Plywood panels - making them more decorative?

[sofa_king_rad]

I've been searching and searching and i'm probably just not using the right keywords.

In a build where there is a plywood panel like a chest or whatever, what are methods used to make then more decorative?

I've seen things where the plywood tapers down at the edge or bead board look grooves or similar cut into it. However I think the pieces i've seen that on the panel was MDF. Can you do the same things with plywood?

Any videos/tips/resources for this kind of info? I'm really interested in taking some 1/2" Ply down to 3/8" or 1/4" at the edge for the dado in the frame. Or maybe some simple decorative lines in it.

 

[ear3]

What about inset panel moulding?

 

[monstrol]

You could use the inlay jig with the removable bushing ring to add inlays of your choice.

 

[tjbnwi]

Marquetry.

Tom

 

[sofa_king_rad]

I will google all of those suggestions tonight

 

[sofa_king_rad]

Here is sort of what I'm thinking. This is probably MDF, I don't think you can do this with plywood can you because the end grain would be exploded? Does that matter if it's painted? And the small grove decorative lines cut in, is that okay to do with plywood?

Lastly when is 1/4 plywood okay be 1/2"

 

[AndyUK]

I personally would use MDF for the panel in that situation.
Because it will leave a better finish when routed.
And will require less work to achieve a good surface finish when painted.

 

[ear3]

You might have problems recreating that raised effect on the panel with your current tool configuration.  That looks like an Ogee raised panel bit, which you don't have the capacity to run with your 1010.  And a normal 1/4" ogee bit won't leave a lip for the panel to slot into the frame members.  One work around would be to get a profiling bit that doesn't have a bearing.  Run this around the panel using the edge guide.  Then use a straight bit to cut away the rest along the edge, basically creating a rabbet next to the profile.

EDIT: I assume your panels are square rather than curved, as in the picture?

 

[Billedis]

for that look, I would use a raised panel cutter with a back cutter, then the corresponding pattern bit for the rails/stiles.

Bill

 

[sofa_king_rad]

darn, i have a lot to learn about routing...it's one area that is completely new to me so i need to learn about more bits.

Yes, my panels are rectangles. I don't necessarily need that exact look, but was hoping for something similar or at least a way to step down just to get more dimension. I'm also looking for a similar appearance on both sides, so I could do a little on each side, but I see what you are saying about taking a straight bit to clear out material so that the panel has the right depth to slide into the dado in the post.

What about the lines or the bead board like effect - is that okay or normally done in Plywood or restricted to MDF?

I must be not saying this stuff correctly b/c searching youtube and the internet isn't returning many results on was to finish panels in furniture.

 

[sofa_king_rad]

In a design like this, should the panels just be held in by dados in the surrounding wood, or should the be secured in via Domino's or other?

 

[Davidpepke]

I made some panels recently with a Cmt router bit set - this set cuts rail and stile. I used mdf,  and I think plywood might chip when routed.

Link to bit set:http://www.cmtutensili.com/show_items.asp?pars=RB~8/991.50~2

Sendt fra min ONE A2003 med Tapatalk

 

[ear3]

Yeah, plywood too fragile for profiling work like this.

Aren't you going to inset the panels into a slot routed in the frame?  You won't need dominoes for that.

Without a slot, the glue up would get pretty complicated pretty quickly, not to mention the problem of squareness.