Just joined forum, although have gotten a lot of good information previously and I thank all of you. I would classify myself as an advanced beginner.
Wanting to build the pictured below steamer chest. Question is material for and attachment of panels. I am afraid that panels will not look good if I use rotary cut plywood. Only q-sawn plywood is in white oak, which is very expensive and I cannot get s4s white oak locally, so I thought I would use red oak. I need ¼ thick panels.
I can get ¼” plain sawn red oak boards to use for panels which i think would look much better than plywood. Additionally, I would have a lot of plywood left over if I went that route. I do not have a planer to make boards thinner so I cannot use the white oak available locally.
So, here is my question, if the panels are made of red oak boards can I glue them, or will expansion be a problem. It seems to me that the trunk, which is basically five rail and panel pieces plus a bottom, will be too flimsy if the panels are floating?. I plan to do some kind of tinted oil-like finish.
Thanks in advance