Quick Tips for A Newbie on Finishing Plywood

[Attn2Detail]

Hello FOG!

I caught the wood bug about a year ago and am working on my biggest project yet, consisting of some base cabinets, a desktop and book shelves.  I am using mostly 3/4 plywood, lighter plywood for the carcusses and desktop and a darker ply for the cabinet doors and drawer faces.  The planning for this project has brought me to the prepping and finishing series of head scratches.  My goal is the natural color of the woods with a smooth, beautiful finish durable enough to serve its purpose. 

Would you be so kind as to share some of your knowledge and experience regarding this issue, such as steps, products and of course, tools!  Any opinions on stains are welcome since I have not ruled them out. 

I hope this encourages some discussion to benefit all FOG viewers. 

Thanks,
George

 

[Roseland]

I would recommend buying hardwood-veneered sheet material; either ply or MDF.  MDF is a fraction of the cost of ply, but not as nice to work because the dust is nasty. 

There is a wide selection of facings available:

http://www.pbplywood.co.uk/veneered-standard-grade-mdf/

The cut edges can be made presentable very easily with iron-on (real wood) banding.

If you feel like upping the challenge you could try cutting some hardwood strips to use as edging.  You can make these as thick as you like and then rout a profile in them.

I've done a large number of bookcases, desks etc this way, and simply finish with a few coats of quality polyurethane varnish.

I would recommend you consider a biscuit jointer and a Kreg pocket hole jig, both of which will make your life easier.  The biscuit jointer will give you concealed joints which are glued; the Kreg will give you neat de-mountable joints - useful for desktops you might need to take off to get the assembly through doorways and the like.

I hope this helps, if only to stimulate other comments.

Good luck, and enjoy it!

Andrew

 

[Aquila]

Or better still, domino the edge strips! [smile]

 

[woodguy7]

A sanding sealer & then lacquer is a nice durable finish for cabinets & quick to do.  Need a good clean area to do this though.

Welcome to the FOG by the way,

Woodguy

 

[Jesse Cloud]

First rule of finishing is "Try it on scrap first."  Use offcuts from your plywood to see how it will take stain, lacquer, etc.  Some plywood veneers don't take stain well - that is, they absorb it unevenly.

I think woodguy has the right idea: sealer then lacquer.

BTW, if you are making hardwood edge bandings (which really look great), route the profile first on a wide piece of wood, then rip it to thickness - much safer than routing small strips.

And, how about some pictures?!?!

 

[Attn2Detail]

Thank you for the posts everyone.  With sealer and lacquer, any suggestions about sanding first or between coats for a smoother finish?  The plan for the edges is edge banding, except for the desktop which will have a hardwood edge.

Regarding the construction, I own a porter cable biscuit jointer and the kreg jig.  The domino looks amazing but I simply can't justify the cost when there are other tools I am considering buying such as a router and sander.  

See image of planned piece.  This is a rough idea and does not include support for rear corner.  

 

[Attn2Detail]

Also, note that the bookshelves will have a 1/4 inch ply backing. 

 

[Neill]

George,

I will add a note of caution to you about sanding plywood.  Do it very gingerly.  It is quite easy to sand through the surface, especially when the edges are joined to a hardwood edge.  Tough to separate the two when you are sanding.

If you use waterbase products, let's say on pine or birch, it will actually fuzzy up the surface.  Then you go to sand off these fuzzies and wham, you are down to the next layer of veneer.

Welcome to the FOG and good luck with your rather ambitious project.

Neill