Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets (Part II)

Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets is a popular carpentry process for creating practical products for the interior. These products have modern, functional, and European style designs that can improve the house’s aesthetics and interior decoration. However, their design’s main functionality is for the kitchen. Manufacturers and carpenters produce these modern works with various wood materials, including MDF panels and Plywood.

Constructing frameless kitchen cabinets requires years of practice and experience. However, many people want to create their kitchen cabinets with MDF of other wood materials without hiring professionals. Thus, we decided to provide the required information for constructing frameless kitchen cabinets for such people. In part 1 of producing frameless kitchen cabinets, we discussed the basics of the carcass of the cabinets and the base options that the product can have. Thus, this part will provide more information about the process, including the frameless kitchen cabinets back options, tools for making them, and precise steps to complete the production of these functional materials.

Kitchen Cabinets Back Options

When constructing frameless kitchen cabinets, the cabinetmaker has some practical options for creating the back section of the product. Each method and option have exceptional stability and functionality.

  • Full Back: Carpenter can choose to make a full back with the same MDF panels or Plywood used for the kitchen cabinet. This configuration will provide an enclosed product with excellent strength, which is essential when installing heavy countertops or supporting heavy appliances. However, this method can be costly, but the carpenter can lower the expenditure by precisely planning the cutting method with a CNC router.
  • Nailed Back: Some people don’t mind if their cabinets have a back part or not. The nailed back option is the best for saving more MDF panels and other materials. Instead of having a full back, this method features creating two nailing strips out of the MDF panels for the top and bottom of the back, so there is a point to affix the kitchen cabinet to the wall and provide strength and rigidity to the product.
  • Economic Nailed Back: In some cases, people prefer to have an enclosed back system, but they also want to save money. Thus, it is better to use nailery as the previous method and utilize a piece of MDF panel on the back of the kitchen cabinet to provide a finished look. In addition to the lower cost of this method, it also provides a lighter product.

Tools and Materials Needed for Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Like producing any other products, some essential tools and materials should be available for constructing frameless kitchen cabinets.

Tools: There are various tools available for making a cabinet that carpenters should have. However, the essential ones are table saw or circular saw while having a guide for making accurate cuts in the material. Other tools that can be practical are jig types and combination squares.

Materials: Experts always recommend using MDF panels or Plywood materials for both interior doors and kitchen cabinets. These materials come with different appearance grades and can accept various finishes. When using MDF panels, it is better to glue the joints and utilize appropriate pocket screws.

Steps of Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Constructing frameless kitchen cabinets for different trendy layouts requires some essential steps. These steps will help cabinetmakers to achieve the best results for their kitchen cabinets.

  1. Calculating Kitchen Cabinet and Component Dimensions: The dimension that the cabinet maker needs for creating kitchen cabinets is the height, depth, width, component dimensions, bottom dimensions, shelf size, back and back dimensions, stretchers and sub toe kick measurements. The application determines the product’s height, and the depth has standard numbers, including the kitchen cabinets door. The cabinet depth is also equivalent to the preferences. The other dimensions are all depending on the first measurements. However, it is better to consult with professional cabinetmakers for better measures.
  2. Attaching Side To Back: This step starts with applying edge banding to the front of both kitchen cabinets sides. Then drilling pocket holes around the top and sides of the product’s back is necessary to attach it to one side.
  3. Attaching Bottom: Next step involves applying edge banding to the front of the bottom section and drilling pocket screw holes for connecting the bottom to the side and back section of the cabinet. Using a square is essential to make sure the alignments are appropriate.
  4. Fixing Other Side: Now it is time to settle and attach the other side to the cabinet assembly utilizing the previously drilled pocket holes.
  5. Stretchers Attachment: Attach the edge banding precisely to the front section of the two stretchers and then drill pockets holes for attaching them to the cabinet. For the first drawer, the bottom stretcher on the front is utilized.
  6. Installing Sub Toe Kick: The sub toe kick helps support the kitchen cabinet and adds rigidity to the finished kickboard after the installation process.
  7. Drilling Shelf Pin Holes: The last step is to drill holes with a jig in the back and front of each side of the kitchen cabinet for shelf pins. After drilling, install the shelf by applying edge banding to the front of the frame and inserting its hooks in the appropriate locations.

Constructing Frameless Kitchen Cabinets (Part I)

Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Frameless kitchen cabinets are European style products that interior designers offer for their customers to enhance their kitchen aesthetics and functionality. These frameless products are ideal for the kitchen and practical for the bathroom, office, home theatre, and other renovations. This article is not just about constructing these practical products, but it contains everything you should know about these particular products.

Many people desire to make frameless kitchen cabinets for their homes, and learning the constructing process is often challenging due to the shortage of information on the internet. Therefore, people should search and read a lot to find and combine the requiring information for creating these practical products. Thus, we decided to provide all the information you will need, and we tried to make things easier for you.

Frameless kitchen cabinets are affordable and easy to build. They are beneficial for the homeowner by providing extra storage space over face frame cabinets. They are various methods that are used to build frameless kitchen cabinets. However, they all follow the same principles. Construction of these products is relatively straightforward, and the most challenging aspect is planning and sizing.

Frameless Kitchen Cabinets Carcass

Frameless kitchen cabinets have a more contemporary appearance and can be dressed up with elegant doors and trim for having a more classic feeling. The essential step of creating these practical products is building the cabinets carcass. The cabinet carcass is the main body or box of the product, which does not contain doors, drawers, boxes and fronts. It is possible to configure this structural piece in different methods to allow drawers and doors to suit your needs.

The most straightforward kitchen cabinet design to install and provide strength is creating an entire back cabinet carcass with MDF panels or other robust wood materials. It should consist of top stretchers, and it can be constructed from a single sheet of MDF panel. The carcass often has some essential parts, including two sides, shelf, bottom, back, sub toe kick and three stretchers.

