Main > Woodworking
Advice on which type of wood to use?
NiteWalker:
I've not had the issues mentioned yet on Lowe's Hardwood Oak plywood. But I wouldn't use plywood if I was going to show grain unless it was of the type you mentioned.
ScottS:
--- Quote from: NiteWalker on January 10, 2007, 02:40:25 pm ---I've not had the issues mentioned yet on Lowe's Hardwood Oak plywood. But I wouldn't use plywood if I was going to show grain unless it was of the type you mentioned.
--- End quote ---
I'm not sure why you'd spend the money on hardwood plywood if you didn't want the grain to show. MDO is better for painting. Melamine is better if you don't want to hassle with finishing. And there are lots of plywoods with veneer species that are cheaper than oak, as well as the old standby MDF...
prOk:
Oak just screams 1992 to me.. nobody uses that crap anymore.. go with a nice cabinet grade birch ply and stain it.. don't get that 2nd rate crap you see at lowes, head to a woodcraft or cabinet supply shop and get something nice. You could even go for a nice prefinished cherry panel that would look pretty good.
NiteWalker:
The reason I would choose oak ply is for durability. Using oak plywood there'd be no need for internal bracing. Just simple rabbets and dadoes. I like MDF but it's weak structurally and very heavy. It's good for small projects. MDO is decent as well, but the Lowe's near me doesn't carry it. At the lumberyard I found it, it was close to the same price as oak plywood.
@prOk:
That's what I would do if I was showing grain. I'm not a big fan of grain on arcade cabinets though. I like to use plastic laminate. It's much more durable than any finish you can brush or spray on.
clockwork:
How does MDF compare to others for woodworking comfort? A friend of mine complained that he couldn't stand the taste of MDF after he'd finish.