DIY MDF Cabinet Building Step by Step Guide

[@karlpopewoodcraft]

Hi Tom the cabinets turned out great. I have to disagree with saying how easy they are to build though and think your doing yourself a disservice. I suppose it's all relative to your skill level as easy for a time served carpenter is totally different to a DIY or novice. Thank you for sharing 😊

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Well, I was hoping to To make it as easy as possible. But I get your point. I'm glad you liked the cabinets and thank you for watching.

[@karlpopewoodcraft]

@@TomMagicWoodworking Ye get you mate, it's tricky isn't it. My students are surprised in how difficult it is to just saw in a straight line haha 😆

[@dougieranger]

@@TomMagicWoodworkingNew subscriber here, love this channel. I’m retraining as a carpenter and this stuff is gold. Thanks. 🙏🏼

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

well I'm glad you like my content and if you have any questions about going down the carpentry line feel free to ask away. Thanks for watching

[@dougieranger]

@@TomMagicWoodworking Thank you Tom, much appreciated my friend.

[@allansharp5528]

very nice, great work. i noticed your painting on the units was fantastic. very smooth. any chance of a video on painting MDF.

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi I did wonder if I should of included it in this video. I have another MDF project coming up soon. I will go in to depth on the best way to paint and finish it. Thanks for watching

[@deanowright359]

Hi, tom, greetings from Texas. You make building those cabinets so easy.

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hello across the pond .I'm glad I can help and thanks for watching

[@mariorich2121]

Video is very informative however I have been building furniture from 1990 and have dealt with so many repairs as well and I really hope you see where it is unwise to say to your viewers not to use any glue. It is very important to apply some glue and reasons 1 ) the perfect way to joining any two materials is by applying a adhesive substance to hold because wood swells and it also contracts with heat or moisture 2) after moving a piece of furniture a few times in gets weaker and or it will break or open up the joints whenever more weight is applied and I could go on so, love the video just that issue I with it.

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, thanks for the comments, and yes, glue would help. No question. But equally, nearly every kitchen cabinet firm in the uk only uses mechanical fixing to hold the cabinets together. thanks for watching

[@tonybrown5071]

Great job Tom, considering changing my old built in wardrobes and this has given me more confidence that I could have a go and build some myself. Subscribed.

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi i would say just plan out what you want to build so you have the clear sizes you need. Take your time with it and I'm sure you will have a nice finish. Any problems feel free to ask questions. Thanks for watching

[@barriemeredith907]

Great stuff Tom

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Thank you

[@winty2721]

Great job Tom very organised. Do you have any more information on working out the drawer spacing. I get the width and depth part but how do you irk out your spacing. Are you finding internal height from inside bottom to to top then deduct your 10mm spacing then dividing by how many drawers you have ?? Do you have a set calculation 👍

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, with the draw spacing, you pretty much have the grasp of how I go about it, ie.I dividing up the internal height and divid it by the drawers. That might change some times if I have different size drawer fronts. I have to be honest I have not come up with a hard and fast rule how to set them out.sorry, I can't be of any more help it's something I just tend to get stuck into and adjust as I go. Thanks for watching

[@winty2721]

@@TomMagicWoodworking Thank you appreciate the reply 👍👍. It’s not as easy as it looks 😂

[@audhen1]

wonderful build and wonderfully built :D

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for watching

[@RH-nk7eo]

Great video thanks Tom. For us absolute beginners it would be good if you could explain some of the basics in a bit more detail (e.g. the role of the stretcher).

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I have had a few people ask me to explain in a little more detail some of the areas I will endeavour to show more in my next video. To Answer your question. The stretcher just refers to a piece of plywood or MDF which holds the 2 outside edges, apart i.e. a structural rail. Thanks for watching

[@whomadethatsaltysoup]

Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing. One question, though. I'm assuming, having fitted the drawers, runners, and doors, you then took everything apart to paint. In my experience, knocking up the units is the easy part. The sanding, painting, drying time, and repainting is the time-consuming aspect of the project.

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi yes you are dead right after mocking everything up to make sure it worked. I then stripped it all down to paint which I did not show. I have since made a video showing how the painting is done for anyone interested. Thanks for watching

[@Rja557]

Great video! Do you have a video on working out the drawer spacing in more detail? Cheers!! 👍

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

I'm afraid I don't but I have got a couple of projects coming up. Where I will show specifically show how to space out the drawers. So keep an eye out i will do them in the next few weeks . Thanks for watching

[@geoffstein3896]

Hi Tim, keen woodworker with a lot to learn. The cabinets looks awesome, I love the nice flat and even finish in the paint you did them in. May I ask how you achieved that please? I can only imagine you sprayed them, really nice finish 👍

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, I'm glad you liked the video on the cabinets. Regarding the finishing, it was all done with a small sponge roller and a brush. You just need to build up the coats of paint and rub down well between coats. Thanks for watching

[@simon-xn1wz]

Hi Tom , very fast assembly there fair play ! What are those corner clamps you’re using they look like a great help to a usually finicky process

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi the corner claps came from screwfix code 272RG £15 Approx. They are ok But even those are a little fiddly. Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching.

