MDO?MDF? Hardwood? what to use???

[Pdevore]

Guys,
I have been a wood working hobbiest for more that 15 years. I have always used plywood for my cabinets and built-ins and hardwood for face frame and doors. I would like to get started in some of the frameless cabinets and custom built ins. Some of my concerns are I what products are being used, MDF, MDO, particle board?

One of the first projects I would like to do would be to build a custom cabinet for a Miele coffee maker for the bosses new house. This is a $3M house and has custom veneers through out the house.

Do most people stain and clear all their own or is there a vendor that is supplying large quantiites of prestained and pre cleard veneers?

If anyone has other web sites or forums directed at this it would be greatly appreciated.

Please excuse the amature questions but I always tended to stay with what I knew.

Thanks
Pete

 

[Chris Hughes]

I think it depends on what the finished products needs to be.  I use MDO for most paint grade projects.  It is much lighter than MDF and keeps fasteners much better. 

If you look at the bulk of European casework, they use veneer on chipboard.  Most Americans scoff at the thought.  Chipboard is a bad word here in the states.  In Europe it is preferred in most cases because it is stable/flat and is more green than plywood and solid wood.

In any case, with frameless, it is critical that you use the flattest material available. My first forays in euro cabinetry ended badly and almost discouraged me from building frameless.  In is very frustrating to build boxes that will not stay square.

 

[peter halle]

Chris gives great advice.  I can only add that coffee machines give off steam (moisture)  Common MDF and moisture do not mix well.

Peter

 

[ccmviking]

For pre-finished and raw exotic veneers check out tree frog veneers here

I don't see why you can't just use MDF or Particle board core (I prefer MDF because it seems to cut with less chipping and the edge banding sticks bette) but if you prefer to make it water proof / resistant use an Extira core.

Guys,
I have been a wood working hobbiest for more that 15 years. I have always used plywood for my cabinets and built-ins and hardwood for face frame and doors. I would like to get started in some of the frameless cabinets and custom built ins. Some of my concerns are I what products are being used, MDF, MDO, particle board?

One of the first projects I would like to do would be to build a custom cabinet for a Miele coffee maker for the bosses new house. This is a $3M house and has custom veneers through out the house.

Do most people stain and clear all their own or is there a vendor that is supplying large quantiites of prestained and pre cleard veneers?

If anyone has other web sites or forums directed at this it would be greatly appreciated.

Please excuse the amature questions but I always tended to stay with what I knew.

Thanks
Pete

 

[erock]

miele coffe maker, $3mill house....go with the best matterials!  Your boss has high end taste.  Don't go cheap with MDF.  I would want it to match the house. Just my thoughts,  A nice exotic hardwood or plywood would look great with the coffee maker.  Treat your Festool tool to a treat and let them have a taste of some good wood  [big grin]!

 

[tiralie]

One of the first projects I would like to do would be to build a custom cabinet for a Miele coffee maker for the bosses new house. This is a $3M house and has custom veneers through out the house.

Pete
Is this a capsule, reservoir or plumbed system? It makes a difference in how enclosed the Miele appliance is and therfore the design and material selection.
My main concern as others have pointed out here, is moisture and I would tend to a melamine covered board. While this sounds like a "downgrade" for a high end home and may not suit the current kitchen design, there are many melamine products with actual wood grain and colors that make it very difficult to tell that this was anything but a lacquered or vinyl coated wood.
Check out Tafisa colors and wood grains.

Do most people stain and clear all their own or is there a vendor that is supplying large quantiites of prestained and pre cleard veneers?

Hmmm, it depends on the project. Could be all three on one project depending on design and requirements.

If anyone has other web sites or forums directed at this it would be greatly appreciated.
You could try Woodweb. There are always discussions on appliance/brand specific issues.

Please excuse the amature questions but I always tended to stay with what I knew.

Like the man said the only immature question is the one never asked.
Tim

 

[Brice Burrell]

For pre-finished and raw exotic veneers check out tree frog veneers here

What can you tell us about the Tree Frog veneers, pricing, quality and so on?

 

[Pdevore]

Thanks Guys,

The coffee maker is a resivour unit.

I had thought of making the box from exotics but want it to blend very well with the existing.

I have never done any veneers other than edges, so full doors and boxes would be new to me.

Thanks
Pete

 

[mastercabman]

If you are going with a framless cabinet,there's nothing wrong with MDF core veneer sheets.Look up cabinet maker suppliers/plywood lumber in your area, and check with them to see what they have and what they recommend for the task.
As for the coffe machine,i don't think it puts out steam "inside" the cabinet.
Good luck with your project.

 

[Pdevore]

Now to the next question... What is the best way to store sheet goods in an unconditioned space? Oh yea I live in Minnesota.

Thanks

 

[sauer_ashton]

Is the cabinet to be used to make the coffee or just to store the coffee maker - I'm a bit confused. But as the others said here, your boss seems to have "pricey" taste so why do you want to consider MDF on this project? Go for top-grade materials, I think your boss has the budget anyway.
http://woodworkingtoolkit.com/mdo-vs-mdf/