Cabinet End Panels with Pre-finished Plywood

[Jim German]

I posted this question over in the projects forum, but didn't get much of a response, so I figured I'd ask here instead.

I'm building some cabinets for my Office, and was planning on using pre-finished plywood. However a few of the cabinet ends will show, and with the face frames and doors being made out of Cherry, I didn't know what the best way was to make the ends match. Veneering cherry over the prefinished plywood doesn't sound like a good idea, should I just make a panel up out of solid cherry for the ends? Or make the ends out of Cherry plywood, and then just have the insides not match?

The project thread with pictures and such can be found here http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?179480-Office-Cabinets

[Randy Henry]

I've done this on several kitchens, get 1/4" cherry ply and glue it to the outside. I use a pin nailer to secure it while the glue sets up.

[scott vroom]

Unless you're building clear glass doors for display, I wouldn't be concerned if the inside of the end panel doesn't match the pre-finished interior. You should design your cabinets for the way you want them to look on the outside.

You might find this helpful: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?179397-Cabinet-End-Panels-and-Racking-Best-Practice

Good luck and post pics!

[Sam Layton]

On all of my cabinets I have pre finished ply for the interior. For the ends of the cabinets I have flat panels. The flat panels are constructed like the doors are. So, the end panels have stiles, rails, and panel, flat or raised, what ever you like. The end panel stile is attached to the face frame. On the end of the cabinet, I have pre finished maple ply on the inside, and what ever my cabinets are on the outside. I don't like any ply showing on the outside of the cabinets.

Sam

[Jim German]

Great, fastening some 1/4" ply will work out well then. My doors are just going to be slabs so that will match with them.

Another question, for drawers is it better to use pre-finished ply or solid popular?

[Sam Layton]

Depends on what you want. I like maple drawers. Bb ply makes nice drawers as well.

[scott vroom]

I make my cabinet drawers from maple (solid sides, plywood bottom).

[Paul Incognito]

I generally use poplar if I'm building dovetailed drawer boxes and plywood if they're nailed together. 1/4" plywood for the bottom of either.
Paul

[Randy Henry]

I use either soft or hard maple for the drawers, with 1/4" white melemine for the bottom. It makes it bright and it is easy to keep clean.