Is 1/2 Plywood a Bad Choice for Cabinets? Building cabinets seems pretty straightforward; you only have to connect parts using various joinery options, right? There are a few things you should know before heading to the lumber yard. If you have any particular questions or queries that you cant find an answer to above, drop us a comment below, and well do our best to get back to you as quickly as possible. From shop drawerknob, $10.70 With an open-grained species like oak, the grain is visible under paint. Aside from this, it also offers better durability, which is a common concern when it comes to cabinets. From shop PWoodPro, Sale Price $822.86 Several factors affect a plywoods consistency, so it would be best to go for the exact specifications you follow when building cabinets. Sellers looking to grow their business and reach more interested buyers can use Etsys advertising platform to promote their items. Woodsuppliesbydavid Typically, orders of $35 USD or more (within the same shop) qualify for free standard shipping from participating Etsy sellers. Sight down all the edges just like youd do if you were buying 24 studs. FREE shipping, ad by ReusetoReduce FREE shipping, ad by DesignBySAMSARA FREE shipping, $235.00 Ad from shop GoodWoodNeighborhood It also has a natural grain that can be stained (whereas MDF has no grain and so would require painting), and it is also better at withstanding moisture. From shop GoodWoodNeighborhood, $165.00 There was a problem subscribing you to this newsletter. mannmadedesigns link to Does Plywood Warp When Wet? But be kind and restack! From shop RAHDBS, $1,450.00 Even the same plywood coming from the same processing plant will have a massive difference in their thickness. Try using a different browser or disabling ad blockers. surtashome MalinaDollhouse From shop KrovelFurnitureCo, $1,149.00 Lets talk about exposed plywood edges for a minute. Ad from shop JPCArtPrints Ad from shop StandingWaveWoodwork CrowsNestCarpentry From shop MrJankowskyFurniture, ad by StandingWaveWoodwork Youll see ad results based on factors like relevancy, and the amount sellers pay per click. If only one side of your project will be visible, like a closed cabinet, dont worry about the back face. Our employee is happy to help you find the right product, The reply will be sent to this e-mail address. Another option that you can do is to layer the plywood over a framework. PatlayCrafts But youll likely fasten it to structural parts, which will keep it flat. With powerful tools and services, along with expert support and education, we help creative entrepreneurs start, manage, and scale their businesses. For building cabinets, youll struggle to find a better option than baltic birch plywood in terms of strength, resistance to warping, and its ease of gluing, holding screws, and creating clean joints. Quora: Should I Use 1/2, 5/8, or 3/4 Plywood to Build a Cabinet? $1,123.70, $1,248.56 Sometimes referred to as birch throughout plywood, baltic birch plywood features layers that are all birch wood, instead of the cheaper inner layers or softwood or hardwood sandwiched between two outer layers of birch as found in conventional birch plywood. So it still depends on what youre trying to build, the specifications you need, and the budget you have for the project. Ad from shop PFTPAntiqueSales Set where you live, what language you speak, and the currency you use. From shop StandingWaveWoodwork, ad by MorfusUK They even think that using 3/4 plywood is an overbuild for cabinets, and you may be increasing your costs unnecessarily. From shop DesignBySAMSARA, Sale Price $1,146.75 JPCArtPrints link to Is Red Oak Good For Outdoor Use? Ad from shop HeWoodSheWood The combination of using birch layers throughout (as opposed to a softer, cheaper secondary wood as found in some types of plywood) and thicker face veneers, in addition to baltic birch plywoods largely void-free internal structure, makes for a very solid and stable platform for screws to bite into and grip against. 3/4 plywood has always been the go-to for cabinets because it makes everything simpler for you. Ad from shop mannmadedesigns FREE shipping, ad by CornholeSolutions Find out more in our Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy. Ad from shop EnviroFurniture In that case, youll be sure to appreciate the fact that baltic birch better resists chipping and splintering to produce cleaner overall cuts. Absolutely! Jon has a bachelor's degree in Building Surveying and a master's degree in a branch of Civil Engineering focusing on concrete and steel durability. It helps us keep the research and information for our readers free 100% of the time. