kitchen cabinet doors - Continued - General Woodworking - Woodworking

kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

6/3/19, 10:32 PM #1

Howie
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kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

Howie

Previously I asked opinions on veneer species for kitchen cabinet doors. Now the job has changed and I need to make new slab doors that will be painted. This would be my first at painting kitchen cabinet doors. First, I assume that to get the best result I will need to spray which is fine since I have a spray booth, but do you agree with this? Second, from checking around it looks like I need to use a very specific primer and color coat product, is that true or will a good quality primer and enamel color coat be sufficient? Some of you preferred mdf to baltic birch if they were to be veneered, but for painting is one better that the other? THanks.

Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

6/4/19, 2:22 AM #2

Kneale Brownson
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Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

Kneale Brownson

I take it these will be flat without a frame, in which case I definitely would prefer the birch ply to the mdf for durability.

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I’m a fairly spry 82-year-old who had been a reader/participant at WoodCentral since the demise of Badger Pond. I started visiting BP to learn something about finish for a project I’d completed and became hooked on internet forums as a way of increasing my knowledge about all sorts of topics. I have been a moderator for a couple other forums on subjects I enjoy. My interest in woodworking began in the early 1970’s when my wife and I had contractors add to our house near Traverse City, MI, and I ended up doing the trim work to reduce mounting costs. I had no tools. I bought a P-C skilsaw, hammer, screwdrivers and one of those wooden miter boxes with a backsaw. I made trim for windows and doors from one-by lumber and started my woodworking career. At the same time, I started a 50-year career as a ski instructor. I got onto the night shift at a mental hospital so I could ski days, and spent my 30s and 40s with that schedule. I eventually replaced the PC-upside-down-in-a-board with a real table saw and began the purchase of enough equipment to fill a jam-packed 40-foot shipping container we used after we sold our property in Michigan. The ski instructing had taken us to Colorado and we were spending too much on maintaining utilities for two homes. A couple years ago, the dozen years spent at 10,000 feet of elevation was making my body produce too many red blood cells, so we had to leave my “forever” home in the mountains and we moved back to Michigan. Now I have to find myself a shop space for all those tools in the container.

Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

6/4/19, 10:21 AM #3

Bill Tindall, E.TN.
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Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I have sprayed acres of wood with Oil based Kilz, sand 220 grit, spray thinned oil paint. The result is glass smooth.

Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

6/4/19, 11:18 AM #4

Barry Irby
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Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

Barry Irby

I agree with Bill. Have used the same products many times with great success, but I stress the use of Original Oil based Kilz.

As much as I hate working with MDF, this MAY be a good application. Actually I wudl look into HDF or High Density Fiberboard. Find a local sign company and ask them what they use as exterior panels for signs. They have a waterproof version and it makes good doors.

You may want to prime the edges with Kilz, sand lightly and then prime the whole thing so the edges get primed twice.

Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

6/4/19, 3:15 PM #5

Dick Coers
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Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

Dick Coers

So difficult to paint edge grain of MDF. I assume you will edgeband either. I once did a gloss black on MDF. Surprised to actually see a little pattern on the face. Assume it came from the pressing. I had to sand the face for a dead smooth surface.

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6/4/19, 3:32 PM #6

Mark Mandell
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Re: MDF Edges

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

MDF will soak up paint/finish like a sponge. Seizing is required in order to seal the edge pores. I've used thinned Titebond I with good results. It will usually take 2 or three applications to get a sandable surface after which paint/finish will gloss up nicely, especially if you spray a spit-coat of dewaxed shellac as a tie coat.

Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

6/4/19, 5:18 PM #7

Dick Coers
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Re: MDF Edges

Dick Coers

That’s why I suggested edgebanding. 3 coats of sizing on all the edges of a full kitchen would take a lot of labor. I do know some guys stack the doors and use a foam roller, but the edges get sloppy that way.

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6/4/19, 5:28 PM #8

Mark Mandell
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Re: MDF Edges

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

I've had zero-luck with either peel-n-stick or hot melt glue for edgebanding MDF.

It may be fine for substrates but I don't fancy the stuff for doors that'll get a lot of use; too heavy and easy to strip out hinge screws.

Re: kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

6/4/19, 9:17 PM #9

Dick Coers
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Re: MDF Edges

Dick Coers

I never use that stuff. I glue on 1/8” thick solid wood strips. I made up an rig from Fine Woodworking reader submissions. It has a wide base and a trim routermounted perpendicular to the base. Takes seconds to term idges.

kitchen cabinet doors - Continued

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