TFC #36: The Frameless Applied End Dilemma

Achieving a hidden fastener on finished ends can be a tricky situation. Many shops opt for an applied end on every finished end to avoid this issue.

Some shops would argue that applied ends that are flush with the doors are “high end” or “custom” compared to a single finished end. I agree that this style of cabinetry can be really sharp. It can resemble an inset look after it’s installed if you add trim to the top and bottom.

However, I don’t like the idea of being forced to do it on every frameless job simply because we are not able to hide our fasteners.

Sometimes, having a clean, frameless, full overlay look is nice.

This article will discuss ways to avoid being trapped in this applied end dilemma without getting into complex horizontal boring.

If you have the capability of doing horizontal boring, good news, you have a lot more options to choose from.

If you are using non-CNC machinery or using a 3-axis CNC machine, we will explore the options that are available for you.

Non-CNC Options

Here are some typical ways of doing finished ends without a CNC machine.

Veneer

Veneering finished ends is our first method of avoiding applied ends. It is one of my least favorite due to it being difficult, time-consuming, and messy to do, but it can be a viable solution for the right shop.

Basically, you use your typical fastener, apply a piece of veneer on top to cover your fasteners, glue it, and then trim it to size.

Pocket Holes

This is a go-to solution for a lot of shops because it is a quick and easy solution.

However, pocket holes are not a total solution to the applied end situation because this only works when one side is not exposed such as the bottom of a base cabinet or the top of a wall cabinet.

If you have a wall cabinet or shelf, you won’t be able to do pocket holes without them being visible.

P-System by Lamello

Lamello connectors such as the P-14 are a great way to achieve a truly hidden fastener.

However, these require horizontal boring with their special tool. I like the idea of using these connectors in special applications but it doesn’t seem very efficient to put these on every finished end.

These are also brilliant for on-site miters and connections.

Biscuits or Dominos

Biscuits are a less complex alternative to the Lamello P-System, however, it still requires a special tool to do the horizontal boring.

You can get these from Lamello or Festool or others.

3-Axis CNC Options

Surface machining means you can do all of your operations on a typical 3-axis CNC without needing special machinery or aggregates.

Qualified Blind Dado

A qualified blind dado works best when it can have a screw or other fastener holding things in place. Some shops are comfortable with gluing their blind dados without using a fastener on finished ends but I think that can be a bit risky.

Cabineo 8/12 by Lamello

Cabineos can be an excellent solution for shops with a 3-axis CNC machine. It does not require any horizontal boring.

I typically refer to a Cabineo as “Snowman”.

These are not truly hidden fasteners. You can buy different colors and find different color caps but technically one side of your panel will have these snowmen exposed.

Note: The difference between the Cabineo 8 and 12 is simply how thick your adjacent panel is.

Ovvo Connectors

There are several types of Ovvo connectors available. Most of them will require horizontal boring and special machinery. They have some great choices for flat pack furniture.

For this article, I am going to mention their surface boring connector, the PN12 the RN12. The PN12 is permanent and the RN12 is removable.

This is not truly a hidden fastener either because it will show on one side of the panel similar to the Cabineo.

ZipBolt FastFit

ZipBolt is a surface machining connector that is similar to the Cabineo and the Ovvo we mentioned above.

Titus System 2

You will start to notice a lot of these surface machining connectors look very similar. Titus is another brand that makes multiple types of cabinet connectors. This connector is specifically for surface machining applications.

Horizontal Boring Options

Having a machine capable of doing horizontal boring opens a lot of doors. Your options go from 5 or 6 average options to a whole list of options, which includes regular dowels, Lockdowel, Fastenlink, Ovvo, and many more.

My Take

If I had a shop with a 3-axis router and no horizontal boring. I would want the capability to do several of these methods such as pocket holes, Lamello P-14s, Cabineos, and qualified blind dadoes. Then, I could use a mix of these options to get what is needed for each situation.

For example, I would go with a qualified blind dado with predrilled holes for screws on unfinished ends and sub ends. Then, if the end was finished, I would use Cabineos.

In my opinion, the cover caps are not too intrusive, especially if you mount the caps flush and get a matching color. However, you can put them on the exterior in some places to avoid them being seen if that is important to you.

From there, I could mix in Lamello P-14s if it was critical to have a totally hidden fastener on a fixed shelf or something.

Everyone has their own unique ideas and there is not really a one-size-fits-all construction method.

The key is finding a system that doesn’t limit your design options and is easy to accomplish in your software.

So what’s your take?

Do you use applied ends on all of your frameless jobs?

Do you sometimes wish you could do a simple full overlay frameless box?

Or do you have a brilliant construction in place that I should learn more about? Let me know. 😁🤣

Thanks for reading, have a blessed weekend!
Myron