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artificial wood laminate vs. real wood
Keith O:
I'm considering building a new cab and I like the look of the natural wood cabinets that some are building. Should I build the cab out of cheap particle board and then use artificial wood laminate to cover the thing or should I use plywood (or something similar) and stain/finish it. I'm leaning more towards the laminate because there are more choices as far as the types of wood simulated in addition to it's toughness, but I'm curious to hear what you all would recommend.
Wienerdog:
IMHO, wood laminate would look cheap, while an oak or birch plywood would look well crafted. Well, it depends on what kind of wood laminate you use. There is real wood laminate, but I think that would be more expensive and more trouble, and it would essentially give you the same thing that hardwood plywood does.
Keith O:
Here's one of the samples I got at Home Depot. It's special order stuff but they had quite a selection of wood types. What do you think?
SNAAAKE:
I honesty like wood laminate..looks VERY nice easy solution..take a look. ;)
Brax:
IMO Snaakes doesn't look any different than that stick on woodgrain shelf paper junk. Only his was expensive laminate. That said, I think there are some really nice laminates out there though.
Your sample looks quite nice. You could even try plywood with a nice real wood veneer. Some people are intimidated by finishing the wood but it's really foolproof. You can do the whole finish with a rag. Wipe on the stain with a rag. Let it dry, then get an antique oil finish (or any oil finish) and just rub it on with a rag as well... no streaks, no brush marks and a really professional finish.