the tabletop.

ADA counter height

Accessible counters top out at 34 in with at least 27 in knee clearance, 30 in width, and 11-25 in depth; always confirm against the local code edition.

Half-blind dovetail use

Half-blind dovetails hide the joinery on the face, making them standard for drawer fronts; through dovetails suit case backs and boxes where both faces show.

Board foot formula

Board feet equals thickness in inches times width in inches times length in inches, divided by 144; a 1 in by 6 in by 8 ft board is 4 board feet.

Kerf and trim allowance

A 10 in saw blade removes about 1/8 in of kerf per cut; add 1/2-1 in of trim allowance on rough stock so final dimensioning removes defects and snipe.

Spray booth airflow

A spray booth needs explosion-proof motors, roughly 100 FPM face velocity, and fire suppression; flammable finishes must never be sprayed near an ignition source.