Building shaker style doors. Use plywood, MDF, or make own panels

[kevins007]

I would like some advice here because I am building kitchen cabinets with shaker style doors. So which of the following would you suggest:

1: Build your own panels and plane them to 3/8”
2: Use plywood. I am thinking an AA grade here.
3: Use MDF with a cherry veneer.

All suggestions are welcome. I am leaning towards making my own panels, but maybe there is something better.

Thanks
Kevin

 

[tjbnwi]

Making reversed raised panels will take longer. I prefer them.

MRMDF (if you can get it with a cherry veneer) over plywood.

Tom

 

[ctvader]

I've made mine out of poplar and 1/4" plywood - they were painted.  This is similar to the method I use/used:

 

[duburban]

Making reversed raised panels will take longer. I prefer them.

MRMDF (if you can get it with a cherry veneer) over plywood.

Tom

Plywood core for occasional impact resistance?

 

[tjbnwi]

Making reversed raised panels will take longer. I prefer them.

MRMDF (if you can get it with a cherry veneer) over plywood.

Tom

Plywood core for occasional impact resistance?

Most times they’re 1/4" MDF or 7/32 plywood. If you’re going to use plywood it’s hard to get A/1 grade. This creates visual issues when doors are open.

I also prefer reversed raised panels on drawers, makes it easier to mount the face to the box. 

Tom

 

[kevins007]

I just called the plywood supplier in town. They can get me 1/2” A1 Cherry Plywood. What do you think of this?

 

[ktb153]

I'd say make your own 1/2" panels and use a back cutter bit. 13/16 rails and stiles plus a 1/2" solid panel makes a nice door. also a1 cherry ply is not going to be much cheaper than just buying cherry lumber and then you have to worry about the colors matching. my experience is the a1 has a very nice veneer but it doesn't match the cherry lumber that I buy.

 

[sancho57]

Id use router bits to make my doors.  Either a matched rail and stile set or a tongue and groove set.
It is doable just useing a router but takes a lot of time.

Like tom said use MRMDF.

 

[BarneyD]

When I built my new kitchen cabs I had plenty of time. Good thing because it took me almost a year of working when time permitted.  I opted to make my panels from 1/2" cherry with reversed fields. Also did the same on the sides of the cabs that show.  Done on the router table. Yeah, it takes some time. But it made the boss happy.

[attachimg=1]

Good luck with your project.

 

[kevins007]

Barney: That is nice work on those cabinets.

 

[BarneyD]

Thanks, Kevin. It was a fun project.

 

[sancho57]

well done Kevin very nice