big cabinet door sag - prevention

If you use a good quality continuous hinge and one as large as you can live with, I don't think you will get any sag from the hinge.

Mike O.

If the backs are let into the sides w/ good precision, they really can't go anywhere themselves so the only place for movement is the side frames or the hinges. A _good_, heavy piano hinge will support a lot of weight, the specifics for any given choice should be available for it. So, it seems to me the question boils down to making the supporting frame sufficiently stout or reducing load.

One way to do the latter would be to use center stile and double doors, but that may not be suitable depending on actual use envisioned. Another possibility is I would wonder if the 3/4" backing is actually needed but whether 5/8", 1/2" or even 3/8" would be sufficiently stiff.

thanks for the replies..I am using box joints all the way around. rails and stiles are 3/4" hickory, with the 3/4" plywood face panel sitting in 3/8' dado (free floating), even with top so one solid surface..will stick with existing piano hinge and see if it holds..thanks all

With a plywood panel you could glue it in and gain some more racking resistance.

Chris