Kitchen cabinet help??

After recieving a few quotes to have new cupboards built for my kitchen, I was Rather distraught to find it was going to cost over $6,000.
So, being rather handy in building speaker cabinets and so forth I have decided to build the cabinets myself....
I have drawn up plans and am now stuck as to what material to use.
I have had trouble finding information on what sort of board to use.
I know it has to be waterproof and heatproof due to a wall oven being installed.
But what board do I use??

I have asked at bunnings and was told to use 12mm M.D.F. which I believe is neither waterproof nor heatproof..
Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated..

Howdy Notsohandyman,

Most kitchen cabinets (carcases) are built out of 16mm thick HMR (highly moisture resistant) white melamine particleboard. Note the words 'moisture resistant' not 'waterproof'. HMR will swell if immersed in water for a period of time.

The particleboard will have a green colour throughout (denoting it is indeed HMR).

I prefer particleboard over MDF as MDF is much heavier to lug around and the very fine dust it creates isn't the best for your health.

Dont use 12mm board as the hinges you will buy for the doors are designed to overlay 16mm thick board.

Take a look here at the price of carcases http://plyboard.com.au/admin/files/RetailPriceList.pdf
the quality is better than a few of the other kit makers that sell in Melbourne, the same company will also quote for doing cutting and edging from your plans.

I agree with renomart don't bother with the non hmr material the saving just aren't worth it. just a word of caution about wall ovens don't be tempted to use a "wall oven" underbench. An under bench can be used as a wall oven but not the other way round it to do with venting. Most new ovens are under bench anyway. just if you go for a second hand unit it is something to think about

My walloven only has about 50mm clearance at the back, with no vent and it's slowly destroying the cabinet internally.

How is this venting achieved on a wall oven, with some kind of kit or just cutting a hole in the cupboard/carcass.


HJ0

the cupboard above is made shallow so the hot air escapes up the space between the top cupboard and the back of the cupboard. hope that is a bit clearer than mud

I know this is not specific to the heat / moisture part of the problem. Here is a kitchen cabinet I made about 2 years ago.

http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/%7Estuar...tchen-Plan.gif
http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/%7Estuar...d-Image-07.jpghttp://home.swiftdsl.com.au/%7Estuar...d-Image-05.jpg
Carcass is melamine (particle board based), and vinyl wrapped doors/drawers etc. All pocket holed together.

The entire unit cost $1600, with $1100 being the doors ($500) and benchtop ($600) which were made to order by Schiffer Manufacturing in Carrum Downs, whom I would recommend.

A full article on the construction is on my website, under "Members Showcase" - "Members Projects"

unless you have acess to a good quality panel saw and edgebander i would advise you to buy a flat packed kitchen and just install it yourself ,if you take into account the time and effort you will exert not to mention the inevitable mistakes that will happen it isin your pockets interest to go down this path,not trying to put you off just offering advice from obversations that i have gained over 25 years in my own business

You don't need a panel saw or an edge bander to build your own kitchen if that's what you want to do. You can use face frames to cover the edges if you like that style or there are a couple of other methods you can use. Get yourself a copy of one of the books that are around. Have a look on Amazon.

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Originally Posted by arms

unless you have acess to a good quality panel saw and edgebander i would advise you to buy a flat packed kitchen and just install it yourself ,if you take into account the time and effort you will exert not to mention the inevitable mistakes that will happen it isin your pockets interest to go down this path,not trying to put you off just offering advice from obversations that i have gained over 25 years in my own business

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You are kidding :eek: :mad: What utter crap.

Guys - everyone put down their tools right now, just in case you "make a mistake".

Building a kitchen is one of the easiest projects I have tried, not the hardest. What is a "flat pack" other than a few boards someone else has cut out for you and doubled the raw material cost (at least). You could make one easily, and accurately (well accurate enough for a kitchen cupboard) with a $99 GMC table saw. A pockethole jig makes it even easier, and spend the money saved on good quality vinyl-wrapped doors and bench tops.

I think Tom's livelihood depends upon people who share his opinion on the subject. That's fine and I'm sure plenty of people who would otherwise be incapable would achieve a good result with a flat pack for whatever reason. I believe there is a place in the market for everyone. However, this is a woodworking forum and so this place in particular is probably not the best place to be pushing a paint-by-numbers approach.

i am not pushing a paint by numbers approach ,i am giving advice gained through years of having to go and fix the weekend warriers problems because it seemed a easy thing to start but the enormity of the job was finally realised ! also tag of notsohandyman doesnt instill a lot of confidence to tackle this

If I can ask ..... what are you trying to achieve? If it is a period style kitchen, then your choices are different than if it is a contemporary style. Everyone knows I am a devotee of face-frame cabinetry but I also appreciate the clean lines of modern things..... usually not most Aussie kitchens though, which usually leave me cranky for various reasons. If folks could get some more info that'd be great. And as far as what Tom says: He is dead right.....but then so is everybody else

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

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i am not pushing a paint by numbers approach

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I'm sorry but yes you are. You are recommending that he purchase a flat pack kitchen rather than building his own cabinets from scratch. In my book, that equates to buying a canvas with shapes drawn on it and numbers telling you what colour to paint each one. Surely you can see the analogy? Would you go on an artists forum and suggest that? Well, if you were a retailer of paint-by-number kits, of course you would! You may be right about the notsohandyman tag, but then that could be just his sense of irony ;)

Regarding face frames vs modern lines, if you go for full overlay doors, no-one will be able to spot the difference with the doors closed.

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Originally Posted by silentC

....Would you go on an artists forum and suggest that?......

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Totally agree silentC, and it would be just as insulting.