Making sliding doors

[ibruceuk]

Hi,

I'm looking to make sliding doors for built in wardrobes I'm building but I'm struggling on how exactly to do it. I can't buy any pre made etc as my ceilings are too high (11 feet) so they'll look silly.

I was going to make a simple frame using PAR 3x2 with 2x1 cross pieces to divide the door into three sections which I will inlay with opaque polycarbonate or similar.

My problem is how to make them look professional. I would really like them to match my desk/drawers which are beech style laminated chipboard. Is there anything available that I can cover normal 3x2 and 2x1 with to make it look like it was bought from IKEA (for want of a better description).

Cheers,

Ian

 

[Symptoms]

Brucie - if you were going to make your frames from 3 x 2 softwood, why not just get some beech instead? The sheets can be held in grooves cut around the inside of the frames or rebates (+ beading).

By the way PAR refers to the 'condition' of the timber when you buy it: PAR means 'planed all round' as opposed to 'rough sawn'.

 

[ibruceuk]

Thanks for your reply,

I had thought of using beech, any idea where I can get it from and what's the cost difference compared to normal softwood?

Cheers,

Ian

 

[Symptoms]

Ian - try your local timber merchant not the DIY sheds, my timber yard does hardwoods.

 

[r896neo]

just a note of caution. If you do go for the beech you will find it difficult to get thinner sections, ie if it is 2" thick it will be at least 5" wide so you'll probably need to cut it to size yourself, or pay the price for them to machine.

If buying rough sawn Hardwood be picky! check individual pieces for straightness and especially for shakes etc.

As a rough guide hardwood boards are mostly priced by the cubic foot,
in my local beech is 27 per cube

So to work out the cubic footage convert all units to inches then divide by 1728 (12x12x12)

 

[ibruceuk]

Thanks I'll check them out tomorrow.