Doing better at installing wall cabinets

[Cheese]

I'm not fond of using plywood for cleats either.  I prefer solid maple, properly dried, planed and jointed (if necessary).  It seems to me that maple has superior resistance to warping, cracking and bowing.  I've also used Douglas fir, for the same reasons.

I'd love to use Doug Fir  [smile]  but around here it's more expensive than walnut.  [eek] 

And Sitka spruce is more expensive yet.

 

[rvieceli]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member]  If you can get by with resawing dimensional lumber look around for older buildings being torn down. Our little bungalow down here in southern Illinois was built in 1911-1912. Most of the wood in the house from studs to joists and 1x4 tongue and groove is old growth Douglas fir. the grain is simply amazing once you uncover it.

Ron

 

[Packard]

My house has 3" x 8" douglas fir joists in the basement.  From 1953 build.  The wood is so hard that it easily snaps off drywall screws.  And driving nails into it is really tough.  The code only calls for 2" x 8".  I guess they didn't want the floors to squeak.

It gave me a new respect for Douglas Fir. 

The deck was 47 years old when I replaced it.  All Douglas Fir.  I don't think my pressure-treated lumber will last that long.