Base Options for Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

Each system has its unique benefits and limitations. There are four separate ways to configure the lower section or the base of the frameless kitchen cabinets. These base producing methods are as followed:

Standard Base in Frameless Kitchen Cabinets

The standard base used in frameless kitchen cabinets has the sides and back of the product extend down to the floor. This type of base is notched in the front for providing a toe kick. A sub-toe kick in this system can provide additional support for the bottom and makes it easy to apply finishes such as decorative baseboard with MDF panels over a continual stretch of cabinets for a seamless appearance. Building this type of base is relatively tricky and utilizes a bit more MDF or plywood material. However, it can provide a single kitchen cabinet unit with advantages and fit the area’s layout. It is essential to remember to shim each kitchen cabinet individually for making it level. Most of the semi-custom kitchen cabinets available in the market are constructed with this method.

Common Base Without Toe Kick

Some interior or kitchen designs do not require a toe kick when they need a built-in cabinet system. This type of base has pros and cons similar to the standard base system, except it does not involve toe kick. Instead, this method accommodates with a decorative MDF panel or plywood with the same kitchen doors thickness. They are applied all over the base of all frameless kitchen cabinets after the installation process is completed.

Separate Base Platform

One of the best ways to construct frameless kitchen cabinets is using the different base platform technique. This system consists of a frame made up of hardwood flat panels, MDF panel, or plywood top providing toe kick with various heights. The most noticeable advantage of this technique is that the cabinetmaker can level the platform before installing the products. Then the only thing required is to place the kitchen cabinets on the panel without having to do much if any extra levelling. This type of base system is also more substantial and more stable than other types attached to the cabinets. Additionally, it is possible to create toe kicks on the sides of the frameless kitchen cabinets where necessary, such as the end of a kitchen island or a cabinet run.

There are other essential things to discuss the frameless kitchen cabinet construction systems we have provided in the second part of this article. We recommend you read it if you consider making a perfect cabinet for you your kitchen or you need to know how manufacturers create them.

Tools Needed for Making a Cabinet (Part I)

kitchen cabinet cutting

Making a cabinet serves the interior designers in creating aesthetically pleasing rooms and kitchens for homes. Novice woodworkers or professional carpenters, and even large-scale manufacturers appreciate having proper tools for making a cabinet. The right equipment and tools make the difference between efficient applications with stable structure and sloppy works where nothing fits correctly. Investing and utilizing the best tools will bring a return that will be hard to defeat. Many people love woodwork and show interest in DIY cabinetmaking, but they don’t know what tools they need to complete their work perfectly.

Some tools for making a cabinet are expensive due to their complexity. Thus, they are difficult to master and purchase. However, once an individual learns them, they make the job much faster and more precise. There is no worry for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money on tools because other cabinetmaking tools are more straightforward, smaller, and require less money output to purchase. However, there is some essential equipment that is needed for making a cabinet with a DIY process. We have included all the must-have cabinetmaking tools that are available in the market in this article.

Using Clamps for Making a Cabinet

Making a cabinet without using clamps is almost impossible. These tools are convenient, and they replace human hands in many situations. A suitable clamp assortment is similar to having an assistant in the workshop. They hold materials in the demanding place while the carpenter measures, cuts, joins and fastens the work. There are countless clamp models and design available in the market because there is no such thing as an on-size tool for fitting all types of work.

The oldest mechanical clamp designs are called C-Clamps. Carpenters have been using them for hundreds of years. These tools have a simple steel frame with an open throat which is controlled with a screwed jaw. They come with various size ranges and throat depths. Another clamp tool for making a cabinet is the Pipe-Clamp featuring an iron pipe with one fixed jaw and an alterable clamp face. Sizes of these tools range from long to short. One of the irreplaceable cabinetmaking clamps that utilize a metal bar frame instead of pipe is the Bar-Clamps. They combine the depth of the C-Clamp and the strength of the Pipe-Clamp. However, if the carpenters tend to assemble large structures such as cabinet boxes for kitchen applications, Band-Clamps can quickly wrap or secure the work. The Band-Clamps feature plastic straps and ratcheting controls that allow the cabinet maker to tighten the components. However, it is essential to note that making a cabinet requires specialized clamps such as 3-way face and flush-and-flat face clamps that can make tricky joints simpler.

Table Saw is Essential

Table Saws are considered the heat of a woodworking shop. Artisans with much experience can create excellent cuts on a table saw and make the process safer, which means that these tools can be dangerous in the wrong hands. However, modern table saws feature perfect safety devices in guides, guards, controls and adjustments. If there is one must-have tool for making a cabinet, then it is the table saw. There are various options available in the market for this particular equipment. Making the right choice for the shop can be a little bit confusing. Thus, it is essential to know them individually to make the most efficient choice for the job.

The first type of table saw is the cabinet making one that is centerpieces in a woodworking shop. They feature heavy and rigid machines that fit between the table extensions. These tables saws accept blades with various diameters and can handle large pieces such as MDF boards for doors and cabinets.

The second most popular table saws are Contractors, which are medium-duty machines that many carpenters utilize for their work. These are portable table saws that can make accurate and precise cuts while handling various sizes of blade diameters.

Along with the cabinetmaking and contractor table saw, another tool called Benchtop is practical for the purpose. It is relatively small and compact while being extremely handy for making a cabinet. These tools are also portable that make perfect resources when cutting small materials on the installation process of cabinets.

In Part II of this article, we will discuss other practical tools for making a custom cabinet for the kitchen or bathrooms.

MDF Panels in Interior Design

MDF Panels for Interior

MDF panels are decorating materials that can satisfy almost every type of interior design and project. These materials are becoming very popular among designers and homeowners who consider creating aesthetic and durable interior equipment. The term MDF attains for medium density fiberboard, an engineered wood product with cost-effective and stable characteristics. These boards act as well as a substitute for wood materials. Manufacturers produce these materials with sawdust and other wood residuals while breaking them into their component fibers. Bonding substances fuse these particles, such as wax and binders, into a panel. The standard MDF panel is often available in a thickness range of 4 to 25 millimeters with plain or pre-laminated surface protection. These panels are also available in a variety of finishes and colors.

