2pac finish on cabinets. Mdf/ply or something else?

**Lee roy** · 25th November 2020, 11:22 PM

Hi all,
I made some built ins in our study from 16mm melamine butted together with some tas oak moulds painted to cover the joins. They turned out ok so the mrs says she wants something similar for the family room. I don’t mind the melamine for the study but want a better look for the family room. I could paint it, but I am leaning toward a 2pac finish to match the kitchen and for durability. I will farm that part out to the local kitchen company.

Im going with two cabinets for either side of the fireplace and two angled corner cabinets to blend it back into the window side on the left and will do the same on the right for symmetry. I think the 16mm is a bit light duty for this part of the house so was thinking 25mm mdf or ply, with some 40mm trim around the edges and on the fixed shelves.
My question is can a 2pac finish cover the mdf ‘endgrain?’ There would be a transition from the mdf sheet to the 40mm edge also on each shelf. Thinking that probably won’t work so how else to cover the endgrain?
If I use ply, it’ll be a similar issue but I can use something solid to cover the edges however there wil still be the small transition from ply edge to solid trim. Is 2 pac ok over this or will it crack doing it this way?

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/7905/2WFD8V.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/7739/jBnG1n.jpg

**Ambrosia** · 26th November 2020, 08:41 AM

I just completed a kitchen Reno. Used 16 mm satin melamine coated mdf and had them professionally painted in 2 pac. The edges were lightly sanded with 220 grit and rounded over with a 2 mm radius router bit. The photo shows a doubled up edge - no gap or crack showing (yet) and the ‘end grain’ is smooth.

Help this helps.

Leigh

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**elanjacobs** · 26th November 2020, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Ambrosia

16 mm satin melamine coated mdf and had them professionally painted in 2 pac. The edges were lightly sanded with 220 grit and rounded over with a 2 mm radius router bit

Always this

The primer seals the edges, no need to worry about "endgrain".

Never have glued joints in a 2-pac panel if you can avoid it because they are susceptible to cracking or telegraphing through the paint; if you must join around corners, mitre and fold instead of butt join

**Lee roy** · 26th November 2020, 12:58 PM

Thanks guys that’s really helpful. Mitre joints are no problem for the shelf fronts.
Leigh stupid question, but did you sand the edge before or did the shop after priming? I’d like to have it as best prepared as I can beforehand.

**elanjacobs** · 26th November 2020, 01:03 PM

We always gave all surfaces to be painted a once over with 180 before sending out. They will sand after priming as well, but it helps to prep the edges before.

**Ambrosia** · 26th November 2020, 04:05 PM

Same - I sanded the edges before sending out, but they would have sanded before and during coating.

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