Alcove Units – Best Solution?

paperclap

Our kitchen units have a 15mm overhang!

ThisIsWeird

Over the front of the doors? Wow. 'Usually a bit less, afaIk.

Ok, what does it look like?

I would suggest that, for a unit like wot you are proposing, the overhang could/should be greater than what you find on most kitchens, so 15mm could well be perfectly fine on your alcove unit, even if it looks excessive on your kitchen.

paperclap

So I’m getting my ducks in a row and trying some hinges out. Got myself a 35mm Trend hinge cutter. But, it’s making a right old mess of it. Keeps blocking up, flurry edges, super slow. Wandering. What gives?

The bit is brand new, feels sharp enough. And I piloted a small hole with a bradawl to prevent wandering!

travis-powers

paperclap said:

So I’m getting my ducks in a row and trying some hinges out. Got myself a 35mm Trend hinge cutter. But, it’s making a right old mess of it. Keeps blocking up, flurry edges, super slow. Wandering. What gives?

The bit is brand new, feels sharp enough. And I piloted a small hole with a bradawl to prevent wandering!

This shouldn’t be happening especially with a trend cutter, try drilling a hole through the mdf and use that cut out as a clamped down jig, you should get better results.

paperclap

Tried using a flat wood drill bit. Not nearly as bad – not as much furring on the inside, zero wandering.

Could the Trend bit really be the problem?

Could it be the MDF? It’s old (probably somewhat damp ) MDF. That said, tried on some old scraps of thin plywood, and it wandered there too.

paperclap

Turns out it was the old / damp MDF and plywood!

Found a scrap piece of MDF architrave, and just look at the difference! Didn’t even pilot hole it to start.

A friend of mine is wondering if the other stuff was low density fibreboard?

ThisIsWeird

No need for a pilot hole. 
Do you have a micrometer or Vernier? Measure the MDF thickness and see if it's expanded?

paperclap

I don't, no… but I do wonder whether it has! All the fibres are clumped together and it just feels expanded!

ThisIsWeird

Good chance it's from a general raised level of dampness during storage - a slow absorption that affected the board to its core.

I have come across that myself - MDF that fluffs up rather than cuts cleanly - but can't be certain whether it was due to damp, or a lesser quality of MDF.

Anyhoo, good you found the reason!

paperclap

Indeed! Was ready to send this Trend bit back!

A little odd tangent… looking at prices of MDF vs hardwood plywood at Wickes. A bit in it, but perhaps worth considering the plywood, purely for better strength, screw hold, etc? It’ll be painted white.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-General-Purpose-Medium-Density-Fibreboard-MDF---18-x-1220-x-2440mm/p/110113

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Non-Structural-Hardwood-Plywood---18-x-1220-x-2440mm/p/110037

I know there’s risk of receiving warped / unglued plywood… but if I am to be the unlucky sod that gets that, I’ve every confidence Wickes would send out better sheets. Just worth a note.