MDF Panels Characteristics

Just like any interior product, medium-density fiberboards come with unique characteristics. These characteristics made them practical and suitable materials for different applications. The followings are some of the essential properties of MDF panels which any customer should know before purchasing them:

  • One of the advantages of MDF panels is that these boards do not have grains due to their uniform density, resulting from materials composition, unlike solid wood.
  • These panels feature a smooth surface due to their knot-free and internal layers characteristics. Thus, carpenters can saw and make grooves or moldings on these particular materials.
  • The sustainability of MDF boards is perfect due to their structure made from waste products such as sawdust and wood fibers. However, the glue utilized in the binders are often known as carcinogenic, and it is better to look for materials that have a controlled process and additives manufacturing process. This type of procedure can minimize and decrease formaldehyde emissions which can cause health problems.
  • MDF panels have dimensional stability meaning that they will not expand or contract with temperature change and heat as standard solid woods.
  • Manufacturers utilize veneers or laminate on the surface of these boards to create a realistic wood finish on the furniture and doors.
  • One of the benefits of medium density fiberboards is their capability of being painted, polished and varnished.
  • Low-quality MDF panels can swell or warp when exposed to water. On the other hand, exterior grade boards have water-resistant characteristics with engineered and greater strength and density.
  • They are no air pockets or waviness in these composite materials due to the high pressure and temperature manufacturing process. Thus, the cross-section of the panel is also very consistent.
  • The last notable characteristics of MDF boards is their cost which is more economical than solid wood and plywood.

Now you know why MDF boards are growing in the industry, it is time to introduce the interior usages of these practical panels. Any customer should have the basic knowledge of the applications that can benefit from medium density fiberboards.

Cabinetry and Furniture with MDF Panels

As told, MDF materials can overcome humidity and heat changes better than solid wood and plywood. Thus, they are perfect core materials for kitchen cabinetry and bathroom doors. Some shutters commonly used in kitchen cabinets utilize a sheet of membrane wrapped around the material. By molding them into all grooves and contours, creating a single continuous surface without any joints is possible. The furniture which is made with these panels is generally lightweight and less sturdy than other wood materials. The lightweight characteristics of these products make them easy to install and decrease labor costs.

MDF Panels Partitions and Wall Paneling

Another practical usage of MDF panels is in wall paneling for exhibiting acoustic and insulation properties. Thus, they are suitable for providing sound and thermal insulation characteristics for both homes and offices walls and partitions. Due to their density and stability, they dominate solid woods and plywood in many ways.

MDF Flooring

Manufacturers often use MDF as a core material for laminate or engineered flooring creation. As MDF is resistant to humidity, the sides of the board should not be exposed to water. Thus, manufacturers must completely seal these products surfaces to prevent further damages. Experts often recommend not to use these panels for bathrooms and powder room floorings.

Walls with Extra Texture

Medium-density fiberboards lend themself to imaginative and creative experiments in interior decorations. Designers utilize them to create textured walls that can feature three-dimensional relief work such as organic shapes, moldings, and waves. They can also be beneficial for textured paint finishes or walls that showcase specific designs.

Cornices and Moldings with MDF Panels

Due to the structure of these boards, which contains fine particles, they can be cut easily and shaped with routers. Artisans can carve them into moldings and cornices to create decorative interior furniture and items. After shaping them, they can receive different types of paints and finishes to match the overall harmony of the design.

Top 4 MDF Cutting Softwares

MDF Cutting Softwares

In the world of carpentry, there are many tools that make the job easier. In the field of working with MDF and derivatives, it is imperative to observe the details and principles because both in terms of raw materials that are to be used, you will save, and you will have a beautiful and elegant final product that will be delivered jointly. To do the basics of working with MDF, you can get help from software, which has already been installed, and many software have been installed. In this article, we try to review MDF cutting softwares.

CutMaster 2D Pro

CutMaster is one of the most efficient MDF precision cutting software and shows the best MDF cutting modes.

This software is straightforward to work with and allows you to get the exact sizes of MDF quickly. For example, give the required value to CutMaster and then enter the dimensions we want to extract from MDF; now, with a short click, CutMaster shows us the best cutting modes.

It also provides other accurate statistics, and you can see different cutting MDF methods in the report section. No loss and no need for complicated calculations are one of the most critical features of this software.

CutMaster 2D software, due to importing information from drawing software such as CAD, CAM, has made it easy to import and use it in the software by designing in the main space such as AutoCAD.

CutMaster 2D Pro software uses various machines, including CNC, to allow users to cut accurately, ultimately, and optimally.

CutMaster 2D Pro Software Capabilities:

  • Accessible to use and environment
  • Very high accuracy in measurements
  • Provides several different modes in MDF cutting
  • Cost savings chart 
  • Save with all formats
  • Output in XML and DXF
  • Import XML and Excel files
  • Measured in feet, inches, meters
  • Possibility to adjust the thickness of the cutting blade
  • Preview patterns and reports of cutting
  • Rearrange before cutting manually

SmartCut pro

SmartCUT software is one of the software in the CutMaster family, but there are some differences between the two software; one of the leading and distinctive features of the Cut Master is that it allows you to select the cut’s priority. This means that in practice, you can choose the sizes in terms of length and width.

Selecting the automatic option will give the best cutting layout, simplifying the cutting and having the highest efficiency. Select the fast calculation option to finish with the least number of cuts.

Receive adjustable colour output that reduces cutting errors and dramatically increases the accuracy of the work.

Working with this software is simple and has no extraordinary complexity. With the help of this software, you can easily create your cutting designs.

