Thread: Source for 3mm dark woodgrain MDF for bookcase

I'm betting you'll find that the embossed woodgrain MDF will probably only be available from overseas in container load quantities.

I'd suggest Mr Ply and Wood as an alternate product supplier....but I think that thin ply might be your most cost effective option.

I generally assume that the price of anything not on the shelf will be at least 5x-10x times what I want to pay for it!

I thought about the 3mm ply option, but it's finding one with a dark enough outer veneer.

I'm not overly fussed about the embossing, just the wood grain effect will be sufficient.

Why not stain it to the colour required?

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Why not stain it to the colour required?

Please tell me you're referring to ply!

My (admittedly somewhat limited) experience with dark stains has taught me that you need to start off as dark as possible in the first place. If I can find something dark chocolate coloured then by applying about 20 coats of Feast Watson's finest I'll be halfway there. The other drama with stained ply is trying to avoid all end grain; producing neat 45 degree chamfers on 3mm ply is...um...fun!

If you can name me a specific product I'll have a look. I keep offering to build a nice one out of blue gum or iron bark but every time her lips becomes so horizontal I could use her as a level.

Don't worry about the end grain - stacked ply edges are hip 'n happenin' now. Or hide them behind an applied edge of real timber.

I've never had a 'stain too light' problem; generally the opposite (specifically on my fingers), but I've never used any of the new-fangled 'one step finish' rubbish either.

Prooftint Traditional Stain | Spirit Based Stain, Retains Timber Grain

I know that there are sheet material suppliers in Melbourne that have a variety of veneered 3mm MDF in stock, there must be places up north that do the same. Alternatively, you could ask around at local cabinet makers if they can order something in for you.

I neither do hip nor happening . Yesterday the Minister for War and Finance and I were perusing some "modern" furniture and she has now finally started to agree with me that "ageing" a piece by waving a disc sander loaded with 40 grit at it or pretending that your electric planer is Concorde doing practice landings actually looks pretty crap. The thought of bare ply edges makes me shudder!

I've used Prooftint on a project before, I had to apply coat after coat after coat to get an even finish that still wasn't actually dark enough. I think though it's the best on the market? I have used "all in one" finishes before but every single scratch or blemish becomes highlighted; they only seem to really suit proper "hand made" effect furniture where you are deliberately leaving hand plane marks and want them to be noticed.

When I lived near Melbourne I loved the fact that just about everything I could want was available within an hours drive or so. Unfortunately outside the capital cities it gets exponentially harder to get anything that can't be posted the further away you are. I'll give the local cabinet makers a go but my breathe won't be held; my experiences of small town tradies and suppliers are not very encouraging.

Good Morning Chief Tiff

Would it be possible to buy some dark veneer, and glue it onto some MDF ?



Fair Winds

Graeme

The thought did cross my mind but I'd need lots of it. Constructing the case would be simpler because I could knock it up from thicker material and not a torsion box, but I'd still be looking at around two 8 X 4 sheets worth. It'd need to be at least 2m long; that's the problem and the reason I want to go for simple pre-made panels.