Utility Cabinet / Pantry

[burrellski]

I am planning a large cabinet (8'h x 4'w x 2'd) for storing rarely used kitchen appliances, extra bags of chips, etc... The cabinet will be in our utility room so nothing to fancy is needed and it will be painted when finished. I was planning on making a simple carcass our of 3/4" ply with dados, etc.. to hold everything together, but at $30+ per sheet this large cabinet started getting expensive.

Is MDF a decent alternative in this application?

If so, can I make the shelves out of MDF as well, or will they have a tendency to sag?

What about the cabinet doors? Will an MDF door stay flat? Will the small hinge screws hold in the MDF?

Will I have any issues gluing/nailing a solid wood face frame to the edges of the MDF?

My experience with MDF (well with everything really) is pretty limited and any advice you could share would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Matt

[jziegler]

I've never worked with MDF, but have bought much stuff (cabinets, bookcases and the like) made from melamine covered particle board, which seems to be a decent option for this type of cabinet. It's available in white at Home Depot, and they also have the edge banding to go with it. I don't think that 4' shelves will work real well with any of the sheet good, though. If anything heavy is on them, you will get some sag. If you divide into 2 2' shelves, you get less sag and more adjustability.

Also, there is special hardware available to use with particle board and MDF. Suppliers like Rockler sell it. I don't know how it compares, but authors such as Danny Prolux have reccommended them in some cases.

-Jim

[RayintheUK]

Is MDF a decent alternative in this application?

Yes.

If so, can I make the shelves out of MDF as well, or will they have a tendency to sag?

4' x 2' is a big shelf - but if it's well supported and has a timber lip across the front it should be OK if you use 3/4"

What about the cabinet doors? Will an MDF door stay flat?

I've made literally dozens of MDF rail and stile doors with both flat and raised panels. They will stay flat if they're flat when they're glued and clamped.

Will the small hinge screws hold in the MDF?

Depends upon the weight of the door you're hanging. If you use 1/4" MDF panels in 3/4" rails and stiles (with "repeater" rails for stability), you'll probably be OK. Full size 3/4" doors will need European hinges at least.

Will I have any issues gluing/nailing a solid wood face frame to the edges of the MDF?

No - none at all providing you make sure when gluing up that you coat the MDF first, then the wood, then check the MDF and re-coat if necessary. Don't use too much clamping pressure, just enough to get an even glue line all the way along the lipping.

My experience with MDF (well with everything really) is pretty limited and any advice you could share would be much appreciated.

One final thing - get the MDF from a lumber yard and ask if they stock "branded" names, like Medite. Water-resistant MDF is better to work with, although slightly more expensive.

Good luck!

Ray.

[jgrobler]

In the kitchen cabinets I made, I used melamine PB. I have a few that's almost 42" wide. What I did to provide support was to put a dado in the back adn have the shelf slide in there. Obviously this is not an adjustable shelf, but it is sturdy, and not even heavy appliances like the 6 qrt kithen aid, makes it sag.