MFT sysport cart material?

[mikey2]

Having just got an MFT with my year-end bonus, I have been studying the various nice MFT sysport carts you all have made.

Just one question on materials: Baltic birch ply here is kinda expensive, and I would have to go out of town to get 4x8 sheets. Any reason not to use the cheaper birch or oak veneered plywood from Lowes or HD, or even (not considering weight) MDF and paint it? I do not need furniture-grade shop cabinets.

 

[Justin Michael]

I just built one over the weekend and used HD 3/4" birch plywood. It works fine; the sheet I got had no voids and was quite flat. I used edge banding so you can't even see the plys.

 

[mouppe]

My three sysports are all made from MDF and painted. They've moved workshop a couple of times and are still holding up well.

I'd rather use pine than plywood though.

 

[UncleJoe]

I have had very good results using the Birch ply from Lowes for shop cabinets and my mft base. You can edge band it and that works very well or you can attach a pine edge board.

My local Lowes now carries maple, oak and birch ply. I have made some very nice painted pieces from the birch. I found a few voids but none that caused issues. I built a router stand with Oak Ply and an oak face frame. I finished it with Waterlox and my wife got upset when she saw it because it looked nicer than anything I had made for inside the house. I explained that this was the first piece made with Festool tools and that soothed things over but she made a list of new things for me to make for the house so more work for me and more tools.

 

[wow]

I have had very good results using the Birch ply from Lowes for shop cabinets and my mft base. You can edge band it and that works very well or you can attach a pine edge board.

My local Lowes now carries maple, oak and birch ply. I have made some very nice painted pieces from the birch. I found a few voids but none that caused issues. I built a router stand with Oak Ply and an oak face frame. I finished it with Waterlox and my wife got upset when she saw it because it looked nicer than anything I had made for inside the house. I explained that this was the first piece made with Festool tools and that soothed things over but she made a list of new things for me to make for the house so more work for me and more tools.

"...and more tools."

And this is a problem HOW exactly? Sounds to me like you handled past transgressions perfectly while also setting things up for future acquisitions. Just remember that every new job requires a new tool. Doesn't have to be big, and doesn't HAVE to be Festool. But it has to happen for EVERY job, at least for a while. That's how you fill your tool crib without hassle. BT,DT!

[wink]

Good job YOU!

 

[Locke3405]

Just finished. Appreciate any feedback!

 

[tomp]

I've had good luck with the 3/4" Sande plywood sold by Home Depot - flat and with minimal interior voids. Have been using it for several years to make shop cabinets, plus a couple of painted utility cabinets for my wife. Getting ready to redo the shelving in our pantry and planning to use the Sande plywood for that. I do typically edge-band the exposed edges, either 1/8" oak or poplar - tend to use the oak for shop cabinets as is holds up a little better but poplar for painted cabinets. I've never stained it as it seems to have very little grain, but may try that one time to see how it looks.

 

[jeh]

I've had good luck with the 3/4" Sande plywood sold by Home Depot - flat and with minimal interior voids. Have been using it for several years to make shop cabinets, plus a couple of painted utility cabinets for my wife. Getting ready to redo the shelving in our pantry and planning to use the Sande plywood for that. I do typically edge-band the exposed edges, either 1/8" oak or poplar - tend to use the oak for shop cabinets as is holds up a little better but poplar for painted cabinets. I've never stained it as it seems to have very little grain, but may try that one time to see how it looks.

I have use the Sande plywood before and found that it is very prone to excessive grain raising. I'd hesitate to use it for water base paint, but would for all oil base clear. Even with a good primer that grain wants to rise require excessive amounts of sanding versus using the maple ply which is $53 instead of $41. Of course everybody's experience is different. BTW the maple ply at Lowe's is 7-layer versus 5-layer at Home Depot. I am not in the shop so my layer counts might be off, but no matter as the difference is significant.