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Does anyone out there feel strongly about using hardwood boards as opposed to a nice plywood?
I know that many people use plywood... it's stronger, inch per inch, wont warp as easily, and it's cost effective. But I would imagine it's also slightly more difficult to work with, plus you have to design around the 'ugly edge' (clever joinery, edging, etc.).
I was planning on using boards, not ply, but not only is the price staggering... I'm also finding that local shops carry only "one by..." in the ranges I'm looking for, whereas I can get an oak-veneered ply in ¼", ½" ¾", etc. And the plywood tends to "really" be those stated dimensions, where with boards, a "one-by" is actually about 0.8" or something similar. Ideally, I would use ½" (I would think that's strong enough) or maybe 5/8", but then I would need a planer, and there's another $400+ and I'd be shaving away a third of that expensive wood!
On the other hand, most cabinets seem to be being made of ¾" material. Does everyone know something I don't? I don't want to make my cabinets too big or heavy. I want them to be mildly portable, "just big enough," and I can brace them internally for strength. My preference for boards as opposed to ply was that I could do all sorts of nice, fancy wood joinery, and if I go plywood, a lot of that goes out the window.
I'd love to hear any advice from those who've made their own cabinets, since a lot of us seem to be in that phase right now.
Thanks in advance!
Mr. T