I am building a cubbyhole cabinet with my daughter for a Girl Scout project.
The cabinet will always be outdoors so we are building it out of MDO. I'm
wondering if I need to put some edging over the exposed edges of the plywood
(perhaps an "outdoor" wood like mahogany) or if I can just prime and paint.
We'd like the cabinet to last many years without deteriorating too much.
I'm located in the Deep South (Alabama) where the summers are hot and humid
and the winters are mild - rain, cold temps to 20's, but no snow.
Thoughts - edging or not?
Thanks.
Bob,
MDO is simply a 'sophisticated plywood'.
While designed for outdoor 'signage', it has also developed a following with
wooden boat builders. As with any plywood, the exposed edge is the most
vulnerable.
The most preferred approach is to seal it by applying at two coats of
'unfilled' epoxy. This is then followed by two coats of paint to protect the
epoxy from 'UV' degradation.
In your case, if the surface doesn't have to be perfectly smooth, treat it
like any 'new' wood. A couple of coats of exterior primer {KILZ 2 - for
water based} - lightly sand between coats. Then follow with a couple of
coats of exterior finish.
Did a Rose Arbor for Joanne a couple of years ago - Western Red Cedar. 3
coats of primer & 3 of White finish - HD's 'house brand' Acrylic. Still
looks new.
Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
"bob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am building a cubbyhole cabinet with my daughter for a Girl Scout
project.
> The cabinet will always be outdoors so we are building it out of MDO. I'm
> wondering if I need to put some edging over the exposed edges of the
plywood
> (perhaps an "outdoor" wood like mahogany) or if I can just prime and
paint.
> We'd like the cabinet to last many years without deteriorating too much.
> I'm located in the Deep South (Alabama) where the summers are hot and
humid
> and the winters are mild - rain, cold temps to 20's, but no snow.
>
> Thoughts - edging or not?
>
> Thanks.
>
>