| Solid wood is great stuff to work with but for some | | | | layers the stronger the plywood. Plywood is very |
| projects sheeting materials are more appropriate. | | | | good for holding screws and attaching hardware, |
| Plywood is an excellent way of cutting down on | | | | which is something it outperforms other sheet goods |
| costs in both materials and labour. In this article I am | | | | at. |
| going to discuss some pros and cons and uses of ply. | | | | Plywood is available with many attractive veneers, |
| Plywood is a strong and very stable material, which | | | | which allows you to match to solid wood. However |
| makes it ideal for use in furniture. The advantage | | | | because of it stability plywood makes a good surface |
| over solid wood is in the speed at which it can be | | | | for applying your own veneers. Plywood wont split |
| cut into panels for case backs, drawer bottoms and | | | | because of the cross grain plies and unlike solid wood |
| door panels. A task that would take many hours with | | | | is very strong in any direction. |
| solid wood can be accomplished in minutes by using | | | | In most furniture interior plywood is used, but |
| plywood. | | | | exterior plywood is water resistant and is good for |
| One of the best plywoods for furniture making is | | | | kitchens. Marine ply is very high quality waterproof |
| called Baltic Birch. It is made out of much thinner | | | | plywood selected to have fault free laminations. |
| veneers then most ply and is made from birch | | | | A few disadvantages are that it is more expensive |
| throughout. It doesn't have large voids between the | | | | then particleboards and can have voids in the core |
| plies, which make the edges very attractive, and the | | | | layers. And when making traditional furniture the |
| board stronger. | | | | general public may see solid wood furniture as better |
| Plywood always comes with an odd number of layers | | | | quality. However I regard plywood as the best man |
| and the grain direction faces in alternate directions, | | | | made board available and I have seen birch ply being |
| which is what makes plywood so strong. The more | | | | used as a very attractive feature. |