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies at no additional cost to you. Hardwood veneer plywood has a front and a back face and is graded by the quality of each face. Ad from shop MalinaDollhouse Ad from shop handyctcom handyctcom Ad from shop oneprodesign Baltic birch is a premium plywood found at lumberyards. (20% off), ad by handyctcom Ad from shop SimonasEmporium Plywood thickness is a crucial factor that you need to consider when building cabinets because it affects many of the things that you need to complete the project. The answer would depend on your cabinet case and the frame that youre using for it.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'craftgecko_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_6',169,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-craftgecko_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0')}; If your cabinet doesnt have any bracing to support weight, using a 1/2 plywood can raise questions about its durability. Its hardly surprising when you consider that not only is it a premium-quality project, but that youve got the transportation and import costs for getting it from Northern Europe to your local lumber yard to factor in, too. Wellhelp you decide exactly what you need and help you avoid common plywood pitfalls. eHow: What Size Plywood Should You Use to Build Cabinets? From shop SimonasEmporium, $2,150.00 Whereas plywood contains multiple layers glued together, MDF is made from fine particles of broken-down hardwoods and softwoods mixed with wax and resin before being subjected to high temperature and pressure. From shop PFTPAntiqueSales, $8.16 If its just that you dont like the grain pattern, youre probably stuck with it. Quite often, something catches my eye that could be a really cool design element. Nowadays, the difference in price between 1/2 and 3/4 is negligible, especially if it gives you at least 50% more thickness, and the project youre working on isnt large scale. Eric Gorges is building his new shop! Sometimes, the face veneer on home center plywood is so thin that the pink veneer adhesive shows through. Constructed of high quality 9-ply 1/2" birch plywood, this enclosure is lightweight but extremely durable. The choice will depend on the type of cabinet youre trying to build and how youre going to use it. Our mission is to make home improvement easier for everyone. In addition, the unique 3-piece back panel gives you the choice of using this as an open back or sealed enclosure to accommodate your needs. Thats why most builders opt to use 3/4 plywood for all of their cabinets. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. DriftwoodLT (10% off), ad by PatlayCrafts So, for bigger projects that dont require exact specifications, 3/4 plywood is still a better option. Ad from shop WhiteBoneStore From shop DiningTableDK, ad by CordIndustries 8 Pros and Cons, Building Furniture With Aspen: All You Need to Know, 1/2" x 11-13/16" x 11-13/16" Baltic Birch Plywood - B/BB Grade (Package of 3). Is Baltic Birch Plywood Good For Cabinets? 3/4 plywood is a better option for cabinetsno doubt about that. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Should cost be a concern, and you dont want to use MDF, you may wish to opt for a cheaper plywood alternative. Its what I would recommend for small projects that follow exact specifications. These species take stain very unevenly and can end up looking blotchy. Looking at B/BB for a moment, the first B refers to the face side (i.e. $302.65, $403.53 Theyre a bit Marmite in that you either love them or hate them. Ad from shop CrowsNestCarpentry These parts dont carry as much weight, and using thinner plywood to cut down on costs wont be a problem. But if youre planning to stain your piece, beware of birch, pine and maple. CLEAN SWEEP - SAVE 25% ON DUST COLLECTION HOSES & FITTINGS! From shop SeeByDesign, $1,650.00 bee9designshop The BB refers to the other side of the sheet, which can feature large knots or color-matched patches. It could depend on where the cabinet will ultimately be used, with better quality baltic birch plywood perhaps being preferable for use in the kitchen or bathroom, especially if youre only planning on doing a bit of sanding and applying a clear lacquer or polyurethane to keep the woods natural appearance. DiningTableDK If delivery is your only option, inspect