Steel and plywood are both viable materials for plywood for cabinets doors and boxes. While solid wood is expensive and lacks a smooth, appealing texture, it also demands considerable maintenance. Plywood, on the other hand, is a superior construction material because its consistent thickness prevents cracking. Consequently, plywood for cabinets is a more advantageous choice. In this post we will explore the factors to consider when selecting plywood for cabinets, especially the types, thickness and the best finishing techniques for achieving a professional look. In this post, VINAWOOD shares how you can confidently navigate the plywood aisle and pick the best plywood for your furniture and cabinet projects!
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> Learn more: MDO plywood, HDO plywoodFor cabinets, the ideal type of plywood is hardwood plywood, particularly birch or maple plywood, due to its durability, smooth surface, and attractive grain, making it suitable for staining or painting. Here are some options to consider:
Each of these options offers durability and an excellent surface for finishing, ensuring that your cabinets are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Yes, plywood can be an excellent option for cabinets and furniture for several reasons:
Choosing the right plywood for cabinets can be challenging due to the variety of options available, each catering to specific needs. For those new to the furniture industry, the numerous terms and types can be confusing, making it difficult to select the appropriate plywood for a project.To help you make an informed decision, we have outlined the essential steps to follow before purchasing plywood for high-quality furniture. Additionally, we recommend reading our comprehensive article on the best materials for kitchen cabinets in the USA for further guidance.
It’s crucial to ensure the plywood you choose for cabinets is flat, as warped plywood is difficult to work with and can lead to various safety and durability issues. Opting for genuine, flat plywood enhances performance and usability, particularly for large surfaces like cabinet doors, floors, and roofs. While encountering a few warped pieces is uncommon, it’s essential to avoid them. Plywood that isn’t at least 95% flat indicates stacking problems, which can result in further complications.
> Read more: plywood oriented strand board, roof plywood, plywood projects, pressure treated plywood, floor joist spacing
When inspecting edges, we focus on the piles and thickness of the hardwood cores, which we measure by examining the plywood’s edges. Generally, thicker plywood edges are preferred as they offer better quality. Thin veneered plywood poses significant challenges during sanding and polishing. Additionally, visible holes and knots within the veneer layers can detract from the overall quality of the plywood.Using piles and thicker veneers results in perfect edges, ensuring there are no voids or knots. The structural integrity and condition of the cabinet are not compromised by the cabinet unit itself. A pressed wooden panel face and back assessment provides a stunning design with polished interior and exterior surfaces, edges, and end boards. We utilize Euro Ply, known for its distinctive all-birch, multi-layer edge. The slight inward curves give the finished edges of the cabinet a unique style, eliminating the need for edge band treatment and leaving the pressed wood edges exposed.
Certain wood species are challenging to stain, as they can develop blotchy, uneven tones or absorb stains unpredictably. Birch, for instance, does not take well to stains, often resulting in an uneven, splotchy finish with dark stains. Despite its grain pattern being similar to more expensive woods like Cherry, Mahogany, and Walnut, birch is a more affordable option that can appear high-end with the right stain color.Pine, with its uneven thick grain, also poses staining challenges. Stains struggle to penetrate the dense sections of the wood, making the staining process time-consuming. While bright colors can yield good results on pine plywood, dark colors should be avoided. Pine tends to absorb a lot of stain around knots and cracks, which can make dark stains appear uneven and plain.Maple, being hard and dense, does not allow large pigment particles to penetrate well. For staining maple, light or medium colors are recommended, as dark stains do not perform well. To prevent an uneven tone, a polyurethane finish can be applied.
Plywood comes in various grades, and selecting the appropriate grade depends on the environment where it will be used. The term “cabinet grade plywood” applies to both softwood and hardwood plywood. Woodworkers use this types of plywood to construct cabinets and household furniture. Choosing the correct grade is crucial to avoid the need for edge band treatment, especially for certain hardwoods like cherry, red oak, and maple.Occasionally, you might encounter plywood labeled as “bureau grade.” In these cases, the specific hardwood core veneers are not typically specified. This label usually refers to more affordable hardwoods, such as Baltic birch plywood or different types of mahogany.
While plywood is a strong manufactured material, it is not impervious to damage. We must be vigilant when purchasing plywood to identify any issues. Be prepared to repair damaged plywood, especially if key areas are compromised. Common types of damage include scratches and blisters.Water damage typically affects the edges of plywood first, necessitating modifications. Significant damage, like shattered pieces, often requires replacement.
