Synth-DIY Yahoo! Groups Archives

DIY Cabinets -- Wood

2001-08-31 by Tkacs, Ken

It seems like many people are using ¾" plywood for their cabinets. Anyone care to discuss this? I realize that a fine plywood will warp less than solid hardwood, but it will also be heavier. Is ½" or 5/8" too thin for a decent-sized cabinet?

You can prevent warpage in a hardwood by ripping it into narrower planks, reversing the grain on alternate strips, and biscuit-joining them back together, but what a lot of work... also looks kind of pieced-together.

Thanks in advance for opinions.

Ken

Re: [motm] DIY Cabinets -- Wood

2001-09-01 by Microtonal

My wood cabinet is 3/4" birch plywood. Consider that 1/2" braces will be needed to mount your MOTM modules. You'll need to mount these to your cabinet sides, top and bottom. If your outer plywood is 1/2" and your brace is 1/2", the total thickness is 1". You can't use 1" nails or screws to mount these because the points might protrude through the finished side of your cabinet. If you use 3/4" nails or screws, you'll only have 1/4" of depth actually holding your braces in place. Finding 7/8" nails or screws is difficult if not impossible. Using 5/8" plywood should work, but the coarser pine grades are not flat enough for my tastes, and the better oak or birch plywood grades are not generally available in that thickness.

John Loffink

microtonal@...t.net

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----- Original Message -----

From: Tkacs, Ken

To: 'motm@yahoogroups.com'

Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 8:53 AM

Subject: [motm] DIY Cabinets -- Wood

It seems like many people are using ¾" plywood for their cabinets. Anyone care to discuss this? I realize that a fine plywood will warp less than solid hardwood, but it will also be heavier. Is ½" or 5/8" too thin for a decent-sized cabinet?

You can prevent warpage in a hardwood by ripping it into narrower planks, reversing the grain on alternate strips, and biscuit-joining them back together, but what a lot of work... also looks kind of pieced-together.

Thanks in advance for opinions.

Ken

Re: [motm] DIY Cabinets -- Wood

2001-09-01 by elhardt@aol.com

ken.tkacs@... writes:

>>You can prevent warpage in a hardwood by ripping it into narrower planks, 
reversing the grain on alternate strips, and biscuit-joining them back 
together, but what a lot of work... also looks kind of pieced-together.<<

You can also buy sheets of wood that are already put together like this at 
Lowe's and/or Home Depot.  Just cut it and use it like you would any other 
sheet of wood.

-Elhardt