Though production cabinets may not rival the quality of hand-made cabinets, production work does offer consistency. Many stock cabinets are manufactured with demanding tolerances, ensuring quality throughout the product line.

In fact, because of the sophisticated equipment used in today's cabinet manufacturing, the quality of machining may be superior to what most small cabinet shops can offer.

One of the advantages of buying stock cabinets is that you can usually inspect them before you buy. If you shop around, you'll discover that some are more "shlock" than stock.

Heavily discounted cabinets offered through lumberyards are highly suspect. Beware of photo-simulated wood grain, paper-thin laminates, low-quality or mismatched woods, and haphazard joinery.

The first place to look when checking quality is a drawer. Study how it's made—the detailing of joinery, quality of inner surfaces, fit of the pieces, and how well it glides in its tracks. Is it on high-quality ball-bearing extensions, moderate-quality rollers or cheap plastic runners? Check to see how far the drawers will extend.

Then check the cabinet doors for proper fit and ease of action. Check any edge banding around the perimeter for workmanship. Note whether the hinges are adjustable and how far the door will swing open.

When buying stock cabinets, you usually pay up front; be very thorough when checking their quality. Once you get them home and installed, you'll have little recourse if you discover flaws in design or workmanship.