SmartCut Pro Software Capabilities:

  • It has a unit of measurement of inches and feet
  • Easy import of panels via keyboard
  • Quick cut calculation in less than 10 seconds
  • Accurately calculate the panel size for the given parts list
  • Ribbon calculation
  • Design preview
  • Ability to save the design in various formats
  • Adjustable cutting blade

Sketch Cut pro (Fast Cutting)

The point to be considered in use is that this software automatically calculates the cutting of rectangular flat sheets with minimal waste.

This software is designed to cut materials such as chipboard, MDF, Plywood, HDF glass, plastic, and wood.

It is one of the most beneficial software for designing three-dimensional structures. It can be used to create wooden systems, decorations, cabinets, tables, and chairs.

Sketch Cut Pro Software Capabilities:

  • Select and change cutting parameters such as sheet size, blade thickness.
  • Ability to receive order information, materials, order date, order delivery time.
  • Automatic cutting of sheets according to selected parameters.
  • It has two different algorithms used to calculate and optimize the design and select the best cutting method.
  • Can do the automatic calculation for cutting length area, edge strip length.
  • You can download the results in a PDF file for printing.
  • Metric and Imperial unit systems with a simple conversion

CutList Plus fx

The fastest time can calculate the number of raw materials for the project and their price and cost accurately. Select the desired parts and then proceed to advanced cutting.

Increasing waste can sometimes lead to damage to a workshop or factory. To prevent the increase of such destruction, the powerful cutting software CutList Plus fx allows you to make more accurate cuts.

This software helps you significantly reduce losses in your products by determining the cutting lines more accurately.

CutList Plus fx Software Capabilities:

  • Rapid production of precision cutting sheets
  • Save time in producing cutting lines
  • Ability to use a variety of materials
  • Use metric units
  • Produce less waste
  • Report the number of materials used for each project
  • Adjustable on the international SI system
  • Compatible with various versions of the popular Microsoft Windows operating system

MDF, Letron and chipboard differences and how to distinguish them! (Part 2)

MDF, Letron and chipboard

Practical ways to distinguish Letron, chipboard and MDF

Since we briefly took a glimpse of these products materials in previous part of this article, in this article we explore some method to easily detect Letron from chipboard and MDF as well from these two.

Letron is not very resistant to scratches, moisture and abrasion, but it is still one of the most popular coatings for covering chipboard or even MDF.

So, quite frankly, Letron is a thin coating that is glued to wood products such as chipboard to improve its final appearance; But for this reason, chipboard accompanied by a Letron paper cover is also called a Letron chipboard. Therefore, whenever we talk about Letron wood material, we mean chipboard covered with Letron coating.

The way to distinguish letron, chipboard and MDF from each other

Note that generally it is not possible to distinguish these wood products from the veneer, because all the main texture of the wood is covered by veneers of different thicknesses. Therefore, the only way to distinguish these cases from each other is to see naked or peeled wood without its cover. In this case, the distinction between MDF and chipboard is quite clear and it is easy to distinguish between the two.

So, if a person is faced with a cross section of chipboard or MDF, he can recognize the material, even at a small thickness of the board. For example, in the case of boards where the main wide surfaces are coated but the side diameters, which have a thicker strip, still show the raw texture inside the board. But after coating and final finishing of the boards, it is not possible to identify their type of material for the customer and the buyer who is not in the process of manufacturing and only sees the final product. In such cases, the part of the wood that shows its raw texture must be found.

For example, the hinge of a cabinet or cupboard door is a place that has no special coating and shows the raw texture of the inner board. In the same way, the customer and the buyer can observe the raw texture of the interior wood before installing the hinges on the wooden door of the cabinet or cupboard or similar products.

In this case, if a person is exposed to chipboard, he can easily recognize the pieces of wood with his eyes. It is the presence of these small, thin pieces of wood that makes the overall texture of chipboard rough and inhomogeneous. Also, no matter how hard you try to make the chipboard, the final product can not have a smooth and polished surface. Because the size and shape of the chips in the chipboard are different from each other, and this prevents the creation of a perfectly smooth surface.

Of course, this lack of smoothness of the chipboard surface is not to the extent that the veneer does not adhere well to it, but in any case, the ups and downs of the chipboard surface can be seen closely with the naked eye.

On the other hand, the inner texture without MDF veneer is a homogeneous texture, almost one color and smooth. As mentioned, the shape of the very chopped and fine MDF chips makes the MDF cut look smooth, even, uniform and much softer than chipboard.

If we touch the chipboard, its rough texture is felt under the skin, and even a grain of wood chips or chips may enter the skin of the hand, but the only thing that the skin of the hand feels in contact with MDF is probably wood powder or pollen, which would eliminate due to the final coating of the board.

Finally, the detection of Letron depends on the internal core. If the core is a chipboard base, the present product is considered to be Letron, otherwise it is MDF.

What are different types of MDF cabinets?

MDF cabinets

It may be interesting to know that many of the appliances we use at home, at office, accessories such as cupboards, drawers, bedding, etc. or even in public places are made of MDF. But what exactly MDF is? What are the pros and cons of this popular wood type? In this article, we are going to talk about MDF in details. So, join us!

MDF stands for “Medium Density Fibreboard”. A board made of wood products is a combination of softwood, fine wood and hardwood mixed with some resin and wax; This wooden product is compressed and pressed during high heat to finally obtain the desired fiberboard.

MDF is one of the most widely used products in the construction industry and materials. Due to the fact that this wood product is much stronger and lighter than other wood products, it has more applications in industry. Hence, its mass production in the industry is impressive. Moreover, MDF wood products have grown rapidly in the industry since 1980, so that they can be coated after production and presented in a variety of designs and colors. Additionally, veneers used in MDF wood products, which are mostly decorative veneers, in addition to attraction due to their durability and application in the kitchen industry are more common. In the industry, melamine veneers are used as the most widely used veneers in the MDF industry. In this process, patterned or plain veneers with glue, pressure and heat press are usually glued to the fiberboard and then used as the most widely used veneer for kitchen cabinets.

