It looks great and 99.9% of customers don't even notice it. I round over the front edge and pin it on. When I need to close a gap, I make up 1/4" x 3/4" scribe mould. I kind of agree, but being stuck with moulding or caulk beats being stuck on the job scribing and cutting when I could be stuck in the drive-through at the bank, cashing my check.
#Cabinet scribe detail install
Yes, I agree - it is a lot easier to do a quality install with scribes or you are stuck with moulding or caulk. I always add a 1/4" scribe, as I usually install the cabinets myself. I focus on things that the customer's knowledge allows them to focus on, and moulding doesn't look bad. I do care and love to see fine work, but a scribed gable will not make the cabinets last any longer, make the drawer slides any smoother, or make the finished look any better.
A scribe looks great to a professional cabinetmaker, but that's the only person that will ever say "Hey, look at that perfect scribe - a true craftsman taking pride in his work." Most people don't have a clue, so it's impossible for them to care one way or the other. I make up moulding that matches the profile of the finished end. If the walls are out bad, on a raised panel end, it can still be seen by a trained eye, in the stile being wider on top or bottom. The reason I don't scribe and cut my finished ends is because it's slower. How bad are the walls that you are referring to? New construction or old homes? Everybody has their own way of doing things, I guess. A lot of times I have a separate radiused panel for the finished ends, and I'll just scribe those a hair if need be. I never do it, unless the walls are very bad. Why are shops not doing this? I am used to Fountainhead and a couple of other stock cabinet companies doing this, but why would you let your work look like that after install? Is it that much harder to make the sides 1/4-1/2 inch bigger to accept a scribe? The cabinets do not have scribe material on the back to fit to the wall. I have been installing cabinets from custom shops.