I’m making some simple built-in closet-type cabinets, with a natural maple finish. I’m thinking of making the cases from maple plywood, which is available and easy enough to work with. However, the design calls for doors which would be about 12″ wide and 70″ long (two per case, three cases total.) I’m concerned that they won’t be flat, not because of moisture changes (plywood is stable enough, I think) but because plywood is never really flat to begin with. I’d love to hear how others would approach this. I don’t have vacuum equipment to do veneering, but could consider contact cement.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Replies
Is there enough space between the back of the door and the edge of the shelves for a couple of cleats?
Would it do major violence to the design to use two 12"x35" doors instead of one 12"x70"?
If neither of those will work, I guess I'd be thinking about a frame and panel door. Two or three (or four) tall, narrow panels on each door might be an opportunity to show off some nicely figured wood.
I just made two frame and panel doors for a washer dryer closet with pocket doors. they were 6'7" by 21" wide with mdf beadboard panels...I looked at all the wood I had and passed...made the frames out of 3/4" mdf milled with the usual bit I use for kitchen cab doors... Been there for 5 months (change in humidity from summer to winter) and still flat and square...Guess my thing worked...They are painted with alkyd over oil based primer....
Are you talking about making slab doors?
If so make them out of maple veneered MDF. That will be stable enough.
I would be a bit scared about making that big of a door out of ply, seems like none of it is all that stable anymore.
Also in the event that it does twist/warp on you there is a solution to this, Hafele makes it, which means its not cheap, you route a dado into the back of the door and set this sort of long threaded rod into it. You tighten up on it to take the twist out.
They do work but obviously you want to avoid that if possible.
Doug
You shouldn't have problems if you are using good cabinet grade plywood. Make sure to finish both sides and all edges. Using two magnetic catches top and bottom will help hold the door. Some of the el cheapo paint grade plywood may give you trouble, with either plywood , don't take the top sheet or take one that isn't straight.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
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