The face veneer is crucial in plywood manufacturing. Veneers are thin sheets of wood or bark attached to core panels, which can be wood, particleboard, or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Veneers are used to create flat panels for tops, doors, cabinets, and parquet floors. Plywood consists of three or more veneer layers, each bonded with the grain at right angles to the adjacent layers for strength.The back veneer surface features attractive color variations. Face veneers contribute to the mechanical and aesthetic qualities of plywood. For standard thicker plywood, a suggested thickness range is one-eighth inch. A thick face veneer covers the appearance of resin on the plywood core surface, resulting in a smooth and appealing look. It also enhances the mechanical properties of the plywood, contributing to its durability. Face veneers can be rotary cut or plain sliced.
If you transport the sheets yourself, you’ll experience the weight of hardwood plywood. By striking the middle of the plywood sheets, you can determine if it’s hollow. If it’s not hollow, you’ll hear consistent noises from all sides. Additionally, check for thickness variations along the four edges of the plywood.
> Read more: Hardwood Flooring: Types, Costs and Color Selection Guide
It’s beneficial to have someone knowledgeable about plywood types accompany you. For instance, if you’re looking for marine plywood but aren’t familiar with the quality and style, a merchant might offer you commercial plywood instead and charge more. An experienced friend can help you avoid getting inferior wood that decays faster, saving you money on future replacements and installation.
Many modern buildings feature curved kitchen cabinets and bow-front cabinets. Bent plywood creates a smooth, cohesive look in cabinetry and furniture. For designs requiring curved edges, use plywood cabinets with the right curve.The ideal plywood has thin plies that bend easily yet are strong enough for additional manufacturing and gluing. You can bend plywood at home using clamps, an MDF form, or a ratchet strap. MDF provides a stable panel. Bonding more layers of plywood can increase thickness and strength for a durable bend. Give the plywood adequate time to curve, regardless of the technique used.
In addition to facial evaluations, the quality of commercial-grade plywood is also determined by the type of core used in its manufacture. Depending on the producer, various core types are available, each with unique features and attributes. For cabinets, plywood varieties that are commonly preferred include:
Hardwood plywood is made from hardwoods, as its name suggests. Oak, maple, and birch are some of the woods that are used. This plywood tends to be the heaviest of all the plywood options. It is most often used for furniture or something that requires a frame for load bearing.
Plywood panel is pre-cut and ready to use boards that are ideal for DIY projects. They can be various types of wood and ply.
Sanded plywood has plies on the top and bottom that are sanded during the manufacturing process. This type of plywood is ideal for items that can be seen, such as shelving, paneling, and cabinets.
Structural plywood is intended for permanent fixtures and structures. It is affordable but strong. It is not finished and is best used in places that will not be seen. Another material, such as flooring should cover it. It is also used for framing, bracing, and beams.
Exterior plywood is specifically designed for outdoor use. It is bonded with water-resistant glue, preventing deterioration due to moisture. Commonly, it is used for sheathing in home construction.While exterior plywood can be utilized for outdoor projects and furniture, it is not the most aesthetically pleasing option. To ensure its longevity and protect it from rot, it must be painted or sealed.
Cabinet grade plywood, also known as hardwood plywood or appearance grade plywood, features outer veneer layers made from hardwoods such as birch, maple, or oak. This type of plywood is typically more expensive and heavier than sanded plywood, but it offers a significant upgrade in quality. Its superior finish makes it an excellent choice for constructing cabinets and furniture. I use it for 99% of my projects.
Below are the four main cabinet plywood grades to consider when selecting the ideal cabinet-grade plywood. Remember, higher grades are more expensive but worth the investment for long-lasting results. While the species of wood may be the same, the manufacturing process can vary.
A-grade cabinet plywood is the highest quality, featuring perfect veneers, making it the most costly. This grade offers a smooth, knot-free surface that is paintable. The thickness of A-grade plywood depends on the number of plain sliced sheets glued together.
B-grade plywood is mostly free of knots, though it can have some tight knots smaller than 1 inch. This grade has a solid base and a slightly less smooth surface compared to A-grade. It may have minor, repairable defects.
C-grade cabinet plywood contains a few knots up to 1.5 inches in diameter and knotholes under 1 inch. This grade is of lower quality compared to A and B grades.
