JimSmith

I used plywood for cabinet doors and drawers in the mid 70s and the quality was acceptable for the mid-range contemporary houses we were working on. Recently I went to a reputable dealer and bought a load of birch 3/4", 1/2" and 1/4". I found it to be inconsistent in thickness and subject to warping rapidly after being cut. Some sheets were actually 11/16" along the factory edge.

The problem, as I understand it, is lack of consistent standards in a worldwide lumber market. Also the dealer claimed that he had no information as to what material was used in the core layers.

I found some better grade sheets at Home Depot, manufactured under the name "PureBond" that contained fewer ply layers, but behaved with more stability and were more consistent in thickness. I was told by a Home Depot employee, who I asked to contact a sales rep, that the individual plies are mechanically dried before laminating.

PureBond is fine for mid-range projects, but I would advise the customer that I planned to use it.

If I were making "fine" cabinetry I would use hardwood.