14/03/2022
A client required a double built in wardrobe with a wood finish. MDF is popular for built in wardrobes, though often has a painted finish. I found I could source oak faced MDF which suited the clients requirements. This build required hanging space and a shelf above on the left, and three shelves for storage in the right section.
MDF shelving has a tendency to sag over time, though the oak veneer will give this 18mm MDF additional rigidity. I added supplementary bracing bars on the underside of the shelving to resist sagging.
All cut edges that are visible have been edge banded with real oak veneer. I learned that MDF needs to be primed with a 50/50 water PVA to seal the edges prior to paint or glue, so two coats of priming prior to edgebanding was employed.
There is simple framing using 2" x 4" CLS and then faced with edgebanded oak MDF. this gave a good face to affix the hinges. All drilled holes are on the interior, and are capped using plugs cut from offcuts . In the main these are virtually invisible. I also utilised pocket hole joinery for other fixings that are out of sight.
The inner body of the wardrobe was lined with 9mm MDF for a clean finish, and any joints were finished with trims manufactured from 9mm MDF offcuts with a routed round over edging profile. The base was raised off the floor on a timber frame and MDF floor as per the clients request.
The doors are hung using blumb style soft close hinges. Despite the additional cost I love the Goodhome Kombu hinges from B&Q as the adjustment and fitting is slick and precise. Little adjustment was required as I set a plinth level to set the doors on to as each was fitted and no vertical adjustment was required. With each door being about 2.3 mtr high, I opted for three hinges per door. a simple template made in the workshop aided simple fitting of the handles. The project got a light sanding using 180 grit Mirka branded alox sanding sheets, and then finished with clear Briwax which is a tough blend of carnauba and beeswax. The oak grain shows through well, and my choice and ability to keep a matched grain pattern on all four doors works so well. Despite a little scope creep, the client loves this build, and I must say that I am pleased with my first foray into working with faced MDF, and my first built in wardrobe.