D-grade cabinet plywood is the least expensive and of the lowest quality. It has uncorrected defects, with knots and knot holes up to 2.5 inches in diameter being common.For finishing panels, use those stamped with A or B grades. If finishing both sides, ensure both are A or B grades. C-D grade plywood is suitable for internal decor. An additional grade with an X, such as A-CX, indicates water-resistant glue and suitability for exterior use. CDX plywood, used in construction of tabletops and storage containers, has a C grade on one veneer and a D grade on the other, designed for exterior use and able to withstand some moisture exposure.
> Read more: plywood sizes, 3/4 plywood, 4×8 plywood, 1/2 plywood, 5/8 plywood, 1/4 plywood
In traditionally fabricated face-framed cabinets, the frame provides significant structural support, allowing for thinner and less sturdy materials inside the cabinet. However, the trend is shifting towards frameless cabinets, which require stronger materials and a different construction method.Fabricators often prefer local ANSI HP-1 nominal three-quarter-inch plywood for its durability. These boards can be used without additional support for the backs and sides, resulting in a sturdy, frameless cabinet box that can be hung directly onto studs.
The thickness of plywood needed depends on the application: ¾″ plywood is ideal for side panels, bottom panels, and shelving, while ¼″ plywood is suitable for drawer bottoms, door panels, and cabinet backs. Although using ½″ plywood instead of ¾″ can save money, it compromises structural integrity and requires different supplies, making the cost savings minimal and often not worthwhile. Therefore, ¾″ plywood is more versatile and reliable for most situations.
Depending on your location and what options you have around you, there are lots of places to potentially buy plywood.
Many stores have a wide variety of plywood options, but because they’re catering to builders, their cabinet grade plywood options are usually pretty limited. You may be able to find some of the more common options on the shelves–like birch, maple, or oak. But if you can’t find hardwood plywood there, they usually at least carry sanded plywood and can often order some specialty options, too. Another option is your local building supplier. Many times these local suppliers may not keep hardwood or sanded plywood well stocked, but they can often order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves. If you’re fortunate enough to have a hardwood lumber supplier locally who sells plywood, you can likely find some really nice, high end or specialty plywood there.
But since we don’t have anything like that where I live, I don’t have a lot of advice to share about buying it that way. Vinawood is a prestige supplier from VietNam,established in . VINAWOOD specializes in producing Film Faced/Formwork Plywood, Commercial Plywood, Furniture Plywood, and wholesaling office furnitures.
Being on the lead and favored by the majority of foreign markets in Asia Pacific, in , VINAWOOD took a leap forward on production standards and started exporting to North American, Latin American markets (the U.S.A, Mexico), and Middle Eastern markets (Turkey, the U.A.E.). In , VINAWOOD established Domestic Sales Department to serve trading and construction needs in Vietnam. This is the place that your can consider buying plywood for your project. Plywood is too pricey for you to not be picky about it. Make sure you take your time to look it over well before adding it to your cart.
For more plywood x information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
When deciding between MDF vs Plywood for cabinets, it depends on your specific needs and the environment where the cabinets will be installed. Here's a breakdown to help you choose:
Conclusion:
Plywood is better for high-humidity areas (e.g., plywood kitchen cabinets, bathrooms) and when strength and durability are priorities.
MDF is better for dry areas and painted finishes, especially if you’re looking for a smooth, modern look on a budget.
For most cabinet applications, especially in moisture-prone areas, plywood is the superior choice due to its resilience and strength.
MDF and plywood for cabinets, which is better?
Can plywood be used for cupboards? The best plywood for interior cupboards is hardwood plywood, known for its strength, durability, and appealing grain patterns. Its robust nature makes it an excellent choice for cabinet making, providing both longevity and a high-quality finish. Hardwood plywood ensures your cupboards are not only functional but also visually attractive.
Most plywood for cabinets typically feature a Baltic birch plywood core paired with red oak or maple hardwood. If you prefer oak or maple plywood, expect to pay a premium. For many homeowners, birch plywood with a hardwood veneer is an excellent option. The plywood provides stability to the cabinet, while the hardwood veneer often appears indistinguishable from solid wood.
VINAWOOD – Vietnam Plywood Supplier & Manufacturer
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As a plywood manufacturer, we knows more about plywood. We know how plywood is made, advantages, disadvantages, and costs of each plywood type. Of course, the far more important secret is how to meet your usage requirements at the lowest cost.
