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I finally figured out why my custom cabinet doors kept warping

Spent three whole days trying to hang these maple doors I built for a kitchen project. They looked great in the shop, but every time I put them up, they'd bow out at the corners after a day. I was using 3/4 inch plywood for the panel, thinking it was stable enough. Turns out, my shop is way less humid than the house, and I didn't leave any room for the wood to move in the frame. Had to remake all eight doors with a smaller panel and a bigger gap. Has anyone else had this happen with solid wood frames?
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3 Comments
blair990
blair99013h ago
Ugh, humidity is a nightmare. That wood movement is no joke, especially with a tight panel fit. A lot of people forget that even plywood cores can react over time.
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shanes66
shanes6610h ago
Man, tell me about it. I read this old article where a museum had to rebuild an entire display case because the plywood backing swelled up and pushed the glass right out of its frame. It's wild how even the stable stuff isn't safe. I feel for @joseph_bailey and his potato chip project, because I had a cabinet door do the same thing last summer. It just locked up solid, wouldn't budge until the dry season. You really can't fight physics.
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joseph_bailey
My last project looked like a potato chip.
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