I'm in the process of installing a kitchen from MFI. I have an island
consisting of 600mm deep units on the front and 300mm deep full height
wall units to make the back, so in total the island is 900mm deep. The
front side (the 600mm deep bit) consists of a built in freezer, a
drawer unit and a built in fridge. The designer at MFI has supplied
some 18mm thick end panels to box in the fridge and freezer and support
the worktop at the two ends.

The end panels supplied are 600mm wide and made of MDF with a tongue &
groove effect, so I need use two on each side, and cut them down to
create 900mm wide panels. There only thing these panels can be screwed
to is the 300mm deep wall units, so 600mm will be unsupported and
should be able to support the worktop.

So now to the question. I can probably cut the end panels where the
tongue & groove effect is so the cut should be less visible. I assume
if I use a circular saw to do this it would look rubbish, so I should
use a router & jig (I'd need to hire a 900mm long jig). But what should
I join the panels with?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks,
Dave.

"Bodgit" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm in the process of installing a kitchen from MFI. I have an island
consisting of 600mm deep units on the front and 300mm deep full height
wall units to make the back, so in total the island is 900mm deep. The
front side (the 600mm deep bit) consists of a built in freezer, a
drawer unit and a built in fridge. The designer at MFI has supplied
some 18mm thick end panels to box in the fridge and freezer and support
the worktop at the two ends.

The end panels supplied are 600mm wide and made of MDF with a tongue &
groove effect, so I need use two on each side, and cut them down to
create 900mm wide panels. There only thing these panels can be screwed
to is the 300mm deep wall units, so 600mm will be unsupported and
should be able to support the worktop.

So now to the question. I can probably cut the end panels where the
tongue & groove effect is so the cut should be less visible. I assume
if I use a circular saw to do this it would look rubbish, so I should
use a router & jig (I'd need to hire a 900mm long jig). But what should
I join the panels with?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks,
Dave.


================================
If you're fairly confident with a handsaw one of these will be your cheapest
option: http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=71601

These saws (sometimes described as 'shark saws') give an extremely clean cut
even on melamine coated surfaces. A bit of practice is needed to get best
results.

If you decide on the router option you don't need a jig as such - just a
straight edge clamped to the piece you're cutting. In fact it would be
easier to cut with your circular saw and clean the edge with a router and
straight edge.

A biscuit jointer (as suggested by another poster) would be quite
satisfactory, but I would suggest that you reinforce the MDF panels with
wooden battens if there is sufficient room.

MDF dust is unpleasant - consider the many warnings offered here about
inhaling.

Cic.

Bodgit wrote:
I'm in the process of installing a kitchen from MFI. I have an island
consisting of 600mm deep units on the front and 300mm deep full height
wall units to make the back, so in total the island is 900mm deep. The
front side (the 600mm deep bit) consists of a built in freezer, a
drawer unit and a built in fridge. The designer at MFI has supplied
some 18mm thick end panels to box in the fridge and freezer and support
the worktop at the two ends.

The end panels supplied are 600mm wide and made of MDF with a tongue &
groove effect, so I need use two on each side, and cut them down to
create 900mm wide panels. There only thing these panels can be screwed
to is the 300mm deep wall units, so 600mm will be unsupported and
should be able to support the worktop.

So now to the question. I can probably cut the end panels where the
tongue & groove effect is so the cut should be less visible. I assume
if I use a circular saw to do this it would look rubbish, so I should
use a router & jig (I'd need to hire a 900mm long jig). But what should
I join the panels with?

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks,
Dave.


Do the edges of the panels look OK? If so, you could have a panel
overlapping the butt join. This would stiffen it and hide the join. I
did this with wood-effect panels on the backs of some island units and
it looks good.

Don't forget to protect the MDF from water - I don't think I'd be happy
having MDF panels going all the way down to the floor. Could you
reproduce the plinth effect on the ends of the islands? Adding a narrow
vertical front panel (50mm?) to the side of the fg/fz would allow you
space to stiffen the end, make a small plinth and also help the
airflow. Difficult to explain in words!

Dave

The message .com
from "Bodgit" contains these words:

But what should
I join the panels with?

Biscuits. Or, if you haven't got a biscuit joiner handy, run a circular
saw down each edge and insert a loose tongue.

Or, if you can't see the reverse of the panel just glue a slab of MDF
across the back of it.

--
Skipweasel
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.