Line boring uses a machine fitted with multiple spindles spaced 32mm apart to drill a precise row of holes across a cabinet panel in one pass. This 32mm spacing (System 32) is the industry standard that aligns shelf pins, drawer slides, and hinge cups without individual measuring. A motorized boring head presses across the workpiece, producing consistent, repeatable holes at production speed.

The two standard sizes are 5mm and 1/4 inch (6.35mm). Metric 5mm is the European standard used in System 32 cabinetmaking and matches the spindles on production line boring machines. The 1/4 inch standard is common in North American face-frame cabinets. Always match your drill bit to the pin diameter specified by your hardware manufacturer.

The production method is a line boring machine — a multi-spindle tool that drills an entire row of holes in one pass using the 32mm System 32 standard. For smaller shops, a pocket boring machine or shelf pin jig clamped to the panel guides a standard drill bit. Either way, position the row consistently from the panel edge (typically 37mm) so shelf pins and drawer slides align across all your cabinets.

A pocket hole is an angled pilot hole drilled into one piece of wood that lets a self-tapping screw pull two pieces tightly together from inside, hiding the fastener from view. Drilled at roughly 15 degrees with a pocket boring machine or jig, the joint is assembled and screwed in one quick step with no waiting for glue to cure. The technique is widely used for cabinet face frames, box assembly, and furniture because it is fast, strong, and produces a clean finish.

A face frame is a solid-wood rectangular frame — built from vertical stiles and horizontal rails — glued to the front of a cabinet box. It covers the raw plywood edges, provides a flat, finished surface for doors and hinges to mount against, and gives the cabinet a traditional furniture-style appearance. Face frames are typically assembled with pocket holes or mortise-and-tenon joints, then held square on an assembly easel while the adhesive sets before being attached to the carcass.