the sheets before the delivery truck leaves and reject any that are damaged or unusable. The face veneers of baltic birch plywood are usually thicker, too 1.5mm in most cases which is around twice the thickness of that found on most standard types of US hardwood plywoods (these are usually around 1/30 thick, although the faces on some varieties can be even thinner). As you can see, there are plenty of things to consider when it comes to using baltic birch plywood for cabinets. Send me exclusive offers, unique gift ideas, and personalized tips for shopping and selling on Etsy. ChopShopSheffield Both are popular choices for woodworkers the world over, but which is the better choice for your next cabinet project? The various benefits and higher overall score of baltic birch plywood come at a price unfortunately, its considerably more expensive than MDF. For a large selection of the best-quality hardwood veneer plywood, visit a lumberyard. ReusetoReduce Ad from shop ICRAFTSTreasures Please. Stick around to figure out when is the right time to use both plywoods for building cabinets. PrairieWoodWorking Theres a limit to how much people will be willing to spend on lumber that has a whole host of alternatives, and so a lumber yard stocking baltic birch plywood might not make sense from a business perspective if theres little profit available. Ad from shop DreamyNoses Using 1/2 plywood for a horizontal cabinet isnt ideal because itll sag after putting on some weight. Saying no will not stop you from seeing Etsy ads or impact Etsy's own personalization technologies, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive. Ad from shop PatlayCrafts GoodWoodNeighborhood DreamyNoses OKCustomFurniture Ad from shop SeeByDesign From shop MacDesignIdeas, ad by Blackandwoodfrance Ad from shop DriftwoodLT One question people often have about it, though, is whether or not it a good choice of material for making cabinets, and thats what well be answering in this article. The seller might still be able to personalize your item. FREE shipping, ad by chocolatecreative Fine Homebuilding: Plywood Thickness for Cabinet Cases? A lumberyard that caters to cabinetmakers will give you enough options to make you dizzy. These are third party technologies used for things like interest based Etsy ads. By clicking "Yes, I agree ;" you agree to store cookies on your device to improve website navigation, analyze website usage and help our marketing projects. From shop oneprodesign, ad by WAMMcosyroom Good news! From shop KurrPets, ad by Woodsuppliesbydavid In that time, he has absorbed so many slivers and ingested so much sawdust that he's practically made of wood. With indoor furniture, there are countless options available to you when choosing timber. This is ideal for cabinets where screws are to be used instead of glue, for example, where disassembly or reassembly is required later, or where screws are to be used in addition to glue for added strength or for reducing the clamping time needed. Because most people look for consistency of color and grain, there are some striking veneers that get written off as ugly. From shop DriftwoodLT, ad by WhiteBoneStore Having said that, if baltic birch plywoods cost does turn out to be a major issue, we hope weve shown you that MDF and cheaper-quality plywood can still be a good option if youre prepared to accept some minor sacrifices and spend a bit more time finishing. In fact, some professionals suggest using 1/2 plywood because its strong enough to build most cabinets. Dont expect perfectionyou probably wont find it. 1/2 is lighter than 3/4, but it doesnt mean that its a bad choice for cabinets. Whether softwood or hardwood, most types of wood are suitable for use indoors. Lets look at two popular alternatives to baltic birch plywood for constructing cabinets: Medium Density Fiberboard, or MDF, is similar to plywood in that it is classed as an engineered wood. From shop WhiteBoneStore, ad by KrovelFurnitureCo Ad from shop CordIndustries Heres The Truth! If you choose to decline, we will only place functional cookies. Face veneer cuts are typically rotary cut or plain sliced, and in-stock species will usually be red oak, birch and maple. Blackandwoodfrance Just sand by hand. If youre going for a heavy, sturdy cabinet, 3/4 is a better option for you. From shop chocolatecreative, ad by drawerknob Ive tried weights, clamps, wetting down the concave side, sun drying the convex side and gluing opposing bowed sheets together. The purple stains shown result