Williams back doors - material?

joeycuda

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I'm restoring a Robotron upright, with both doors crumbling to dust. I also have a Bubbles with a missing top door.

Best I can tell, they used 1/2" particle board.

At Lowe's, I found the cheap chipboard in 1/2", but not MDF, which I was looking for. Plywood would work also, but I wondered about dimensional stability of plywood vs MDF.

For an authentic restoration, balanced with upgrading from particle board, what is the best to use? I'll be cutting the dados, etc as originally done.

Thanks-
Joey
 
I normally use 1/2" plywood (AC grade A out, C in). You can get MDF, but it is heavy and will eventually swell and fuzz. Do NOT use the chipboard. That stuff will disintegrate over time and will leave splinters everywhere.

Just sand the outside of the plywood doors and paint black and you are good.

ken
 
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