Keith Barkhau
02-08-2006, 2:12 PM
So what does everyone here use for substrate when veneering panels?
I'm getting ready to do some 1/4" and 3/4" this weekend and in the past I've always used mdf--mostly because its flat, cheap and readily available at the borgs. But its heavy, dusty and when I'm using screws in it (which I try to avoid) I've got to put an order into McFeelys, so I've been wondering if I should be using something else.
I've looked at cabinet grade birch ply, which is about $35/4X8 sheet (3/4") at my local Lowes, and baltic birch ply which seems to be about $30 for a 2X5 sheet, where the mdf is about $20 for 4x8.
Is it worth the extra expense and trouble to switch to the ply, or is there something even better out there I'm missing?
I'm getting ready to do some 1/4" and 3/4" this weekend and in the past I've always used mdf--mostly because its flat, cheap and readily available at the borgs. But its heavy, dusty and when I'm using screws in it (which I try to avoid) I've got to put an order into McFeelys, so I've been wondering if I should be using something else.
I've looked at cabinet grade birch ply, which is about $35/4X8 sheet (3/4") at my local Lowes, and baltic birch ply which seems to be about $30 for a 2X5 sheet, where the mdf is about $20 for 4x8.
Is it worth the extra expense and trouble to switch to the ply, or is there something even better out there I'm missing?