I have some bookcases to make. I would like to use a stain-grade sheet stock. Thinking of going with birch plywood as a cheaper way out. Ultimately a cheery wood be nice, probably pricey though. Wondering some experiences as well as any advice. Thank you
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You may try asking your question on the Knots forum as well. Lots of woodworkers there.
I like birch plywood alot--with the right finish it shows a lot of chatoyancy. I think it's greatly underrated. You can get birch plywood at home center stores, I think cherry would have to be special ordered or gotten through more of a real lumberyard.
I've used cherry and its very expense. Birch comes in different quality even at the box stores. I've used that a lot as well and like it.
Oak isn't that different in price if youre into a whole other look.
Then theres Melamine....nahhhhhh
Be well
andy
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I've just finished and installed a built-in bookcase at my house, used birch ply. Danno's comment about "chatoyancy" is right on -I love this word :-), I used an oil-varnish mix, hand rubbed. Came out real nice. Very understated and does not clash with other woods in the room : oak floors, clear pine windows and trim... The difference in price of the sheet stock material is a small component of the total cost IMNSHO, so go with what you like best.
Applied iron-on veneer edges. Used DW's iron on it, it took her a microsecond to notice the glue smudges on the heating plate :-)
i agree with all who suggested that birch can have a beautiful grain. when thinking of using plywood for shelves consider flexiblity. Nick Engler in Woodworking Wisdom gives these comparisons (assuming no more than a 25# load/running foot)
3/4" plywood----------30" max span
3/4" softwood---------36" " "
3/4" hardwood--------48"" " "
however, i think the last Rockler catalog had an extruded aluminum strengthener to slip on back of plywood shelves to prevent sagging. good luck.
3/4" plywood----------30" max span3/4" softwood---------36" " "3/4" hardwood--------48"" "Is that with the shelves by themselves?Say for instance you add a 1x2 to the front edgethat strengthens it significatanly>
Try this.
http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm
i agree. what's more, make that strip out of a strong and resilient wood like oak. on the "encyclopedia shelf" you might also attach a reinforcing strip to the back of the shelf. after all you've already used the vertical space and no one will see anything in the back.
3/4" plywood----------30" max span
3/4" softwood---------36" " "
3/4" hardwood--------48"" "
Also, what about big-box voids-r-us plywood vs. applply or similar hardwood veneer core 13-ply?
i agree with you but don't have the specs, we must remember, though, much of the increased flexibility of plywood must be due to the fact that half of the longitudinal grain of the wood is perpendicular to the span.
If you like cherry then use it. The price difference is minimal when comparing sheet goods. Plus the lesser grade of cherry veneered plywood has more figuring than the better grades, something that I think is more desirable.
If you go into a Depot or a lowes for your sheet goods look at the back side of an oak veneer plywood, some times you will find the B side veneered in cherry
Another thing to consider is if you are going to completely fill the shelves with books is you are only going to view a small area of casework so dont knock yourself out over buying a higher grade.
In my area I have a sheet goods supplier that specializes in just that. They have a perpetual stack of "blemished" sheets that you could pick through. I always look through that pile when I visit. Everything is half price. Its a good place to look for someone who wants to do a little home project
I've made a lot of built in cases of 3/4" oak plywood.
But last weekend I was in a library that was really impressive, and built with raised panels with 1/4" oak ply and 1x oak. The face frame had beaded edges and everything else was regular ogee. The overall result was stronger and classier. Iron on banding. No spans over about 32". I've always built 11-1/2" wide shelves. These were more like 8 or 9". I liked the scale better, and most books are not that big.
My thought was if you have any quantity to build, the plywood savings copuld really add up, since 1/4" is about half the price.
I also agree with the Birch ply...
But please please please please don't ever buy hardwoods from HD unless it's an emergency!
You should find a hardwoods place, if possible. Once you start going to a hardwoods place you'll never want to look back. Usually the stuff you find elsewhere (HD, etc) is like a Grade B (or C or D) AND it's so picked over it's rediculous.
At the place I usually go to in NH, 3/4 cherry veneer ply is like $90 for 4x8, I think birch is maybe half that.
my 2 cents.