Thread: What timber should I use for making built in cabinet doors

I have used Hoop Pine extensively in web frames and drawer construction (when an inexpensive but stable timber is required). It was used extensively internally in older Qld homes. It is a firm, easy to use timber that finishes well.

I get a bunch of my timber from Brittons. I'm told Finlayson's is a good place for such timber, but am yet to try them.

Another timber you can use that is sometimes available at a reasonable cost is Surian cedar. It is light (sometimes very light) but strong and very stable, making it a good choice for doors. It can be inclined to be a bit wooly off the knives. If that happens, try a dilute coat of sanding sealer before finish sanding.

Originally Posted by Pearo

... I would also like to find some timber I can use to make some bifold doors at the front of my house. The doors I had were veneer not solid, and the veneer is peeling off. They are under warrantee but the manufacture has said I did not apply the correct finish, even though I used the product they told me to use. ...

Give him another chance to fix his problem, then off to Consumer Affairs. This is an intensely legal process. If you cannot document every step of the process - contract, invoices, warranty details, etc - then he will get the "benefit of the doubt". What he said, ain't worth the paper its written on!

Originally Posted by Pearo

... The doors I had were veneer not solid, and the veneer is peeling off. They are under warrantee but the manufacture has said I did not apply the correct finish, even though I used the product they told me to use. ...

Sounds like weasel words.

Give him another chance to fix his problem, then off to Consumer Affairs. This is an intensely legal process. If you cannot document every step of the process - contract, invoices, warranty details, etc - then he will probably get the "benefit of the doubt". What he said, ain't worth the paper its written on!

If it were me I'd be down to the recyclers and buy a bunch of queensland maple siding and repurpose it for the doors. I renovated an old queenslander and salvaged a bunch of the exterior siding and repurposed it for a georgian style wall cabinet. I couldn't believe how nice a wood it is. Works great with either hand or power tools, and takes a stain to make it look like just about anything.

You won't go wrong on some old pine either.

Only draw back is you'll need to strip or burn the lead paint off. Depending on how old, that could be quite a few layers...