Alcove Face Frame Wood Choice

[mango301]

Hi all,

I'm currently building fitted wardrobes in alcoves either side of a fireplace. Carcasses are out of 18 MR MDF and I'll be fitting a face frame to the front of them and a side panel on the chimney breast side as the wardrobes protrude further than the chimney breast face.

The other half has 'suggested' that the face frames and doors are made of timber rather than MDF as she wants a grain in the finish once painted. I was thinking of using pine (joinery?) since this would keep the cost down and the local timber merchant has plenty of stock.

I've little experience in carpentry so I just wanted to check to see if this seemed reasonable, i guess i was worried that the pine may warp/bow?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Stu

 

[paulrockliffe]

If you use enough wood and enough fixings you'll end up with something decent that doesn't warp etc.

I said this on another thread, and the same probably applies here; you're going to spend a lot of time and effort doing these, so it must be worth using decent wood if you can afford it.

I did pretty much what you described recently and spent about £800 on two wardrobes once I'd paid for sliding door tracks, drawer runners and rail cantilevers etc. I used ash for all the visible stuff, with oak faced MDF for the panels. Ash look superb and is relatively cheap for hardwood, similar price to decent pine at the woodyard I use.

Took me and my dad about 30 man-days between us, was a massive effort, but totally worth it. Here's some pics:

20150409-DSC00955.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

20150409-DSC00956.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

20150409-DSC00957.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

20150410-DSC00960.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

IMAG0044.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

20150411-DSC00962.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

20150411-DSC00963.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

20150412-DSC00967.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

IMAG0053.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

IMAG0077.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

20150601-DSC00974.jpg by paulrockliffe, on Flickr

I still need to add a panel to cover the sliding track and the bit to the left of the drawers in the last picture needs something doing with it, it's there as a full-width drawer would foul the bedside cabinet. I want to panel it, hole top and bottom and use it as a sock dispenser, but I've been told NO!

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

If I understand correctly, you will be painting the faces/doors. In which case, for any grain to show through the wood, softwood will be no use, unless the paint is a transparent wash. For an opaque paint finish, use a ring porous wood like ash or oak. Ash will be cheaper. To make sure any wood effect will show, you could use one of those brass brushes (such as people use for suade shoes) to open up the pores a bit more.

Mike.

 

[mango301]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies and advice, I'll have a think about the ash and another chat with the other half about what exactly she's after!

That sock dispenser sounds like a cracking idea but I'd get exactly the same response I reckon, good work on those wardrobes too, they look great.

Stu