How to Reattach a Cabinet's Center Stile

Introduction

This guide will show you how to reattach a cabinet’s broken center stile. A center stile is a strip of wood or metal that vertically divides a cabinet opening. It stops the cabinet doors from swinging inward when the cabinet is shut. Whether it’s just an eyesore or an attempt to protect or hide the contents inside, functioning cabinets are a necessity.

This guide explains how to easily stabilize your center stile with wood and wood glue to make your cabinets look and feel brand new! The instructions are appropriate for particle board, MDF (medium density fiberboard), or traditional wood stiles that have come detached from a cabinet.

If the stile is made of particle board like this one, use wood glue instead of nails. If you insert nails into already damaged particle board, it might crack.

What you need

Step 1 How to Reattach a Cabinet's Center Stile

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Measure the width and length of the detached center stile.

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Step 2

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Mark the measurements on the wood block that will be the supporting piece.
You may need to extend the length of the new stile to cover several inches above and below the stile's point of attachment.
Follow the markings and use the hacksaw to cut down the wood block so that it is the same width as the center stile.

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Step 3

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Apply a generous amount of wood glue to one side of the wood block.
Spread the glue to cover the entire side of the wood.

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Step 4

Place the wood piece against the back of stile and cabinet frame.
Use clamps to hold the center stile, cabinet frame, and wood supporting piece together.
The clamps prevent the wood block from sliding off the center stile so that it will dry in a fixed position.
Remove the clamps after 24 hours.