Cal Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 For those who have made your own kitchen cabinets, did you do any finishing to the inside. Uppers would surely want some type of finish as you stare straight into them when opened. My lower cabinets, except for under the sink will all be drawers - I cannot really see the need for finishing the interiors of these. So, what type of finish is best for the interiors and drawers? FWIW, SWMBO wants the cabinets painted... so they will be painted. FlGatorwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunny Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 12 minutes ago, Cal said: For those who have made your own kitchen cabinets, did you do any finishing to the inside. I have done mine with clear poly, several coats just for extra protection and clean up. Did my neighbors the same way before we installed them. Much easier to do when you have access from the top. FlGatorwood and Cal 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 Hey Cal, drawers I leave natural, just never saw the use to finish them, not too mention the off gassing of the finish (unless using water base) within enclosed areas such as drawers seems to take forever and the smell when you open the drawers from the finish. But again, perhaps if you use water based that may not be an issue. I'm with you, for aesthetics I like finished interior cabinets, I would just use shellac or something nature friendly like that. Here is an example of some pine cabinets I painted and shellacked the insides. FlGatorwood and Cal 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roly Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 If you still have the option look at prefinished plywood, the UV coating is almost bullet proof. Roly p_toad and FlGatorwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted July 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 9 hours ago, Woodbutcherbynight said: I have done mine with clear poly, several coats just for extra protection and clean up. 2 hours ago, John Morris said: Here is an example of some pine cabinets I painted and shellacked the insides. Thanks Gunny - that is why I was considering a finish for the drawers. I see on the kitchen island I built a couple years ago and left the drawers natural that one has had something spill into it Like it or not, accidents will happen... John - what a wealth of info you provided! And beautiful work to boot The only thing missing was the final pics showing all the doors in place... It was great to see your son practicing the craft with you, he must be about 15 now - does he still participate when you have a project to work on or have his interests wandered a bit to other topics? When I look around our home and yard I see many things that our son and daughter were involved in during their teen & younger years and it always brings a smile. In fact, a few weeks back after having the house and walkway power washed I freshened up a couple of the reminders. I'll take a couple pics and post up in another topic. John, believe it or not, I had never heard or seen sawtooth shelf supports. That sure gave me something to think about. It will be 2-3 weeks likely before I start the upper cabinets. Rest assured, I will be thinking about this for the next 2-3 weeks! FlGatorwood 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 Cal, 24 years ago, we finished the insides, drawers and all, with a few coats of poly. Makes clean up much easier. Cal and FlGatorwood 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted July 12, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 2 minutes ago, Roly said: If you still have the option look at prefinished plywood, the UV coating is almost bullet proof. Roly Roly, I am just getting started. I have the first base cabinet built and have started the drawers. This cabinet will sit in the corner and measures 30" deep for 28" drawers. I have cut the face frame stiles with an angle to allow it to pull up tight against the side cabinetry. I have heard of prefinished plywood, but the only thing I am familiar with is that sold at Lowes and HD which are primed? I have not asked my normal lumber yard if they carry any thing like that, but I will the next time I am in. They are generally very helpful and offer suggestions of what materials and options they have. p_toad and FlGatorwood 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danl Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 Cal, When you go to your lumber yard ask for UV plywood. UV coating is basically a compound that is applied to wet wood and then instantly dried by ultraviolet light. ... UV plywood is pre-finished hardwood plywood panel featuring a clear, durable top coat, which will add toughness, resisting scrapes, chips and the effects of solvent wipe down to plywood. For kitchen cabinet interior parts, I use #2 cut shellac. For kitchen cabinet exterior parts I use a finish which has a KCMA certification. Danl FlGatorwood, p_toad and Cal 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roly Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 (edited) UV finished plywood, normally it is applied to maple or birch ply. You can get it in one side or both sides coated in all the normal thicknesses. I got mine from a hardwood dealer that supplies