DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

[Hello,
I need advice on what wood should be used for the center panel of a kitchen cupboard door I have to make. It will be a softwood frame with a panel routed and glued in. I have tried odd pieces of hardboard, ply and mdf but they do not seem to accept a painted finish satisfactorily. I want to use satin finish cupboard paint ???
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks.
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Hi. Sounds to me like you may not be using a wood primer. All of those will work (albeit that hardboard is going to look pretty naff to be honest) provided you prime the wood. MDF would be my choice, and I'd use 1 coat of MDF primer, 1 undercoat and 2 topcoats.

(BTW if you decide to use a solid wood panel come back, as there are a couple of gotcha's for the unwary)

you piecesp of softwood plained to size and glued together to make your center pannel it will match in perfectly but dont glue the pannel into the grove of the softwood frame always leave it loose for movement

Hello,
Many thanks for the replies, I will try as you suggest on a dummy piece of MDF first. How about a diluted PVA sealer ?

Hi. Nope, MDF primer!!

(Small tin, doesn't cost a lot, and diy shed, paint shop, builders merchants etc)