Another wood product is chipboard called chipboard. Chipboard is a medium-density fiberboard made from particles of chipboard that are relatively smaller than a piece of MDF. It is even sometimes said that this model is made of wood chips, which are wood products from wood waste, which after exploiting the wood of the tree, convert the obtained waste into wood chips; It is then dehumidified and after dehumidification they are homogenized and glued, then these pieces of wood are subjected to heat press and after cooling and sanding, they become the same chipboard; Chipboard is another wood product used in industry.

Another wood product on the market is called HDF or high-density fiberboard. This wood product is also obtained from wood waste in such a way that this wood product needs more heat and heat press. It is used after pressing and homogenization, but since it has a much higher resistance than chipboard and MDF, its production cost is very high.

Introduction to the various types of MDF cabinets (MDF)

Nowadays, the high variety of cabinets has led to the classification of cabinets based on color, shape, material, model of opening and closing. But cabinets whose bodies are made of MDF, there are different types that differ in their cover and are often known as the cover of this category of cabinets.

Cabinets with melamine or laminate veneers

MDF cabinets with their melamine veneer is one of the veneers that rely on MDF cabinet sheets. In the definition of melamine veneers, it should be noted that melamine veneers are adhesives made of resin, by which cellulose sheets are glued to MDF surfaces with high heat. On the other hand, it is also called Low Pressure Laminate. To make low pressure melamine laminate, usually very high pressure and heat is used, which makes it more resistant so that some of these sheets and veneers are even used in the exterior of buildings.

One of the advantages of using these coatings in MDF cabinets is its very high durability along with its high quality. Also, unlimited variety in design, patterns and color is exemplary. These coatings are easier to wash and clean than other coatings. One of the disadvantages of linoleum or melamine coatings is its low durability against moisture, while these coatings are heat sensitive.

Vacuum coated MDF cabinet

MDF cabinets with membrane veneers (PVC) are another model of veneers that are stretched on MDF sheets and give it a special beauty. It should be noted that in this model of cabinets, different designs can be created on these sheets using a CNC machine, which has led to the diversity of its design. Also, this model of veneers can be turned into completely classic cabinets due to the CNC press capability. 

MDF cabinets with wood veneer cover

As the name implies, this model of MDF cabinets has used wood veneers for a natural look, oak veneers or even walnut veneers. One of the advantages of this model of natural veneers is that it is cheaper than all-wood cabinets. Also, its resistance to moisture is exemplary for the applicant or customer, while also having high strength. Disadvantages of this model of veneers include limitations in choosing the type of wood and its color limitations.

High gloss MDF cabinets

Plexiglas covers that give your MDF cabinet a clear and glassy look and of course perfectly smooth and clean. These coatings are new. Also, using these covers will make your kitchen reflect sunlight. Therefore, today in the new interior design trends, more attention has been paid to this model of cabinets.

The advantages of using this model of veneers are its high color variety along with its easy wash ability. These veneer models, in addition to being light in weight, also have high resistance and are lower in price than other glossy veneers. They are more economical. Disadvantages of this model of coatings include low resistance to moisture or fingerprints, which increases the need for cleanliness.

UV coated MDF cabinets

UV coating would be attractive to you when you know that with this coating, no fingerprints will remain on your cabinet. Coatings that make your cabinet matte color a glossy surface. Therefore, these coatings are used for cabinets where the customer is supposed to have a high sensitivity to the transparent and glossy surface of the cabinet. One of the advantages of this model of coatings is its high color variety. Preservation of color and scratch resistance are other advantages of this model of coatings. UV MDF cabinets coatings also has disadvantages, including its high price, which not everyone chooses.

Introduction to various types of wood (part 2)

types of wood

In the previous part of this article we reviewed various types of natural woods and explained about factors that affect the formation of wood texture. In this part we will overview the human made and synthetic wood types.

Wooden products

Wooden products or “synthetic” types of wood are processed under a series of regulations to deliver a final product better than the original material. Processed wood in the workshop environment is subjected to a variety of actions, such as heat and pressing, to create a product different from the natural raw material, depending on the purpose of the product. There are different criteria such as thickness, resistance to external factors, weight, beauty, strength so that the workshop can decide exactly what to do on the original wood.

These woods are usually made with disposable materials that do not work with carpentry workshops based on size and thickness. The wood raw material, by combining other intermediate materials, is pressurized to form the final board product. The following classification is based on the shape of the material used:

  • If the resulting board is produced by putting together thin layers of wood and forms a set of layered compression plates, this product is called a layered board. Multilayer boards are another name for this product, which is named after the number of layers in the cutting board.
  • When wood chips form the main board instead of wood layers, the product takes on the name chipboard. The texture of this board is not composed of layers mounted on top of each other, but of small and large pieces of wood that are visible to the naked eye.
  • If the board is made of wood fibers, it gets the overall name of the fiberboard. Fiberboard itself is divided into different types. LDF, MDF and HDF are types of fiberboard.
  • If we use only wood flour or powder instead of wood fibers or wood, we naturally need another supplement to form the board. The second material used is plastic, and for this reason, the name of the product made with wood flour under heat and press is plastic wood or polywood.

Multilayer board

Since the plywood is made of multi-layered wood with adhesives, it can be trusted to a considerable extent and its range of application can be expanded. In fact, in this product, thin wooden layers have formed a thicker layer, and the overall thickness of the plywood means the total thickness of its forming layers. To maintain the strength of the board as much as possible, the layers are stacked perpendicular to each other based on their fibers to reduce the risk of breakage. The number of layers used in these boards varies depending on the application. This board can be made of different types of wood at different prices. The large size of these boards makes them work faster. Also, this wood is perfectly suitable for all kinds of drilling and sawing and other operations to be able to turn sand into any tool.

