Hi,
I’m planning to use a 3/8″ lacewood ply with MDF core for the top of a cabinet. I’m going to set it in rabbets in a 5/4 cherry frame. the piece of ply will measure 48″ x 13″. My question is should I laminate the ply to a substrate or will it be fine as is? If I should laminate it to something, what would you recommend?
thank you for your answer – BD
Replies
Will the panel be used as a shelf that would have to support additional weight? If that is the case it should have some reinforcement. If it won't have weight on it you can probably get away with using it as is.
For reinforcement you could laminate it to a piece of 3/8" baltic plywood, or something similar, or you could glue three or four evenly spaced crosswise hardwood battens to the underside which would be faster and easier. The battens wouldn't actually have to be attached to the surrounding cherry frame, they would work just as well if they were short of the sides by a fraction of an inch. I'd make the battens around 2" wide and 3/4" in thickness.
John White
Thank you, John. Do you recommend to leave the battens slightly short of the frame for ease of construction or becasue they might expand and distort the frame? thanks-BD.
BD,Their length wouldn't change because there is no expansion with the grain. I suggested leaving them short for ease of construction.John W.
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