from a reaction between oak tannin and steel. FREE shipping, Sale Price $1,123.70 (10% off), ad by ICRAFTSTreasures Ad from shop Woodsuppliesbydavid From shop ChasingShade, $445.00 Whichever option you end up going for, it can require a lot more time and effort versus using the other go-to material for building cabinets, MDF. For commercial projects, using baltic birch may be a relatively easy decision where the client is footing the bill. Baltic Birch vs. Ad from shop catandwood From shop PatlayCrafts, ad by woodnshop Shipping policies vary, but many of our sellers offer free shipping when you purchase from them. ICRAFTSTreasures catandwood Jooovanka Original Price $203.36 But if you can add braces, especially for horizontal cabinets, then 1/2 should be more than enough. chocolatecreative Under Add your personalization, the text box will tell you what the seller needs to know. Its sturdier and looks nicer than plywood that you can get from small lumber dealers. Building furniture and cabinets is an investment of both time and money. The benefits versus cost are something that youll have to weigh up for each. For example, if youre going to use European-style hinges, using 3/4 plywood is a better option because it gives you enough space to work around. But the home center is a good option to save a little money. Etsy uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience, enabling things like: Detailed information can be found in Etsys Cookies & Similar Technologies Policy and our Privacy Policy. Suppose youve ever tried to cut dadoes, rabbets, fingers, or miters in cheaper-grade plywood. KrovelFurnitureCo Great! If your newly constructed cabinet ends up looking and performing better for longer versus a more cheaply-built alternative, though, well, surely thats an investment that is worth making? For projects Im going to paint, I like MDF (medium-density fiberboard) or birch. Although its becoming more and more popular in the United States, baltic birch plywood isnt as easy to find as many US-manufactured hardwood plywood alternatives. If you enjoyed this article, youll probably enjoy the following, too: ToolCrowd is reader-supported. EnviroFurniture woodnshop RAHDBS Ad from shop PWoodPro Etsys 100% renewable electricity commitment includes the electricity used by the data centers that host Etsy.com, the Sell on Etsy app, and the Etsy app, as well as the electricity that powers Etsys global offices and employees working remotely from home in the US. Ad from shop MorfusUK Sometimes, builders who want to use 1/2 plywood let their customers decide. Original Price $2,944.04 TailorMadeWoodwrking Ad from shop WAMMcosyroom $183.02, $203.36 This setup provides enough strength for your cabinet to support weight, allowing you to use even a 1/4 plywood. As for other plywood, home centers have a more limited selection, carrying mostly veneer core (maybe MDF core), grade B2 and lower. Joints that not only look better, but that are stronger too due to increased glue coverage that will help your baltic birch plywood cabinets withstand the tests of time. Ad from shop TheDIYPlan FREE shipping, ad by PFTPAntiqueSales FREE shipping, ad by PrairieWoodWorking Ad from shop FusionCab From shop FusionCab, ad by mannmadedesigns Our global marketplace is a vibrant community of real people connecting over special goods. Originating from the Baltic region of Northern Europe, baltic birch plywood is a strong and durable wood that can be used for many different things. Can't decide what to get the woodworker in your life? PFTPAntiqueSales Still, its good to have the option to buy largely defect-free material for cabinet carcasses or doors where a better quality finish is a priority and for situations where the grain will permanently be on display. Thicker plywood also holds screws much better, providing you with better joinery choices.