Chipboard

To become a wooden board, this product requires a material that acts like glue and sticks the pieces of wood together to form a single board. The material chosen for this purpose is resin or wax. The wood density of this board is high, but it is known among wood boards as the weakest and lightest board. Chipboard usually does not have a cover and is used in the same raw form for places that are not visible. Sometimes different covers or colors are used to make the board more beautiful. The coatings used for chipboard include natural wood veneer, synthetic veneer as well as glazed or varnished. Natural veneer that is natural and genuine wood; Artificial coatings are used in different colors and designs; The varnish is one or more coats of paint, which is responsible for the chemical protection of the chipboard. The board’s resistance to water and moisture is very low and can be a problem.

MDF

MDF, which stands for Medium Density Fibreboard, is a medium-density wood composite. That’s why it has the word medium in its name. Like chipboard, MDF is made from waste and wood fibers, but is much stronger than it is. A cross-section of the MDF shows a rough texture and shows what material the board is made of, but wood chips, unlike the chipboard, are not visible to the naked eye in the MDF. MDF can also be supplied with a variety of coatings. Fiberboard with a specific gravity or density higher than this HDF and with a specific gravity lower than this is called LDF.

HDF

The composite of HDF fiberboard, which stands for Hard Density Fibreboard, is named after its high wood density. The same MDF features are true for this board, but the only difference is that it has a higher density than it does. Higher temperatures and pressure are required to make HDF, but in some cases less adhesive is required. The result of this heat and high pressure makes the HDF highly resistant, which sometimes ends in a high price. The high density of this board increases its machining and tooling capabilities and creates better mechanical and physical properties for this board.

LDF

Unlike the Low Density Fibreboard, the LDF, unlike the HDF, has a low wood density. Like MDF and HDF, LDF is available in a variety of thicknesses and coatings.

Plastic wood

Plastic wood or WPC wood, which stands for Wood Plastic Composites, is made from a combination of flour and plastic or thermoplastic. Recycled materials are used to make this type of board; Both the plastic used in it is recycled and the wood waste is used. Finally, this green product itself can be recycled.

ThermoWood

Thermowood is the natural wood that is heated to change the cellular structure of the wood. Of course, heating has always been done to increase the strength of natural wood. This heating allows the thermowood to acquire positive properties and characteristics that either the natural wood did not have or acted poorly on. These properties, which are not present in natural raw wood, include resistance to decay, resistance to insects, resistance to moisture, high durability, and non-expansion and non-shrinkage. These features allow thermo wood to be used in exterior construction and parts of buildings such as roof gardens or swimming pools without any restrictions.

What is MDF and what are its advantages and disadvantages? (part 2)

What is MDF?

In the previous part of this article we explained …

The coatings used to cover MDF have a wide variety of appearance. Types of veneers that have a natural or artificial wood appearance, a variety of colors, a variety of matte or glossy or high-glass coatings, a variety of protective coatings and even different synthetic raw materials used for different purposes. They can talk about this diversity. MDF natural wood veneer, for example, is true that the soul and nature do not have the natural material of wood, but sometimes it looks so natural that only a professional can distinguish artificial veneer from natural. Ultimately, this apparent diversity of MDF does not limit its use to a specific class, age, or taste, and everyone can have the look they want from MDF.

As mentioned, MDF is not water-resistant on its own, but if waterproof coating is used to cover it, it will no longer blow in contact with water. This swelling becomes rotten like any other wood if it is in constant contact with water. However, one of the best features of MDF is that no matter how small it is, it can fix that problem because it is receptive to a variety of veneers.

In addition, the high price of natural wood made it an almost luxury item. With wood products, it was possible to have items with the appearance of wood and a quality almost similar to it, and even with more benefits. One of the biggest advantages of MDF is its reasonable price compared to natural wood, and following this story, wooden goods are available to everyone.

Natural wood has a long life if properly maintained in a climate and adaptable climate. But it has always been a host for a variety of insects and pests, and environmental and climatic conditions such as wind, frost, and rain have affected wood erosion. Due to its chemical content, MDF is not a popular food for insects and termites, so it is safe from pests and fungi.

One of the issues related to materials and structures is their expansion and contraction and their reaction to temperature changes. This can be dangerous for the connection of materials and over time destroy the device or structure by disrupting the connection points. The same can be said about parquet flooring in the form of protruding or coming into place in some places. Or changing the size and shape of the cabinet door will affect the hinge and loosen or loosen it. Of course, in addition to temperature and climatic changes, accuracy in measuring and directing wood texture also plays a role. However, DF does not expand or shrink in cold and heat.

It’s also true that MDF, like the rest of the raw materials, needs care, but you don’t have to be obsessed with the material. MDF, for example, is quite easy to clean, and this is especially important in appliances such as kitchen cabinets.

In addition to all the benefits of MDF, there are a number of disadvantages.

MDF defect

For example, in the production of MDF, an adhesive (resin) is used, which emits formaldehyde gas and can be harmful to humans. It is a colorless but pungent gas that is likely to cause cancer. Of course, this risk is unfortunately more noticeable to producers and people in the factory or cutting workshop. This is because the glue is no longer a threat after the glue production and drying process is completed, in addition to the fact that the installation of the coating on the MDF stops the gas leak to a good extent. Of course, these risks are greater for children and the weak than normal, and care must be taken in choosing them.

One of the possible disadvantages of MDF is that it is true that MDF has a compact and hard material, but since it is made of thin and fine material, it can be more flexible in places than ours. We want to show. This means that at certain points, the bolts and nuts may be harder than the overall brain tissue of the board and may take up more space than needed. As a result, the screw loosens and loosens the connection.

