Repair crack in painted cabinet

[416FF]

I've recently installed a built in, and after being installed for 3+ months the cracks have begun to show.  The heat is on all winter, and I guess over time the wood/mdf has shrunk a little as it has developed a few cracks.  The built in is in the basement, and the heat is intense in the basement while just barely heating the rest of the house, so I assume it has dried out the material used.  I'm curious what you would use to fill the cracks?  I'm trying to find some place local that carries Durhams Water Putty, but here in Ontario it seems impossible to find.  My next go to is automotive bond.  I've attached some pics.

EDIT: It was painted with Kem Aqua, the rails/stiles are poplar while the panel is MDF.

Many thanks for any help

 

[Alan G]

So this is just the finish cracking or the actual wood substrate?
On the second pic, curious why the MDF panel has that crack in it. That really shouldn't move.

 

[416FF]

Hi Alan,

The MDF has a crack there because after installation the homeowner wanted the rail moved, so I had to cut out the rail, fill it in with another piece of MDF and some wood filler, and then add to the bottom of the rail, all in all a complete mess but that's what they wanted.  Same reason why that rail has a crack in the middle of it too.  I was trying to find some 1/16" MDF that I could just re-skin the entire panel, but can't seem to locate anything.  So the material has shrunk (I'm assuming to the excess heat/dry air), and a crack has appeared where the joint was made.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[tiralie]

You may never solve this without replacing the panel.

However I would try LePages plastic wood available at Home Depot in Canada. Plastic wood does have some "elasticity and will move with the heat so you may get swelling or ditches as the panel expands and contracts.
It will de-solve/melt the Kem Aqua so you will have to re-prime and paint.
You can go straight to Bondo, which is now available as a wood filler, but I think plastic wood is as good and a little more convenient to use.
Tim

 

[Pnw painter]

This might be a case where it’s better to remake the door, rather than try to repair it.

How did you join the new pieces. Domino’s, biscuits or just glue? What filler did you use?

Bondo would be your best bet for making the repair, but you might even have issues with that if there’s enough movement or if the door are being slammed shut.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[416FF]

This might be a case where it’s better to remake the door, rather than try to repair it.

How did you join the new pieces. Domino’s, biscuits or just glue? What filler did you use?

Bondo would be your best bet for making the repair, but you might even have issues with that if there’s enough movement or if the door are being slammed shut.
/quote]

Hey PNW Painter,

The new pieces were just joined with glue (titebond I), the thickness of material was only 1/4" at max, so I couldn't use biscuits, etc.  The panel in question is a fixed panel, 0 movement, the face frame wraps around the front of the cabinet as well, so remaking the panel would mean remaking the entire cabinet, almost.  It shrank because the heat is on full blast directly above the area, the rest of the house is comfortable but the furnace is right next door to this cabinet.  My HOPE is that the shrinking is done, and if I fill with bondo and repaint it will help avoid any future cracks.

Appreciate all the feedback!