The natural wood itself has many defects,including wormhole, dead knots, distortion, cracking, decay, size limitations and discoloration. There are too many defects in natural wood, It is difficult for nutrual lumber to fully meet the demand for wood materials. Plywood is produced to overcome the various defects of natural wood.
Plywood overcomes the shortcomings of natural wood. However, each type of plywood has its own characteristics and advantages, of course, there are also shortcomings. For example, furniture plywood, its characteristics and advantages are high quality, beautiful and stable in dimension, suitable for making furniture. But its shortcomings is that it can’t be used outdoor. Plywood suitable for outdoor use is another type of plywood called exterior plywood or even WBP plywood.
How many types of plywood are there? According to different classification standards, there are different plywood types .
One way is to classify the types of plywood according to its own properties.For example, according to the waterproof performance of plywood itself, plywood can be divided into moisture-proof plywood, ordinary waterproof plywood and waterproof weatherproof plywood. Common interior plywood is moisture-proof plywood, Like furniture plywood. For ordinary outdoor use, choose ordinary waterproof plywood.However, if the use environment may make the plywood exposed to the sun and rain, in this case, it is best to use waterproof weatherproof plywood which is most durable in a harsh environment.
At this point, you might think that waterproof weatherproof plywood would be the most expensive plywood.But in fact, this is not necessarily the case. For example, some interior furniture plywood with expensive natural veneer are more expensive. Of course, waterproof and weather-resistant plywood is not necessarily used for outdoor use. It may also be used in kitchens, bathrooms and other places where moisture is very heavy.
Moisture and water is the natural enemy of all wood products and natural wood/lumber is no exception. All plywood is moisture-proof plywood.So you don’t have to worry about it. Ordinary moisture will not damage the plywood at all. Waterproof plywood or waterproof and weatherproof plywood should be considered only when the plywood is likely to be exposed to water or in a humid environment for a long time.
According to the formaldehyde emission grade of plywood, plywood can be divided into E2 grade, E1 grade,E0 grade and CARB2 grade. E0 grade and CARB2 grade plywood has the lowest formaldehyde emission level and is also the most environmentally friendly. Formaldehyde actually widely exists in nature and even in the apple we eat. E0 grade and CARB2 plywood is mainly used for interior decoration and furniture manufacturing. Now there is also a marketing concept called board for baby’s room, the formaldehyde emissions of these board are very low.
According to the appearance grade of plywood, plywood can be divided into various types, such as A grade, B grade, C grade, D grade and so on. B/BB grade Plywood means that its face is B grade and its back is BB grade. But actually in the production of B/BB plywood, we will use better B grade for face and lower B grade for back . According to different national and international standards, plywood appearance grades are divided into different grade names. N grade, A grade, B/B, BB/BB, BB/CC, B/C, C/C, C+/C, C/D, D/E, BB/CP are all common plywood grade names. It looks so complicated. How to understand these different grade names? If you study these plywood grade standards, you will feel very painful. But in fact, it is very simple . Most plywood grade standards mainly do the same job that dividing plywood into perfect, beautiful, ordinary and low-grade, though their grade names are different. Usually, N, A and B represent perfect grade . B, BB represents the beautiful grade. CC, CP represents the ordinary grade. D, E represents the low-grade.
According to the size of plywood, plywood can be divided into standard size and special-sized plywood. The standard size is Xmm.In general, buying a standard size is the wisest choice. Because the production of standard size boards is the largest. Producing standard size , it can maximize the use of raw materials, machinery and equipmen. Thus the production costs is low .However, for some special needs, the special size plywood is the best choice. And we can produce all kinds of special sized plywood.
According to the species of surface, Plywood can be divided into birch plywood, Eucalyptus plywood. beach plywood , Okoume plywood, Poplar plywood, pine plywood, Bingtangor plywood, Red oak plywood, etc. It is customary to name plywood according to its species of surface, though the species of core may be different . For example, a plywood with birch face/back poplar core is also called birch plywood; a Red Oad plywood may has a Eucalyptus core . The combination of different species for surface and core will produce a best plywood with beautiful surfaces at low costs . Yes, that’s right, the species used for the surfaces usually looks beautiful but it’s also expensive. If these expensive tree species are used to produce the core of plywood, the cost of a piece of plywood will be very high.
