If you rout mdf the dust is very very fine and goes everwhere. Even wearing a mask i would only cut mdf outside. While mdf is very stable the panels are quite small for kitchen cabinet doors and the expansion and contraction will be minimal and will be accounted for in the grooves milled for the panels.I have made hundreds of raised panels out of solid wood,using routers and shapers, and have had very few problems.The suggestion of poplar is what i would use, it takes paint very well. Try it you may be pleasantly surprized.
regards
jerrt |