The Framers Forum

Hi all,

I’m building a 1100 x 800 box frame. Got a wide and deep moulding so joining the ‘box’ to extend the rebate shouldn’t be a problem - the question is what material to use for the box. Mdf or ply ?

The box side depth will be 150mm.

I’ll join the sides to the moulding with pocket hole screws


Any ideas / advice ?

I and the client know the finished project will be around 15kg so I’ve already considered the hanging arrangements

Cheers, Dave

I would prefer a piece of 6x1 timber for the box

I also agree and prefer real wood.

Although it is a specialty product in the US, Baltic birch is a very stable and SOP product for cabinet makers and a good choice in that it comes in various thicknesses.

As an example only https://www.woodcraft.com/products/wood ... ch-plywood

How would you produce mitred corners of the necessary accuracy for a deep box frame of that size and depth? It does not have to be very far out, for the frame to be noticably out of being flat. I'm not so sure that I would be willing to undertake such a job.

Mark, if you are asking me regarding the use of plywood, I would use notched rabbited corners, with the joining done with the top and bottom panels. This would leave both sides free of visible joints. There would be a "face frame" in front the the "box" for decorative visibility.

Thanks jerome.

I would have a look at Rose & Hollis A333 extendable box frame moulding.

One way I liked to create depth was with two wide flat mouldings joined with pocket hole screws. The lip of each frame forms two rebates, one can take a capping frame and the other can take backing/mounting boards. Only really good for plain woods that you're hand finishing though, to conceal the join.

Flat strips can also be easily used and joined with pocket hole screws and if it's something nice, like oak, the joins don't matter really, you'd tell it was more than one piece of wood by the grain anyway.

If the box is to be painted, I'd have no problem with MDF really.

Thanks everyone