According to the different cores of plywood, it can be divided into blockboard and multi-layer board(i.e. normal plywood). Blockboard is a type of special plywood. The Harmonization System Code for plywood and blockboard are the same. The core of blockboard is made of wood strips. These small strips of wood are glued together tightly under high pressure. Blockboard is mainly used for interior decoration and furniture manufacturing. Blockboard is not as strong as plywood.Therefore, blockboard should not be used in places where high bearing and strength are required. Plywood would be a good choice if you need a strong wood board.
Plywood can be divided into Structural plywood and Non Stuctural plywood. Structural plywood have superior mechanical properties like bonding quality, bending strength and Modulus of elasticity in bending . Structural plywood can be used for building house. Non Stuctural plywood are used for furniture and decoration .
Intelligent human beings will continue to invent better wood materials. Plywood is not only required to be waterproof, it is also required to be wear resistant. At this time, smart humans put a layer of waterproof, wear-resistant,dirt-resistant and chemical-resistant film paper on the surface of plywood which is called melamine faced plywood and film faced plywood. But people are still not satisfied, they require plywood to be fire-resistant.Wood is easy to catch fire, but you read that right, it requires wood to be fire-resistant and people did it. They past a layer of fire-resistant paper on plywood, which called HPL fire-resistant plywood. These film/laminate on the surface have greatly improved the performance of plywood. They are waterproof, corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant,fire-resistant and durable. They are widely used in the manufacture of furniture and decoration.
All types of plywood including commercial plywood, film faced plywood, hardwood plywood, furniture plywood, fancy plywood, packing plywood , melamine plywood/boards are listed on this page:
(1). Face/back : Birch, Pine, Okoume, Meranti, Luan, Bingtangor, Red Canarium, Red Hardwood, hardwood, poplar and so on.
(2). Core: poplar, hardwood, birch
(3). Glue: MR glue, WBP(melamine), WBP(phenolic), E1 glue, E2 glue
(4). Size: Xmm (4′ x 8′), Xmm (5). Thickness: 2.0mm-30mm ( 2.0mm / 2.4mm / 2.7mm / 3.2mm / 3.6mm / 4mm / 5.2mm / 5.5mm / 6mm / 6.5mm / 9mm / 12mm / 15mm / 18mm / 21mm-30mm or 1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 7/16″, 1/2″, 9/16″, 5/8″, 11/16″, 3/4″, 13/16″, 7/8″, 15/16″, 1″ )
(6).Packing: Standard Packing.
Other contents relevant to plywood products :
1. Hardwood Plywood Products Category
1.B/BB grade Plywood
2.BB/CC grade Plywood
3.DBB/CC grade Plywood
4.UTY grade Plywood
5.Pine Plywood
6.Full Hardwood Plywood
7.Full Birch Plywood
8.Other Plywood
9.Packing Plywood
10.Combi (Combination) Plywood/Film Faced Plywood
(1). Film :Local film/imported film; black film/ brown film; anti-slip type
(2). Core: poplar, hardwood, birch
(3). Glue: MR glue, WBP(melamine), WBP(phenolic)
(4). Size: Xmm, Xmm, or 4′ x 8′, standard sizes
(5).Thickness: 4mm-30mm (4mm / 6mm / 9mm / 12mm / 15mm / 18mm / 21mm-30mm )
(6).Packing: Standard Packing.
Other contents relevant to film faced plywood products :
2. Film Faced Plywood Products Category
1.Poplar Film Faced Plywood
2.Hardwood Film Faced Plywood
3.Birch Film Faced Plywood
4.Anti-slip film faced plywood/wire mesh film faced plywood
5.Anti-slip film faced plywood/wire mesh film faced plywood – For Europe
6.Black Film Faced Plywood – For Middle East
7.Imprinted Film Faced Plywood (Formwork Plywood)
8.Combi (Combination) Plywood/Film Faced Plywood
9.Dynea And Stora Enso Film For Film Faced Plywood
(1). Substrate: MDF, Particle Board, Plywood
(2). Colors & Grains:
natural wood grains (like teak, oak, cherry, ash, mahogany…) ;
solid color (like warm white, red, blue, black…) ;
Any other kinds of colors and grains are available .
(3). Glue: E0, E1, E2, CARB 2
(4). Size: Xmm
(5). Thickness: 3.0 / 4.0 / 4.75 / 5.0 / 6.0 / 7.0 / 8.0 / 9.0 / 11 / 12 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / ~ 30mm
(6).Packing: Standard Packing.
Category : Melamine Boards
Blockboard
Fancy Plywood
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