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'craftgecko_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_2',166,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-craftgecko_com-large-leaderboard-2-0')}; The crucial part of any cabinet, though, is its ability to hold weight. We also created 2.6 million jobs in the U.S.enough to employ the entire city of Houston, TX! Regular Plywood for Cabinets. Wooditis Ad from shop drawerknob WhiteBoneStore From shop ChopShopSheffield, ad by TailorMadeWoodwrking In this episode he is working on a nice cabinet for screw tray storage using baltic birch with dado, rabbet, and pocket hole joinery. Just try to find the best of the pile. The grain of each Is Red Oak Good For Outdoor Use? But if youre following exact specifications or youre trying to reduce the cost of your cabinets, theres nothing wrong with using 1/2 plywood. Ad from shop Jooovanka From shop JPCArtPrints, $55.00 Theres a caveat to using lumber core, though; its a bit more expensive. Nopea 3/4, 4-foot by 8-foot sheet of baltic birch plywood can be over twice the price of MDF and over six times more costly than particleboard, as shown below. However, its important to remember that thinner sheets of baltic birch plywood can still be prone to bowing despite all of the above, especially in larger sections. Most production cabinets that youre apt to find in the market only use 1/2 particleboard. remembering account, browser, and regional preferences, remembering privacy and security settings, personalized search, content, and recommendations, helping sellers understand their audience, showing relevant, targeted ads on and off Etsy. If the core veneers werent in a perfect state of equilibrium and all in harmony when they were bonded together, the sheet has little chance of flattening out. FREE shipping, ad by SimonasEmporium Does shopping on Etsy help support small businesses? Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'toolcrowd_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',113,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-toolcrowd_com-medrectangle-4-0')};Another advantage of baltic birch plywood is that it usually has far fewer voids than cheaper plywood types. Ad from shop ChopShopSheffield FREE shipping, ad by ChasingShade Is Rubberwood Good for Furniture? DIY Cabinet | 53 L | Flatpack | Baltic Birch Bass Guitar Cabinet, 15" Reference Passive | DIY Cabinet | Flatpack, 9-ply 1/2" Baltic birch plywood for light weight and controlled resonances, 64 cubic foot sealed or open back for use in multiple applications, Accurate CNC cut for precision and easy assembly, Rabbeted and dadoed joints provide ample gluing surface area for durable construction, Customize this cabinet to your personal tastes -- finishing options are limitless, VAT identification number: NL861325254B01. Like standard hardwood plywood, its available in a variety of thicknesses ranging from 1/8 (3mm) to 1 (25mm), making it hugely versatile and ideal for a variety of cabinet-related requirements like cabinet carcasses, cabinet doors, cabinet dividers, and drawer bottoms to name but a few. Home With the Woodcraft 101 series being some of his first big woodworking projects he learns a lot and isn't afraid to admit his mistakes. If you give us permission, we use your personal data for personalized and non-personalized ads. B/BB provides the ideal platform for clear finishing where you want the pale, natural grain of the plywood to shine through, for example, by applying a clear coat of polyurethane or lacquer. Thickness often determines durability and stability. Sometimes, youll even see plywood classified as paint grade. Birch is close grained with a smooth texture that doesnt show through paint. Plus, if youre only working on a small project that only needs a sheet or two, you dont really have to cheap out on the materials. Original Price $403.53 3/4 plywood is the best option you have for cabinets. FREE shipping, ad by Jooovanka Even better, look at samples of different species with a clear finish and see if theres one that has the color you like without stain. Clearly, better grades of baltic birch plywood will be more expensive (weve written an article explaining why baltic birch plywood is so expensive). Most builders will opt for 3/4 plywood when working on cabinets, but some prefer to use 1/2 for their projects because of weight and price concerns. Its worth remembering that cheaper quality plywood wont hold screws as well due to there being more voids between the layers, but this shouldnt be a massive issue if youre using wood glue as well on your cabinets. From shop PrairieWoodWorking, $2,780.00 From shop EnviroFurniture, ad by MacDesignIdeas You can often cut around minor damage in an otherwise good sheet (if you can, you might even be able to get a discount). FREE shipping, ad by oneprodesign Copyright 2018 - 2022 | BOOM Marketing Agency Ltd | All Rights Reserved. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. (10% off), ad by bee9designshop Jon Maxwell writes about various topics for ToolCrowd, including tool reviews, material advice, common home problems, and general DIY advice and how-to articles.