the cabinet shops. Roly Edited July 12, 2019 by Roly FlGatorwood, Cal and p_toad 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danl Posted July 12, 2019 Report Share Posted July 12, 2019 Cal, If you choose to use shellac or poly, consider applying the finish to the ply sheet before cutting to size. Danl FlGatorwood and Cal 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted July 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2019 23 hours ago, Danl said: Cal, If you choose to use shellac or poly, consider applying the finish to the ply sheet before cutting to size. Danl Too late on this one Danl, parts are already cut out. If'n I can find a local source for UV plywood; would the coating interfere with glue ups? This is the first of several cabinets I have to do, so I expect to learn a lot from this one. So far, I am right on track "learning from experience" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted July 13, 2019 Report Share Posted July 13, 2019 On 7/12/2019 at 4:47 AM, Cal said: John, believe it or not, I had never heard or seen sawtooth shelf supports. That sure gave me something to think about. It will be 2-3 weeks likely before I start the upper cabinets. Rest assured, I will be thinking about this for the next 2-3 weeks! They (sawtooth) are a nice touch Cal, I really love them. As far as my son goes, he dabbles a little bit with me from time to time, he does not have that little kid energy anymore to get in there and try things and have fun, he is growing and finding his own way. He loves sports, baseball and basketball, and he'd rather shoot some hoops, but it kind of works out still, the basketball hoop is immediately outside our garage/shop, and I'll open up the big car door while he's shooting, and I'll work, so we are connected visually by just a few feet, and we chat through it all, I'm woodworking, he's shootin hoops, so we are still connected. I think I have some images of the cabinets with doors, I'll try to see if I can dig them up, for some reason they are sparse! And so glad you enjoyed the pine cabinet topic. Cal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roly Posted July 13, 2019 Report Share Posted July 13, 2019 1 hour ago, Cal said: Too late on this one Danl, parts are already cut out. If'n I can find a local source for UV plywood; would the coating interfere with glue ups? This is the first of several cabinets I have to do, so I expect to learn a lot from this one. So far, I am right on track "learning from experience" Yes the UV coating will interfere with glue ups. I took a light router pass or sanded it off in those areas but there are just a few places where you need to do this such as a prefinished back to a side. Roly Cal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmealy Posted July 13, 2019 Report Share Posted July 13, 2019 On 7/12/2019 at 7:45 AM, Roly said: If you still have the option look at prefinished plywood, the UV coating is almost bullet proof. Roly I used this for some built-in cabinets for the church a few years ago. Indeed a great time saver and durable finish. Cal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmealy Posted July 13, 2019 Report Share Posted July 13, 2019 10 hours ago, Cal said: If'n I can find a local source for UV plywood; would the coating interfere with glue ups? Easy to fix with dadoes and rabbets Cal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunny Posted July 14, 2019 Report Share Posted July 14, 2019 On 7/12/2019 at 4:55 AM, John Morris said: ot too mention the off gassing of the finish A tip I learned from my Grandfather on this issue. Take a small bowl and break charcoal in half and let sit in cabinet few days. John Morris, Gerald and Cal 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Morris Posted July 14, 2019 Report Share Posted July 14, 2019 33 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said: A tip I learned from my Grandfather on this issue. Take a small bowl and break charcoal in half and let sit in cabinet few days. Excellent! Gunny and Cal 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted July 14, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2019 (edited) Drawer boxes were assembled yesterday and drawer slides attached to the cabinet. Made a set of jigs to help with slide placement on cabinets & drawers for this and the other base cabinets I will be building. Drawers fit nicely. Plans are to apply shellac today/tomorrow and begin milling some lumber for drawer fronts, a couple mirror projects and the next set of face frames. I think I may try wiping on the shellac. Just read about doing this, and never really thought of it before. I've used wiping varnish a lot, but never wiped on shellac. At some point early in the week I will check on the UV plywood availability. Edited July 14, 2019 by Cal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roly Posted July 14, 2019 Report Share Posted July 14, 2019 If you do use UV ply, do like kmealy said, dados and rabbits. This is the way I built mine as it holds all the parts in alignment and you have the cut edges for gluing. The UV coating is hard, so be careful as you will get minor cuts on your hands from the cut edges. Roly Cal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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