[@wizardmorgan]

Thanks

[@Blue60]

Hi Tom cabinets look great, is there an easier way to work out the spacing between the drawers

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi I have to admit. I tend to Find the spacing between the drawers as trial-and-error. It mainly comes down to How the front of the drawer's look. As long as there's clearance, I wouldn't worry too much. Thanks for watching.

[@iandavis9450]

brilliant video.. can i ask where you got your corner clamps from thank you

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi thanks a lot. As regarding the corner clamps I have added a link at the bottom of the video description for Amazon where you can get them. Thanks for watching

[@johanneswerner8809]

Great Build. What thickness do the mdf sheets have? What would you recommend for larger cabinets?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. The MDF I used in the video was 18mm thick, which should be fine even for larger cabinets. Thanks for watching

[@rogerazevedo4094]

Well done

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

many thanks!

[@ekpemawulidaniel35]

Greetings from Ghana

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Greetings back from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@dodgydino62]

Noticed you didn't you any glue at all..... how do they stand the test of time? Good video, really enjoyed it....keep em coming.

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi As regards the glue. If you were making cabinets and they are free standing, I would recommend glueing them. But as all the cabinets I was making were being fixed to the walls, there are no way they could move. Think kitchen cabinets as a rule. They are generally not glued. Because they are fixed in place. Thanks for watching

[@dodgydino62]

Thanks for the reply.

[@TheMattfell]

Hi there, great video very handy tips. Can i ask what paint youbused for the bathroom cabinet and did youbuse MRMDF

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, I used the same brand of paint for all the cabinets, including the one in the bathroom. Unfortunately, I can not remember the name of the brand it was for my local B&Q DIY store. Basically, just buy a good quality timber paint Most are moisture resistant. I did not use MRMDF As a Rule in bathrooms, I would normally use it, but the cabinet in the bathroom was high on the wall and would have very little contact with moisture if any. Thanks for watching

[@Vic-nd2hp]

Hi Tom , great work looking at building some cabinets myself for self imposed shed time, thankyou for sharing your knowledge. From video looks can tell, did you use 18mm MDF? Is there any difference if using 15mm from your experience? Thanks Vic

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, I'm glad you liked the cabinets. Yes, they were made in 18mm MDF mainly because 18mm Is more readily available in the builders merchants than 15 mm mdf, plus i had some in stock. Other than that, there is no reason why you can't use 15mm mdf. It will be just as strong. One word of warning make sure your hinges work with 15mm mdf as some are set up for 18mm. Thanks for watching

[@DoItYourselfAndy]

Hey Tom, thanks for the great video. You mentioned in the comments using 18mm mdf, was that bog std or did you use MR? I’ve built some airing cupboard doors out of MR and they’re pretty heavy but also noticed the quality of mdf varies so much. The Medite stuff I’ve seen isn’t stocked locally to me and some of the available MR is hard on the outside but like Weekabix on the inside 😂

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, it was a little while ago now that I built them, but I think it was all standard MDF. Basically, it was what I had in stock in the workshop But yes, the MDF quality does vary a lot. Thanks for watching

[@CHLA94]

Nice job fella. New subscriber from Bristol

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

I'm glad you liked it thanks for watching

[@michaelplays2449]

Lovely job !!!! 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Thank you

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching

[@mattc2561]

I wish more people would realize mdf and HDF are amazing products and I hope people don’t frown upon them any more

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

I agree 👍

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Tom ,just subscribed, brilliant build project and thanks about the wood filling tip, great video take care

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

I'm glad you enjoyed it and got something from the video. And thank you for watching.

[@dev-j1k]

What sliding table saw do you use for this type of work?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

I have got an Axminster sliding table panel sawI

[@bbeernaert]

HiTom, I am looking to build a few cabinets myself. I am looking to buy a cheap table saw. Can I just switch the sawing blade to make the grooves for the back panel? Should it be 6 mm or which thickness? THanks for your help!