The last drawback of MDF is when the MDF breaks down. MDF offers the best resistance to impact and maintenance of heavy objects until it cracks and breaks. But when it breaks, it’s even harder to fix and glue it than it is to stick to natural wood, and it may not really fix it. The same thing is repeated in the gaps created in the MDF cut, and the tools that are harmful to the MDF must be prevented from being damaged

If you have any further question about the type of MDF you need please feel free to contact our expert in Rosene office.

Introducing different types of MDF PVC, Letron and Melamine wood

Pre Laminated MDF

When it comes to home renovation and upgrading your interiors, you will want to consider your home’s kitchen cabinets, doors, furniture, flooring, etc. Most people prefer to upgrade their interiors with wood materials that can enhance their house’s appearance and aesthetics. However, choosing the best wood type can be a daunting task. But we are here to help you by introducing different kinds of MDF PVC, Letron, and Melamine woods, which are the best wood materials for interior applications. Before buying one, make sure to read this article thoroughly to choose the most suitable wood for your kitchen cabinets, interior doors, or floorings.

What is MDF?

The advancement of industry and the limited nature of natural resources have led us to produce and use artificial and man-made products. One of the things to note about this is the wood products. Wood has long been considered a raw material for the construction and manufacture of all kinds of equipment. But, as mentioned, the limited resources and other political-economic reasons led us to turn to other options. Also, the goal of producing processed products was to produce products that could bring together the features and benefits of previous products as much as possible in a new alternative product. Such composite products are final products that have better properties than their raw materials before blending. These include MDF fiberboard and other wood citrus, as well as artificial coatings.

The word “MDF” stands for Medium Density Fiberboard. This wood product is made of wood fibers and count therefore in the group of fiber boards. In this sense, MDF accompanies the word medium in its definition, which has a medium density or specific gravity. Any fiberboard that weighs more or less than this specific gravity falls into the category of HDFs and LDFs, respectively; Because they contain hard or tough words and low in their definition. MDF is one of the most popular wooden composite materials in terms of its extensive benefits and has been widely used in industry, equipment and construction. These benefits include reasonable and affordable prices, resistance to erosion and insects, high appearance diversity, acceptance of special coatings.

Advantages of MDF Panels 

MDF panels offer various advantages for interior applications, and some of these benefits are:

  • Medium Density Fiberboards are More-Cost Effective Materials than Solid Woods
  • MDF Panels do not Have Splinters or Voids
  • Painting MDF is Easy Since It Has a Smooth Surface
  • You Can Easily Cut These Boards With a Router and Different Types of Saws Without Any Burnings or Tear-Outs

Learn more about the advantages of MDF Kitchen cabinets.

Disadvantages of MDF Boards

Although MDF boards are valuable materials for your home’s cabinets and doors, they have their disadvantages that you need to know.

  • MDF is a Heavy Material
  • If Not Sealed Properly, It can Takes In Water and Other Liquids and Will Swell.
  • These Engineered Woods Do Not Feature Wood Grains for Aesthetics, and You Will Have to Paint Them 

Tips for Using MDF

 When installing your MDF panels for your cabinets or floorings, there are some essential precautions you need to have if you want to avoid damaging the boards. 

  • Do Not Use Hammer: Since MDF is a robust wood material, you cant use nails with a hammer. So, you should pre-drill a hole or use a trim nailer to shout nails into the board. We recommend you use a putty knife to scrape off the bumps.
  • Do Not Let MDF Get Wet: MDF panels will swell to twice their thickness when exposed to water. However, some moisture-resistant engineered woods can be used in areas with higher humidity, such as the bathroom or laundry rooms.
  • Utilize Solvent-Based Primer: You will want to avoid a sandpaper effect during the MDF painting process by priming the edges.
  • Protect Your Face When Cutting MDF: Cutting MDF can produce a sandstorm of fine, powdery dust that can be dangerous for our health. So, it is essential to cover your face with a tight-fitting mask or cut the panels outdoor.
  • Have Extra Saw Blade: When cutting MDF, you should expect your saw blades to get dull. Thus, it is better to have an extra saw blade during cutting MDF Panels.

Conculsion for MDF Boards

This visual diversity of MDF is created by coatings of different materials. Even natural wood veneers are used to cover MDF boards, but synthetic materials play a more prominent role in MDF, as there are a variety of veneers to enhance. Low resilience and MDF deficiencies are used. These properties are not found in natural wood, which is why we have basically turned to synthetic products such as MDF. Examples include waterproof, antifreeze, antifungal, fire retardant coatings and many others. In terms of veneers that only cover the appearance of MDF, a wide range of colors and visual diversity is available. MDF coatings are a layer of adhesive-coated coating that adheres to the board or raw MDF board due to heat and pressure from the press machine. As mentioned, each coating gives MDF both positive and different functional properties. In the following, we want to get acquainted with three artificial veneers that are placed on a special purpose as a cover on MDF.

mdf panels

Everything you should know about PVC

PVC is a polymer product that has unlimited application in a variety of fields and is therefore one of the most important polymer products. The original or scientific name of this product is Lee Vinyl Chloride, and PVC represents the same name (Polyvinyl chloride). In the construction of PVC, the logic of replacing another material was natural rubber, which was obtained with great difficulty and time. Chemists from all over the world were researching the material, but the hardness and fragility of PVC at the beginning of its construction made it difficult and perhaps impossible to work with. Finally, research and experiments in the 19th and 20th centuries yielded results, and with the addition of additives, a soft, flexible, workable polymer product was produced. Since then, with the advancement of PVC, this material has been proposed as an alternative to previous industrial and construction materials.

One of the advantages of PVC is that it is chemically stable, flexible, resistant to high temperatures, and easy to disinfect. Also, the resistance of PVC coating against scratches and abrasions is high.

PVC vast application in almost everywhere!

