The Shop

THE SHOP

At Hankins & Associates, Inc., we take immense pride in our year legacy as a kitchen and bath design firm and cabinet dealer. In October of 2015 we created The Shop Kitchen and Bath, a bespoke cabinet shop specializing in crafting quality custom cabinetry, committed to delivering exceptional quality and personalized service. Our small shop boasts a diverse range of equipment, including a Biesse CNC, distinguishing us within the area. Focused on handcrafting custom cabinetry and millwork, each piece is meticulously created to perfection by our skilled group. We are dedicated to meeting and exceeding our clients' project build needs with precision and efficiency, showcasing our adaptability and expertise. With the capability to replicate and produce our own mouldings, we offer unique and tailored solutions that larger manufacturers cannot replicate. Using only domestic formaldehyde-free plywood, we prioritize quality finishes and sustainable materials in all our projects. Specializing in designing and building custom cabinetry and millwork, we excel in creating bespoke pieces that larger manufacturers cannot accommodate in their production processes. When you entrust us to supply your cabinetry, rest assured that we not only deliver but also handcraft it ourselves, underscoring our unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of our work. Choose Hankins & Associates and The Shop Kitchen and Bath for unparalleled craftsmanship and expertise in bringing your dream space to life.

Some of the equipment we utilize in making your cabinetry.

The Design Process

Contact Hankins & Associates, Inc. to discuss the design process. (215) 794-5930

Please refer to The Process for more information and a downloadable (PDF) design agreement and questionnaire forms.

The Biesse CNC

Our shop is just that ... a shop. When you visit our design studio, you’ll find a safe pathway to our office and studio area from the entry door. The first thing you’ll see upon entering is our Biesse 3-axis CNC (computer numerical control). So, what is the CNC? It’s a machine that assists with repetitive tasks that require precision and quality. Is it common for small bespoke cabinet shops to have CNC’s? Generally, not ... but we're fortunate to have one. This video will give you an idea of some (but not all) of its tasks.

Table Saws

How many table saws is enough? Not really sure, but for this small bespoke shop ... it’s three. Two of our table saws are found at either end of this sizeable outfeed (general purpose) table. Each typically equipped with different blades, for different tasks. One features a 4-roll feeder, while the other is the “go to” shop saw. The third saw is a “Slider” with a 7.5HP motor/12” blade and 1.0HP motor/4.72" scoring blade. This saw is tasked with many jobs and works especially well with veneered sheet goods with its scoring blade.

Shapers (wood spindle shapers)

I have an affinity for shapers. Why? Not really sure. Some individuals collect baseball caps, some sneakers, some dolls, some Matchbox® cars. Ok, perhaps I don’t "collect" them, but I do like them and currently have 7. Not unlike the CNC, “...is it common for small bespoke cabinet shops to have this many shapers...?” No, but you'll find them here. These machines vary in size and are tasked with different cutters for different needs (Baseboard moulding, Lightrail moulding, Door profiles, Faceframe material, and more). Having more than one shaper saves time in changing cutters and set up. Might not mean much to the client, but it does here in the shop. The oldest shaper here (American made cast iron) dates back to 1943 and works wonderfully. I would love to know its history and what it's produced over the 75+ years (imagine!).

Edgebander

Probably one of the most persnickety machines in the shop is the SCM Edgebander. What’s an edgebander you ask? It’s a machine that applies PVC or wood edge material to (in this shop) 3/4" plywood. The lead edge on frameless cabinets, the shelving, etc. is edgebanded. If you don’t have an edgeband machine for applying banding material, then you might be doing with an iron—yes, an iron. They make edgeband material pre-glued that adheres with an iron, requiring time and hand trimming. The process is typically tedious and can burn up a lot of time. This edgebanding machine holds a 300’ roll and feeds it through the machine, applying the banding using pressure rollers, then guillotines the edgeband before the panel heads down the line for lead and end trimming, then trimming of top and bottom edges, finishing with buffing the banded panel edge. So why can the machine be persnickety? These machines require adjusting, tuning, (call it) "dialing in" for different banding material and plywood thickness. So, plywood material (which can vary 2mm +/-) and edgeband thickness variations require running a few test samples a must.

Door Assembly

Something else you’ll find here in our quaint bespoke shop is a Doucet SDM door assembly machine. I ordered this machine during the Covid period. Why? Because we either couldn’t get doors or couldn’t’ get them in a timely fashion from our door vendor. So, while outsourcing doors is not unusual (typical for most large cabinet manufacturers), we can if needed (and do) produce some doors here in-house more efficiently, making short order in production, while offering the greatest precision.

Materials

A commitment we make (I make) to our customers—we use quality materials. Starting with plywood—our plywood is domestic (North America) formaldehyde-free material. Does it cost us more than imported "offshore" material? Yes. But it’s simply better material for us ... for you. Likewise, our solid hardwoods are sourced locally/regionally. Our drawer slides, hinges and specialty equipment come from either Salice®, Blum® or Hafele®—to name a view. Our finish material is sourced from either M.L. Campbell, Mohawk, or Benjamin Moore.

Let’s talk Drawers

We’ve got really good drawer boxes. Our boxes are made from maple wood. The sides, front and back are 5/8” and joined using a dovetail joint. The bottoms aren’t 1/4" ... but rather 3/8” thick. They are solid and they’ll not fall apart. These aren’t 'ready to assemble' boxes from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, or Mexico. Our boxes are custom made here in Pennsylvania, then carefully sanded, and then finished AFTER assembly. Feel the sides and feel the dovetails—there is a difference! The drawer box slide mechanisms we use are undermount by either Salice® or Blum®.

A really well-built cabinet

How solid and well-built are our Bretonwoode™ custom cabinets and why do we believe they’re better than some other brands? Well ... 3/4" domestic plywood, solid hardwoods, quality hardware, solid build construction (tight fit & finish, glue & screws and more), and 'attention to detail' finishing which we invest more time in. This might sound a bit proud of me, but If you can find better quality cabinet for the investment—buy it.

Why Contact THE SHOP

Why contact The Shop Kitchen and Bath? First and foremost, we'll work with you to achieve the perfect "something" that you desire, that you'll love. Be it a kitchen, bath, fireplace built-in, bar or mud room (just to name a few) ... we'll take the time to guide you.

The word Custom to some can be 'off-putting'. For some it means expensive and out of reach. We understand this and while we can’t change your perceptions about the word, we'll do our best to show you what the word means to us.

We believe that custom should be getting what you want. We think that custom should be exploring all the design options and developing a solution. Whether it’s a specially made trim or turning, we’ll do it. Our focus is design, developing solutions and satisfying your desires. Maybe it’s a really large pot & pan drawer that someone else said, "No, we can't do it." Maybe it’s a matching or special sized table that you just can't find. Perhaps it's a really unique door style or finish that you've seen in a magazine, but nowhere else—Just ask us!

When we say custom, we mean custom. But here's the catch, we’ll not break the Bank. Want to learn more? Call us today at (215) 794-5930.

Ditchin' My Kitchen®

“Ditchin’ My Kitchen” was a kitchen remodeling program and 2008 Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Nominated program (#33. Informational/Instructional Program Feature or Segment) produced by Jim Davey, Multi Media Productions, Inc. and first aired on the Comcast Network (CN8). The program followed homeowners from design through to completion of an extensive kitchen remodel, hosted by kitchen designer Jerry Hankins of Hankins & Associates, Inc. Watch brief video clip.