Building a entertainment center. The finish the customer wants is a white pigmented cat lacquer.Is poplar the best wood species or maple or is there another. Thanks for your opinions.
From contributor Pa
I prefer soft maple for paint grade projects. More stable, harder, smoother, and not as likely to have dark streaks that bleed through the finish.
From contributor Th
After many years of seeing open seems on painted cabinets, I insisted that any painted kitchen or bath project would have MDF doors. I've always wanted to build an entire kitchen/bath with mdf, including the face frames, since the minimal movement should never break the finish at the seams. I've found that sanding the cut edges to 320 grit will allow every surface to finish the same.
Be a maverick and build it all out of mdf. That's my "opinion".
From contributor jo
poplar is the standard, maple being the premium because it is less likely to dent. don't ever make a ff out of mdf
From contributor Je
I use soft maple, poplar is too soft for doors IMHO. MDF is good for panels, I just wouldn't use it for doors parts or face frames.
I always hear that the joints are going to open up in solid wood doors with pigmented finish, but haven't had that be the case. My own kitchen doors are 10 years old now and still not a single seam. Build and finish them right and you'll be fine.
good luck,
JeffD
From contributor Pa
For painted cabinets I like to use birch or maple paint grade ply and poplar or maple solid trim.
From contributor Ji
I normally use FAS Poplar frames with MDF panels.
Seal any machined MDF with clear precat lacquer thinned about 25-30%, and profile sand prior to assembly.
Prime with white vynil, then use automotive glazing putty (very sparingly) on any joints or imperfections that telegraph.
Sand at 220 then reprime.
From contributor Mi
I use soft maple for face frames and door frames, mdf for panels. Poplar is to soft for kitchen use in my opinion. I wouldn't worry about using poplar for something that was high up and not used, like crown.
