Are there any tips for finishing frame & panel cabinet doors?
A – Finish frame pieces and the panel separately. Then assemble and glue up. Result, no way to really clean up glue squeeze-out and no way to fill any minor (or not-so-minor) gaps.
B – Assemble, glue-up and make any repairs – then finish. Result, locked joints between the frame and the panel from the finish.
C – Finish panel and INSIDE EDGES of frame pieces. Assemble,glue-up and clean-up. Finish face of frame, blending into finish job on the edges. Result – ? but I don’t think, in fact I know, I’m not that good.
D – Any other suggestions?
Jerry
Replies
When I do RP Doors at home I stain and seal the panel- then build the door .
I've seen lots of doors well all the doors made where I work are finished after they are assembled .
Jerry, I complete the panels first, stained, topcoats etc. I leave the frames unfinshed until after the panel is installed.Make sure the panel slides in the frame , not so tight that you have to tap it with a mallet. No glue on the panel, just the cope and stick frames get glue.Easy on the glue, especially where the molded part shows at the inside corners. After glue up you usually have some sanding to do on the face frames to even them out. A random orbit sander with 120 grit should suffice. Sand with increasingly finer grits to 180 for most hard woods. I finish sanding by hand with 220 grit. Then you can stain and topcoat stiles and rails.
Mike
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