Built in cabinetry question - Woodworking Talk

docleon · 03-13-2009, 02:08 PM

I am a hobbyist woodworker, so I don't pretend to know about professional cabinet making. I recently ordered a very expensive built in entertainment unit for my home with a paint finish. I was very surprised when the unit arrived that it was composed solely of cabinet grade plywood and veneered MDF. I was under the impression that high end cabinetry was made of solid wood. Is there truth to the argument that painted finish is better on coated MDF for wear and tear?

RussBoyd · 03-13-2009, 02:46 PM

I think most of the guys would say, Yes, most (if not all) HIGH END cabinetry is made from solid wood (and some ply). As far as the veneer goes, I don't know why they would veneer something that was to be painted, but mdf is used as a veneer core a lot because of it's stability. Any good painter can end up with as good a job on wood as on mdf, but mdf does paint better on the average. Russ

**Leo G** · 03-13-2009, 10:22 PM

Very expensive is relative. Most mass produced products are made this way. MDF is a good paintable surface, but it is not very strong.

scribbles · 03-13-2009, 11:47 PM

Mdf has its uses; the builder should have explained what you were going to receive. I like poplar for anything with a load on it, and mdf for just ascetic panels. If it is a door with glass in it, I use maple.

clampman · 03-14-2009, 02:13 AM

Scribbles,

Why do you like maple for glass doors?

scribbles · 03-14-2009, 12:10 PM

I have had bad luck with delicate doors with there muttons and such sagging with the weight of the glass in them, no such problem with maple. It is just much stronger, takes abuse better, and it is so clean it paints beautiful.

Truth is it is probably overkill, but is jut one way I try to distinguish my work from the herd. I have a ton of competition out here in nor-cal.

I do the same thing on handrail; if I have a pg span over 10' I use maple for the rail, no wiggle over time.

clampman · 03-15-2009, 09:03 PM

Thanks Scribbles,

I figured it might have been for the finish you can get on it spraying lacquer. The only glass doors I've done were for built-in china cabs and medicine cabs for painting by brush. I used poplar because it takes glue so well and I like very, very narrow muntins which don't leave much area for glue.

Hopefully, none of them have broken loose , but I'll never know since none of them were for me.

Cheers,
Jim

scribbles · 03-15-2009, 11:56 PM

By the way i love your corner clamps. What do they use to grab? teath or just friction? I need to get a couple sets.

clampman · 03-16-2009, 11:04 AM

They use teeth. But two on each side can be removed for hardwood in high visibility areas, like stairway landing windows where your eyes are a few inches from the casing edge when coming down the stairs.

The main objectives were speed and pressure.

cabinetman · 03-16-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docleon

I am a hobbyist woodworker, so I don't pretend to know about professional cabinet making. I recently ordered a very expensive built in entertainment unit for my home with a paint finish. I was very surprised when the unit arrived that it was composed solely of cabinet grade plywood and veneered MDF. I was under the impression that high end cabinetry was made of solid wood.

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

Since you ordered the unit painted, I'm surprised that there was plywood at all. In some circles, "high end" may just be a reference to cost and not referenced to construction or the materials used.

Quote:

Originally Posted by docleon

Is there truth to the argument that painted finish is better on coated MDF for wear and tear?

I'm not sure what you mean by "coated". Generally speaking, if finished properly, MDF will provide a good surface for painting or veneering. A painted finish can be damaged by being scratched or abrasions.