Buy from a sheet goods supplier. And yes, the good stuff is going to cost you more because that's what it takes to get North American produced product with thicker veneers and less voids...as well as material that isn't rotary veneer faced. Historically, I would have said that $90 is high, but prices of many materials are escalated substantially right now in the marketplace due to the pandemic, etc. If you are flexible with the veneer species or painting, ask the supplier what they can do that's more economical. Prices can sometimes vary up and down that way. Sometimes maple is less expensive than birch for me, for example. I actually like the maple better because of the close pore structure if I'm going to be painting it. The pre-finished one side I sometimes buy is most often maple, too. The pre-finished side goes on the inside of the cabinet...I hate spraying into boxes.
Last edited by Jim Becker; 01-12-2021 at 8:56 PM.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...