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I have been doing some built ins lately (all paint grade) and my lumber salesman suggested MDO. I have never worked with it but it looks like a good alternative to the birch plywood I've been using. What do you guys think?
Darrel Hunter
"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." - Henry Ford
MDO paints well (they make outdoor signs with it) but it is not as smooth as birch plywood and it costs about the same around here (approx $55-$60 per 3/4" sheet). Personally, I would stick with the birch plywood for built-ins.
It is great plwood to work with as it is flat and stable unlike the 4x8 potato chips at the box stores.
Bruce B.
If it takes me twice as long to build something, does that make it "Half Fast" ?
The grain tends to telegraph through, at least from what I've seen. Maybe there are better quality cores. I usually use stain grade birch ply for carcases and mdf or mdx for panels. To me mdo is for exterior paint-grade panels when the edges are covered.
The grain tends to telegraph through, at least from what I've seen. Maybe there are better quality cores. I usually use stain grade birch ply for carcases and mdf or mdx for panels. To me mdo is for exterior paint-grade panels when the edges are covered.
I agree with Mike. I've only used it on exterior stuff. I'd stick with the birch ply or maple ply. Try and stay away from the Chinese ply. It really likes to delaminate.
The grain tends to telegraph through, at least from what I've seen. Maybe there are better quality cores. I usually use stain grade birch ply for carcases and mdf or mdx for panels. To me mdo is for exterior paint-grade panels when the edges are covered.
Agree with this. It's a great exterior paint grade material, there are better options for interior.
I agree with Mike. I've only used it on exterior stuff. I'd stick with the birch ply or maple ply. Try and stay away from the Chinese ply. It really likes to delaminate.
Not only that, but the surface finish ply is so thin that a little bit aggressive sanding and you've gone right through it and that pink adhesive now shows and bleeds through most paint finishes.
I find that there is a variety of quality differences in MDO. The local yards have been getting very different quality surface veneers.
MDO should be flatter and more consistent than any shop grade plywood. That said, it's getting harder to find the stuff being made well. Personally I have had very bad experiences with Birch, Maple, and Poplar plywoods when painted. Mostly from the veneer splitting a few weeks to a few months down the line. That doesn't happen with MDO, although now you have to find MDO that doesn't have roll marks.
Any grain showing through is because the supplier is storing it in a very wet environment and the sheets should be returned as rejects.
All exposed edges need lipping of one sort or another (or in the case of MDF) additional work to exposed/machined edges to bring them to an acceptable finish.
In european cabinets the lipping is direct to the exposed edges. In north american face frame cabinets, the face frame is the "lipping"
Thanks for the info guys. I can get the MDO ABOUT $10 cheaper a sheet from my lumber yard. I took a look at the stuff they had in stock, it was preprimed white and looked pretty decent. Most of what I build has face frames. I have a closet I've been working with the home owner on. They are trying to decide between me building it and getting one from closets by design (melamine). I think I may try the MDO for the panels. The only thing I'm a little worried about is the primer coat. I've had some bad experiences using stuff that's preprimed and generally like to prime myself so I know I have a good primer coat that's not going to give me any issues.
Darrel Hunter
"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." - Henry Ford
I recently used 6 sheets of 3/4 MDO non primed for a mudroom project in my own house. Reasons I went with MDO - price was over $10 cheaper than birch, flat and smooth, takes paint really well. I was really impressed with my results (being the first cabinets I've ever built) and will use it again in the future.
Thanks for the info guys. I can get the MDO ABOUT $10 cheaper a sheet from my lumber yard. I took a look at the stuff they had in stock, it was preprimed white and looked pretty decent. Most of what I build has face frames. I have a closet I've been working with the home owner on. They are trying to decide between me building it and getting one from closets by design (melamine). I think I may try the MDO for the panels. The only thing I'm a little worried about is the primer coat. I've had some bad experiences using stuff that's preprimed and generally like to prime myself so I know I have a good primer coat that's not going to give me any issues.
Which lumberyard did you use? I've been curious about MDO for a while. The stuff at Delaware County Supply didn't look quite smooth enough to be worthy.
Thanks
Josh O.
"If people knew how hard I worked to achieve my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful after all. "
Which lumberyard did you use? I've been curious about MDO for a while. The stuff at Delaware County Supply didn't look quite smooth enough to be worthy.
Thanks
I checked it out at Tague lumber in Media. They only had a few sheets on hand and they looked like they would need a quick sand but no worse than the birch ply I picked up from home depot for my last job. I see you're in Berwyn. The job is actually in Malvern. Do you work alone or have a crew? I recently relocated to this area and could use a few good contacts to work with or refer people to if its a job I can't handle.
Darrel Hunter
"You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." - Henry Ford
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