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I am making a few kitchen cabinets for my son's kitchen and he wants the doors to match the existing cabinets.
Three inch rails and stiles with a plywood panel. I am using a router bit set for making the rails and stiles but it is meant for a true 1/4 inch panel. Can I get plywood panels that are a true 1/4 inch? Can I use 1/4 inch MDF? The doors will be painted.
Thanks
Jay
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(09-23-2018, 07:43 PM)cme4dk Wrote: I am making a few kitchen cabinets for my son's kitchen and he wants the doors to match the existing cabinets.
Three inch rails and stiles with a plywood panel. I am using a router bit set for making the rails and stiles but it is meant for a true 1/4 inch panel. Can I get plywood panels that are a true 1/4 inch? Can I use 1/4 inch MDF? The doors will be painted.
Thanks
Jay
I know you can get true 1/4" plywood but I doubt the big box stores will be your source , try a lumber yard or plywood supplier . If you can't find either maybe a local cabinet shop can hook you up . I don't know of an MDF in true 1/4" even from a plywood supplier .
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1/4" MDF is available with veneer on one side. Comes in 4x8 sheets.
Usually sold by lumber suppliers like Paxton's, etc. Doubtful the box stores will have it on hand.
Steve
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MDF is your best choice for painted doors. It is consistent in thickness, stays flat, and paints better than plywood.
John
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MDF will be fine, and you won't need a friction fit...just be sure to glue the panels in. It was surprising to me to see some posts that the MDF isn't a true 1/4". It's hard for me to find the stuff, but that which I have is 1/4".
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Thank you, you guys are great!!
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Or get 1/2" and back cut it so the tomgueis exactly the thickness you want. It will make for a more solid door also.
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There are options. MDF is one and is fine for painted doors - in fact, probably the best.
Construction grade 1/4 plywood is used mostly for flooring underlayment. I used a ton in my old house when I redid the vinyl flooring. I found the actual thickness to be about 9/32", and it would be pretty easy to sand or plane it down to 1/4". What I had was three ply, no thin face veneers (it's not appearance grade).
I have done flat panel doors with 6mm plywood, and the gap is not really visible. Space balls also keep the doors tight so they don't move and they don't bend. If it bothered you, you could always tack it from the back.
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Whiteside carries
rail/stile bits with undersized slot cutters for plywood panels. A bit pricey, but nice.
That said, +5 on the MDF.
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(09-25-2018, 10:40 AM)CARYinWA Wrote: Or get 1/2" and back cut it so the tomgueis exactly the thickness you want. It will make for a more solid door also.
That's what i have been doing. You get a much stronger door. I glue the panels in. I really like the feel of the doors. Since I have been doing it this way i have no issues with doors that warp.
John
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