Hi Folks,
I’ve been woodworking and carpentering for about 12 years now and love it. I’m trying to hone my cabinet making skills, so I have a cabinetry question to put out there. I recently read Norm Abrams 20 tips and he suggests prefinished maple ply for carcasses because you don’t have to finish the inside. So what about the outside? You often see the exterior of the carcass. If it’s paint grade do you sand and paint the prefinished maple? What if it’s a different species of wood you’re using for visible exteriors?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Discussion Forum
Get It All!
UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month.
Start Your Free TrialCategories
Discussion Forum
Digital Plans Library
Member exclusive! – Plans for everyone – from beginners to experts – right at your fingertips.
Highlights
-
Shape Your Skills
when you sign up for our emails
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. -
Shop Talk Live Podcast
-
Our favorite articles and videos
-
E-Learning Courses from Fine Woodworking
-
-
Replies
Most of the cabinets in a kitchen butt up against each other or a wall, so only a few ends are actually visible. On those ends you can use a second layer of the prefinished plywood with the good face out, or you can glue up a panel in real wood, or you can make a frame and panel similar to the doors to finish the visible ends.
John White
Hi marman ,
Why not just use Oak or Mahogany if that is what the job is only on the finished ends , finishing a few inside walls would be simple .
I would not double up the sides if you don't have to , but it certainly is an alternative . I would rather do it once and have it read right .
I have a few reservations on the pre finished materials , mainly the dadoes and joints that need to be made so you don't glue to the finish bothers me .
Not every intersection in a cabinet needs a dado or other type of joint work imo , at least for household and kitchen type cabinets furniture is another story.
And what about over spray getting into the interiors or any touch up needed , what materials would be compatible with the pre finished plywood .
regards dusty
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled