Kitchen cabinets made of plywood
Plywood is one of the most affordable materials that you can use for DIY projects, and especially for building your own kitchen cabinets. Plywood is considered a sustainable building material that is strong and attractive.
Plywood is a board product that is made by compressing thin sheets (ply) into boards of varying thickness. Plywood is available in thicknesses of 3, 6, 9, 12, 18mm which makes it versatile for a wide range of projects.
Plywood is often used as a replacement for other timber and board products because of its low cost and resistance to cracking, shrinkage, splitting, and warping. There are also different types of plywood available for various project applications.
Pine Plywood
Pine plywood is a material that is stronger than its component parts and more stable in all directions. Panel grades are generally defined in terms of the veneer grade used on the face and the back of the panel. Pine plywood is used in the manufacture of furniture and crating as well as pattern making and general joinery.
Marine Plywood
Selected durable tropical hardwoods are used in the manufacture of marine plywood. The hardwood veneer is bonded with phenolic adhesive for water resistance and strength. It is used extensively in the boat building / marine industry and for exterior applications.
Commercial Plywood (shutterply)
Commercial-grade plywood offers a panel when cost is an element of product design. Generally a red hardwood species is used as the face of the board, with a softer species such as pine or poplar in the core. The plywood is bonded together with an interior grade UF resin. It provides a veneered surface that can be stained to match the predominant species in the construction.
Because of the way plywood is bonded (with grains running against one another and with an odd number of composite parts) it is very hard to bend it perpendicular to the grain direction.
If you plan to use plywood for kitchen cabinets, use pine plywood for the exterior frame and commercial plywood for the inner framework. This is an easy way to keep the cost as low as possible, but still have a quality pine on the outside that can be stained or painted to suit.
Also check with the supplier when ordering your plywood that they offer a quality-grade veneered plywood - one that is free of wood filler and other defects that spoil the finish.
There are various finishing techniques for plywood cabinets and the most important part is the preparation. Take the time to sand down surfaces with 120-grit (to remove roughness) and then 240-grit (to smooth), wiping clean before finishing:
1. Stain and varnish
Plascon Ultra Varnish is a clear polyurethane varnish available in gloss or suede that can be applied over the raw finish or with a pre-applied stain.
Plascon Coloured Varnish comes in a glossy light oak.
Plascon Sunproof Varnish is available in a range of tinted colours.
2. Paint
For a glossy finish on cabinet exterior and doors use Plascon Wood Primer to prepare the surface for painting with Plascon Velvaglo.
If you prefer a matt or suede finish for your kitchen cabinets, apply Plascon Wood Primer and use Plascon Kitchens & Bathroom water-based enamel paint.
Use a sponge foam roller to apply and a small, soft paintbrush for any detail or framed areas.
3. Seal
For a natural finish you can apply antique wax over the plywood and rub to a satin sheen. Bear in mind that a regular application of antique wax is required to maintain protection.
