I made cabinet doors a year ago for our kitchen and one of them never was quite right. Maple withe maple ply flat panels. It warped slightly after glue up, but now with the really dry winter air one of the stiles has bowed badly. It is tall (~36″x18″) so it is really noticeable now.
Is there any way to use wieghted stickering and steam to get it back into shape, or do I just make a new door and rematch the dye and finish (uggh!)?
thanks, Jake
Replies
Oh,
I have had luck bending warped doors using a heat gun. Curtis Buchanon the chairmaker from Tennesee told me that heat is what bends wood, steam is only the carrier. In any case 15 minutes or so with a heat gun and overbending worked for me on a couple of warped doors.
Good Luck,
Stevo
If the stile that is warped is the one with the hinges, you might be able to get past the problem by adding hinges along its length.
Statistically speaking, the odds are against you fixing it and having it stay fixed. I'm not saying it can't be done, and you might be lucky, but the odds are that after fiddling with it endlessly you're just gonna make a new door in the end. I'd make the new door now.
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
I would bite the bullet and make a new door. I've never had much luck trying to straighten one out. - lol
One other thing to look at is what appliances are near that door. Coffeemakers, toasters, electric skillets, etc can create quite a bit of hot, moist air that can raise hell with the cabinets.
BINGO. Coffee maker sits right under it, and I'm sure that has just axacerbated the problem.
JH
AHA!!! I thought that may be the problem.
For a small financial consideration, I'll even tell you how I happen to know about that sort of thing - lol
Does this mean I have to give up coffee? Say it isn't so!
I didn't, so why should you? - lol
I made my first set of kitchen cabinets eight years ago when I remodeled our kitchen. About three years ago, I noticed that the upper cabinet above the coffeemaker was getting kinda ugly............faceframe slightly separated, finish going bad, and the rail/stile joint in the raised panel door had opened up a little. I fixed it all and watch it closely, but it's an ongoing problem. Now that I'm designing and building cabs, it's always something I talk to customers about.
There are two options. Build a new door or use door catches top and bottom. I know of no way to "unwarp" a door.
Hi Jake ,
You said that door was never quite right from the get go , sounds like even if the wood was dry and stable it was not flat enough for a door . Typically door stock should be the flattest and best of what you have to use. Cut your losses and make another door .Chalk it up to experience .
If it's not right when you glue it up , chances are it never will be
good luck dusty
I have had success in un-warping a door by following an article in one of the past FHB or FWW I can't remember, old age creeping in, any way It goes like this. Take a piece of hot rolled steel say 1/4" for say a 3/4" door. The length needs to be about 5" longer than the width of the door. make two 90o bends in the length of the steel one at each end so that you basicly have an elongated letter U shape with the uprights centered in the stiles. Now you need to twist he uprights in the opposite direction that you want to correct the door. Dill two holes in the bootom or top stiles depending on whichever is not going to be visable. rout out the space in between the two holes, insert your 'spring' and voila. A straight door. I wish I could draw it and post it here but my computer skills are lacking.
Sometimes there is hope..
Had one of the last doors I made for our kitchen reno twist badly - about 3/8" across the long diagonal. Clamped one corner to the bench with a 5/8" dowel running diagonal underneath the valley of the twist (convex side down). Removed the finish on the high side, soaked the rail and stile with water, then clamped the high corner down to the bench. Applied some heat with a heat gun then a radiant heater. After doing this three times in an hour it broought the twist down to 1/16" on a 27" high door.
On your place I'd order new cabinet doors. For examle here: https://www.cabinetdoordepot.com/Wood_Cabinet_Doors
And it is very easy to order them online.
OK considering this form is about warped cabinet doors, here is my question, I have a very old cabinet with beveled glass inserts. The 2 large doors are warped. How do I get the warp out without ruining the piece?
I like the idea Omah presented, but here is another way:
Rip a deep slot in the stile from the outside edge approximate 80 of its width in line with the panel slot.
The width isn't too important, possible one blade width will be enough.
Make a spline so fit snugly (but not too snugly). Clamp the stile just flat or better, just slightly overflexed in the opposite direction.
Use a hard setting glue like epoxy or plastic resin. If the spline is the same species is won't be that noticeable unless its an end door.
Thanks I will consider it. I have some experience with epoxy so it's worth a try. Again, Thanks
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