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, in the UK, we can only get 1 thickness of blade. To form your groves for the back panel, run your material through once, then move the fence. And run through again, giving you 6 mm width. Hope this helps thanks for watching

[@leojames7331]

Very nice. Whats your method for painting them? Can you link to any video tutorials please?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi I have yet to do a tutorial on how to paint MDF but will be doing one soon. Ask regarding these cabinets. They had three coats per side With a small woll roller but rubbed down Between Coats with 240 sound paper. Hope this helps thanks to watching

[@leojames7331]

@@TomMagicWoodworking Awesome, thank you. I will subscribe and wait for a full tutorial. Cheers 🙌🏻

[@johnisley4578]

Hi Tom, Great Job, What paint did you use and what type of spray gun? They look great.

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, I used a small roller and a paintbrush, and the paint I used was B&Q Valsspar timber paint they mix for you. I rubbed down the paint in between Coats with 240 grip sandpaper. I'm, it gives a really nice finish. Thanks for watching.

[@johnisley4578]

Thats great, thanks for that Tom.@@TomMagicWoodworking

[@larsrittblad8333]

Hi Tom great video! What drawer rails did you use in the video? Sincerely, Lasse

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi the drawer rails I used in the video came from Amazon here is a link to them amzn.to/4eiJCEW thanks for watching

[@larsrittblad8333]

@@TomMagicWoodworking thanks!

[@ekpemawulidaniel35]

Good job

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Thank you

[@Niallo16]

Hi, great video on making cabinets. I'm wondering what thickness did you use for the back panel? Was it 9mm? I'm building a larder cabinet to fit beside a fridge in a kitchen., roughly 2000 x 500mm. Would you go MDF or melamine. I'm painting the outside panel and doors. Thanks

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi thanks for the comments. Yes the back panel was 9mm MDF but you could go thinner its what I had in stock at the time. Now for the cabinet you are building, normally if it was making it for the kitchen I would use a MDF or Plywood covered with melamine. But as your painting the outside I would just use MDF if it were me hope this helps. Thanks for watching

[@Niallo16]

@@TomMagicWoodworking Great, thanks for replying.

[@user-ky7ty3ie1x]

Hi what mdf pait you recommend please

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

For the undercoat use zinsser top coats Just a good quality timber paint.

[@ciaranreidproduction]

What size and brand of screws are you using and what size and brand of pilot hole drill bit are you using? Thanks!

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi sorry to say not sure of the brand of screws as I buy them in Bulk and put them in a box.size of screws was 4x60mm and the pilot hole drill was 2.5mm. Thanks for watching

[@ValenteEspinosa]

Care to indicate the type of coarse screws you used?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Sorry I forgot the brand but they were MDF screws which all have a coarse thread. Thanks for watching

[@ekpemawulidaniel35]

Did you use gloss finish or vanish for protection please?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, I used undercoat paint, then 3 coats of satin wood paint to finish, which I applied with a roller and brush. Thanks for watching

[@jlam3927]

How are most mass manufactured MDF cabinets (kitchen) joined? I am curious as to how much weight the bottom "shelves" can handle.

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

hi it depends on who makes them but for most of them they are screwed and doweled together. Also what you will find is the legs screwed to the bottom of the cabinets over lap the side panels to help carry the weight if that makes sense. So in a word they can handle quite a lot of weight i hope this helps. Thanks for watching

[@jlam3927]

@@TomMagicWoodworking Yes I figured it must be dowels or tongue and groove something like that. Either that they'd have to nail it from the outside and then cover it with the "veneer".

[@badrinath6059]

Hi Tom,edge binding is mandatory for mdf cabinets?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

No not really as long as you seal the edge of the MDF well. Use serval coats of paint and you should have no problems.

[@badrinath6059]

@TomMagicWoodworking thanks for your quick response 🙏

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Not a problem hope it helps. Thanks for watching

[@fenikzart]

my mdf always splits when screwing them together, any tips?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi I would recommend using a larger pilot drill. Also, when it comes to drilling into the MDF always come in a minimum of 50 mm from either end to stop the splitting. Hope this helps thanks for watching.

[@asmailerajabe352]

Thanks for you....❤❤❤❤❤✌✌👍👍👍👏👏👏👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

I'm glad you like. Thanks for watching

[@emkt3659]

How did you get to finish it in white or grey?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

I painted the cabinets with a good timber paint. I used a brush and a roller

[@fredmercury1314]

What paint do you use?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

Hi, I used a water-based undercoat, then 3 coats of valspar timber paint, which I had mixed for me at B&Q. Remember to rub down the paint and remove dust between coats. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching

[@سیداسدموسوی-ع8و]

❤😊

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

👍

[@NancyStewart-d7x]

Brown Karen Walker Dorothy Miller Margaret

[@0619421034]

Hi Tom, could you please share the dimension sheet if you have one?

[@TomMagicWoodworking]

hi sorry to say I don't have one. I measured up the customers house then built the cupboards to suit.