Lauan......

[Darrin Davis]

Has anyone used lauan for any projects? What are your likes and dislikes about working with this wood?

I have tons of it from a demolition and it cleans up really nice. Just need to know if it's worth holding onto or not.

[Steve Clardy]

Sure. Its worth saving.;)

I usually just use the plywood, not the actual lumber.

Shop cabinets, shelves, etc.

[David DeCristoforo]

It can be pretty decent but there are a lot of different species and some are not worth using for anything other than crates. But the nicer species can resemble mahogany and can yield some nice looking projects even though the best "lauan" is much softer than mahog and can be pretty "fuzzy". But, if your wood looks decent, you might as well hang on to it and try to put it to good use. Here's a brief read:
http://www.woodfinder.com/woods/lauan.php

And some info from the "green" point of view:
http://www.rainforestrelief.org/What_to_Avoid_and_Alternatives/Rainforest_Wood/What_to_Avoid_What_to_Choose/By_Tree_Species/Tropical_Woods/L/Lauan_.html

[Jim Becker]

It's relatively soft stuff, so you'll want to keep that in mind as you choose projects, but this "poor man's mahogany" can be quite nice to work with.

[John Terefenko]

Well I am going to go out on the limb here and say sure it is worth it. My entire shop's cabinets are made from laun. Now this was gotten back quite a few years ago when HOME DEPOPT carried nice wood. Here are a few cabinets in my shop. Of course these pictures were taken when I first moved into it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/File0047.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/File0048.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v233/JTTHECLOCKMAN/File0049.jpg

[Michael Schwartz]

Luan plywood finished nicely can look quite stunning.

[Nissim Avrahami]

I made many furniture from Lauan when I was living in Japan

It is a soft wood and very easy to work with

Here are a few, 10 years old and no problems with any one of them

niki

69914

69915

69916

69917

69918

[Ben Grunow]

We use it for pattern making and to protect floors during renovations.

[Kent E. Matthew]

This is my bar area. Bar, bottle collection display, and shelving for hat collection all out of Lauan.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c56/Goose5/bar%20related/Image1.jpg