please please help!

[colonel_colon]

I need some help here all.
I'm planning on building a cocktail cabinet. I've looked at Kyles plans, looked at whammocade, and i've searched these boards a thousand times. I have everything I think i'll need except the wood.
I would really like the wood grain feel of the cocktails. So, do I get MDF and then roll the laminate on? Buy oak plywood with the veneer? I just dont know.
And whats the best way to connect them? metal braces? wood blocks? dowels? screw from the outside? inside?
I never really put too much detail into this part of it.... but its stopping me from going.
Its probably best that I just plow through it and improvise as I go... but sitting at work searching online keeps me thinking too much!
what am I doing.

[SirPeale]

please please help!

I'm assuming you didn't read this:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,29708.0.html


Anyhow...don't get MDF!  Get actual plywood.  Birch would be good.  The plywood will have a great grain, which you can stain.  It'll be far lighter as well.

[GGKoul]

And whats the best way to connect them? metal braces? wood blocks? dowels? screw from the outside? inside?

I would brace them from the inside.  Try to hide the screw holes.

[IMMark]

You might want to consider Oak plywood..if it is the grainy look that you like, Oak will have a much deeper grain than Birch.  It only costs a few dollars more.

[RayB]

If you want it to look like the originals, then use a veneer.

[Jabba]

I think you could get it looking pretty close to a original without the veneer. Veneer + plywood costs more and more work than veneer + stain. You could probably bring in a picture to Home Depot and They could match up a plywoord (good one side) + a stain to match what you are looking for. But, if you want it to be exactly like an original and don't mind the extra work/cost, then veneer is the way to go.

[RayB]

The thing is... you can buy boards that already have a veneer/laminate layer applied... just cut the shape you want.

[Tiger-Heli]

Actually, an original was probably Melamine (closer to MDF), as mentioned on this page:  http://www.oscarcontrols.com/cocktail/index.shtml  However, when OSCAR rebuilt it, he went with plywood with vinyl.  I think it came out really well.

[colonel_colon]

I apologize for the subject name.. .temporary lapse in reason.... 

Okay.... depending on price I think i'll look at birch or oak plywood, or an oak with veneer already attached.
Has anyone experienced any problems with cutting the plywood with veneer already attached?
Does the veneer sheer or split when cut?

Regardless, I guess i'll have to brace from the inside as to not ruin the grain of the wood.
Thanks guys!

[Shape D.]

If youre going for looks on the grain of the wood check out flame maple. It's in my opinion one of the best figurings of grain on woods ive seen, Kinda pricy though.

[Jabba]

Has anyone experienced any problems with cutting the plywood with veneer already attached?

A trick I learned when cuting plywood or something with a veneer is to tape over the cut with masking tape on the good side. Then just cut the wood as you normally would. This will prevent tearout and will produce a nice clean cut. Also, make sure you are using the right blade (ask somone at Home Depot) and that the blade is sharp and in good condition. A melamine blade has something like 50 teeth and produces a very fine cut, whereas a cross-cut blade has something like 24 teeth and produces a very rough cut. The more teeth, the finer the cut.