PVC, like MDF, is applied in many cases and is even more widely used than MDF. In addition to home application, it is also used extensively in the construction of land and water vehicles, false ceilings, partitions, tank coverings, protective coatings, furniture making, door and window construction, and the wood industry. At the same time, PVC is one of the coatings used on MDF to make a comprehensive cover on both sides of MDF. PVC coating is used on MDF to reinforce some of its properties and make it a superior product, or to give new properties to the final product as a composite product.

PVC itself is produced in white and comes out of the factory in the same color. But since it is applied for various purposes, its color and design are very important and should be changed from the original design and shape. Of course, PVC painting is a long and expensive process, and this prevents a large variety of colors and designs of PVC. For this reason, PVC sheet is coated, which is available in various designs and colors, and most of them use the same coatings. These sheets are available in a variety of designs, such as wood designs or a variety of matte, glossy, and high-glass designs. Various thicknesses are also considered for these PVC coatings.

These sheets, which are used as sheets, have the ability to cover any type of surface with any angle and ending and curvature. Especially on boards that have been machined or used, this coating can create a uniform surface as a cover and help clean the final product. For instance, when covering doors that have been machined and differ in surface and depth due to the original design, a continuous coating is required to cover all the ups and downs and dimensions. These doors are covered with PVC sheeting to form a uniform final appearance, as if they were immersed in a concentrated liquid.

Especially PVC coating in the form of thin strips as thick as MDF board is used to cover the cut part of the board. This strip makes the inner texture of the MDF indistinguishable, and the sharp cut corners become softer and the product looks more beautiful. In this PVC application, the coordination of the color of the strip with the color of the MDF board is very important.

Do you know what “Melamine coating” is?

Melamine is a polymeric material that is popular in the plastics industry due to its unique production processes. Low Pressure Melamine is just one type of coating that is placed on a wood product such as MDF to cover it. These coatings are used to protect MDF against moisture, scratches and heat, and many others. These thin sheets of adhesive are glued to wooden boards, especially MDF, by heat and pressure from the press machine. These veneers are one of the most popular veneers for MDF. Due to the complexity and difficulty of the melamine coating process, many MDF manufacturers also consider a separate melamine MDF production line.

Melamine is a type of laminate that is produced under low pressure. Artificial laminate flooring itself is classified into several categories: high-pressure or HPL laminates, low-pressure or LPM laminates, and compressed or CPL laminates.

The two groups of HPL and CPL laminates are used in different locations based on the level of safety and quality of construction. For instance, high pressure laminate is suitable for hospital and laboratory environments because it is highly resistant to external factors and cleaning them frequently does not harm it. Of course, the downside of high-pressure laminates is their high durability, low flexibility, hardness and fragility. Compressed laminates are also produced with more layers than the previous model and therefore have a longer life and durability than it.

In the meantime, working with low-pressure laminate flooring, or melamine, is easier than working with HPL and CPL. Melamine coating is used both for indoor and outdoor application. Furniture such as sofa, desks and bedside tables, toilets, kiosk cabinets, wall coverings and cupboards and shelves are just some examples. In fact, melamine can be considered as a coating with the widest range of consumption for wood products. This type of decorative paper has a high variety of appearance and does not limit the manufacturer in this regard, but it is not possible to have a glossy appearance with this veneer material.

Like PVC, melamine coating tape is used to cover the edges and diameters of MDF boards to soften both the sharp edge and the rough texture of the board.

Melamine decorative paper is resistant to heat, scratches, moisture and abrasion, but is not highly resistant to acidic and alkaline materials.

Advantages of Melamine Boards

Now that you know what melamine boards are, it is good to know their clear advantages for kitchen cabinets, floorings, or other furniture you want to upgrade.

Melamine Boards are Durable: These materials are highly durable, water-proof, stain resistance, scratch-resistant, and you can clean them easily.

Melamine Comes with Perfect Finishes: You will have limitless choices with melamine boards since they are available in a wide array of wood grain options textures while being cost-effective. Additionally, you can apply and add whatever color or textures you want to these durable wood panels.

Budget-Friendly Wood Panels: Melamine panels are budget-friendly options for cabinets that do not sacrifice durability and quality. Since they do not need to be finished or sanded like solid wood, they can save you time and money during the renovation application.

Disadvantages if Melamine Boards

Like every material in all industries, melamine boards also have disadvantages. For example, melamine itself is a waterproof material, but it can create warps on the melamine coating if the water finds its way to the surface beneath. Another potential disadvantage of these boards can be expected after an improper installation. Although melamine panels are durable and sturdy, the particleboard material can get damaged and cause chipping in the melamine coating if you install them incorrectly. Additionally, since these boards are not edge-finished, they will require edgebanding to cover up their edges.

Applications and Uses of Melamine

Although you can use melamine boards for interior or exterior doors, their primary usage is in the bathroom and kitchen cabinetry due to their durability. Additionally, you can use them for shelvings and counters, whiteboards, flooring, and office furniture.

Stylish Letron Decorative Paper

Letron paper cover is also known as Paper Foil or Finish Foil. Letron is also one of the coatings that adheres to the surface and edges of woodworking tools such as MDF. Due to its low structure and price, this coating is not very resistant to moisture, heat and scratches. But it is still one of the most popular coatings for MDF in safe and non-hazardous cases.

It is made and glued to the board in such a way that it is first produced in a certain weight and dimensions, impregnated with glue and sold in rolls. The roll of paper is then opened and placed on the desired surface and, as in previous methods, is pressed to the raw MDF board under pressure. In such methods, it is important that the surface of the MDF board is homogeneous as well as smooth and polished so that the coating sits well on the surface.

In some cases, this coating is used to make the final effect of the work, so its design, matte and gloss are important. But most of the time, this coating is used as a simple coating to cover the raw texture of MDF board, only as a substructure, and finally it is painted so that the board is painted. In these cases, the final appearance is determined not by the Letron coating but by the same coloring.