Replies

1. 
   Jimurock | Feb 26, 2008 06:29am | #1

   I've used 1/2 inch shiplap poplar as the back for a freestanding buffet/hutch, and it worked very well.  The shiplap was enclosed in a frame, though you mightn't need that for a built-in.   You can get an effective bead on 1/2 inch, and I for one wouldn't want anything heavier for a hutch.  There's a half-inch beaded shiplap in a piece on the cover of FWW # 189, by M. Milkowits, using random widths; and the same guy has a simpler unbeaded shiplap, with 3/8th boards, in a bookcase in #194.  Guess he likes shiplap.  My poplar was pretty green in colour, so I used 2 coats of B.I.N. and three of S-W Waterborne acrylic. 

   Jim

2. 
   user-109342 | Feb 26, 2008 06:24pm | #2

   Jointerman,

   I've done solid wood backs on several projects and really like the look.   I use 3/8" or 7/16" stock for this.  One thing I've found is that after planing or resawing the wood to the final thickness warpage is an issue.  To control that I've used tongue and groove instead of shiplap to make sure a gap doesn't open up.  It's a little tricky in wood that thin but not bad.  I used just an 1/8" saw kerf for the groove and milled the tongue on the table saw, but have since bought a Freud tongue and groove set for thin stock.  It also puts a V-groove on one side.

   Mark