Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Bathroom cabinetry

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Expert: - 1/17/2012


Question
Hello Greg,

I'm remodeling my bathroom and have decided to build my own wall cabinet and vanity. My questions involves wood selection: I'd like to use MDF because it's easy to work with but all my web searches say MDF is horrible in a bathroom. I also want to stain both pieces a dark chocolate--will MDF take stain and actually "work" as the finished surface or do I have to put a stainable laminate on top? What would be a good, not-too-expensive alternative?

The second, and likely crazier, part to this question is that I actually want my vanity countertop to be made of a solid wood (using an undermount sink). I know I'll have to seal the heck out of it but I think it will look gorgeous. What wood type would you recommend for that? I've heard teak is great for wet areas but will it take a stain and/or sealant?

Thanks so much!
Jose

Answer
Hey Jose, MDF is NOT something I would recommend for ANY cabinetry, especially in a bathroom or kitchen area. It does NOT take stain/finish well either.A "chocolate" type finish is not achieved with stain alone, it is achieved with staining and toning techniques utilizing a sprayed finish schedule, and you will want to use a finishing schedule designed for a wet environment, like a conversion varnish or catalyzed finish topcoat. A solid wood counter would be beautiful, Mahogany, Teak, Walnut, all would be good choices, but an undermount sink means a lot of exposed end grain right around the wettest part of the sink, so you will have to completely seal the wood with something very water resistant...it's been done, but it will take some real upkeep and careful use to keep it looking good.Waterlox's website features a sink/counters finished with their products...

http://www.waterlox.com/

Click on the "countertop solutions", and scroll through the pictures, you'll see a lot of undermount sinks featured, and one solid Mesquite sink featured.....hope that helps a little- post back if need be- regards- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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