gluing panel in flat panel door

[igor]

If one uses 1/4" hardwood-veneer ply for a panel in a flat-panel kitchen cabinet door is there a problem caused by gluing in the panel? I know this is a no-no for solid wood panels. But, since I plan to use stub tenons for my cab doors, the thought is that gluing in the panels would strengthen the doors -- which could be helpful for large doors and if any rack is attached to the cab doors to hold "things", such as pot lids, woks, whatever. This would also keep the panels from sliding around, having to use spaceballs, etc.

If this is a no-no even for ply, it would be helpful to know why -- i.e., what the dynamic is. Also, what if I could locate mdf-core or particle board core ply for the panels?

All this being said, at my sister's this past T-day I noticed that the ply panels in some of their cab doors has warped -- in their large custom kitchen. Not generally noticeable, but as I studied the cabs I noticed that the panels were "stuck" because they had warped in the slots. They live in New England, so they do not have big humidity problem in summer and they use a humidifier (at normal levels, as best I can tell, i.e., not fog on windows) in winter.

Comments, please, about glue-in. TIA. -- Igor

[George]

Ply just grows/shrinks in all directions rather than across the grain. Same for anything made of wood fiber, really. Random direction fiber expands randomly with water uptake.

Stub tenons and modern glues are likely more than enough. Give the panel a little room in dry weather, build tight in wet, and wedge. Attach the rack to the solid wood.

[moore]

While I can see the logic of not having to worry about expansion as much with a 1/4 ply, I don't think it will really give you much of an advantage. Keep in mind that stub tenon doors hold much heavier solid panels without a problem. If your tenons are cut to fit well and you use a good glue, I'm sure they'll be more than strong enough. Also, if you're going to attach some kind of pot rack (no Target refrence there) wouldn't you be fastening it to the rails and stiles instead of a 1/4 panel?

Your sister's doors are a good testament to why panel doors are so advantageous. Regardless of if you suspect local weather conditions will be a problem or not, you can always rely on a floating panel to be immune. There are lots of other things (especially in a kitchen) that can introduce moisture to a cabinet.

Moore