A friend of mine would like me to build some replacement doors for his bath room vanities. They all will be painted and since MDF paints very well I thought it could be a good choice since he is on a budget.
I would like to use 3/4 for the rail and stiles and 1/4 for the center panel so the weight should not be to much of a problem. I’m wondering about the glue holding power when yellow glue and MDF are used without any mechanincal fastners.
I will be using my standard rail and stile bit to make the cuts.
Thanks
Sean
Replies
Not a problem, I'd use Titebond III and saturate the joints.
Good luck.
Not sure if this should be a consideration but if there is going to be a lot of moisture in the bathroom I think the finish is real important as well as the glue. Mdf is not a great combatant with moisture. Take care
Centaur76
If it were me, I would be using poplar instead of MDF. Those doors may get some rough treatment and MDF just doesn't stand up to it that well. Poplar machines beautifully, takes paint very well - and is more durable than MDF.
Thank You all for your input. These doors will be in high humidity and exposed to alot of abuse from adults and 2 young kids so I think poplar sounds better for the rails and stiles and MDF for the center panel. I think the combination will give me the durability and the paintablity they are looking for except its just going to cost them alittle more money for poplar.
Once again thank you!
How about poplar for the panels too? A little more money, but lots less chance of problems later - and they'll be lighter than MDF. (No, I don't own a poplar forest. - lol)
trebark
Moisture resistant MDF would be absolutly fine for your doors. I've lost count of the number I've fitted to bathroom vanities & we stick a 10 yr warranty on them. I usually buy them in with a routed pattern on melamine faced board & finish them with a 2 pack polyester/polyurethane (by using melamine the inside does not require coating). Put a 3mm (1/8) radius to all exterior edges & they are damn near bullet proof.
Don
Tre-
I did raised panel doors for our vanity about five or six years back. I used 3/4 MDF for the panels and poplar for the rails/stiles. I painted it with alkyd oil paint and it has not moved. I was worried about the panel expanding if it was wood, and also worried that the MDF joints would not hold up over time.
-Mike
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