Newbie woodworker here seeking some advice.
I’m looking for advice on how to design a large bookcase that I would like to build. The bookcase will be made of 4 units each one about 31” wide 8 ft tall, and about 12” deep. I plan on connecting the units after they are built in a way that they can be detached if needed, but while attached they will be one big bookcase. Where I live (out of the USA) in general the best plywood available is birch, and there is no such thing as oak plywood or any other kind (besides what I will describe later). I don’t plan on building the whole bookcase from hardwood since it would be quite expensive. I also don’t have a jointer or thickness planer which is another reason to go with plywood. Although, for the lower part of the bookcase I do plan to make raised panel doors with hardwood, and will have to get it jointed and planed from my supplier. I also plan to make a hardwood face frame and edge band the shelves with hardwood (probably oak).
My problem is how do I finish the exposed sides of the bookcase (the outer side of each end unit). I don’t mind staining the plywood shelves and inside walls even if it won’t match the hardwood perfectly, but I want a better solution for the exposed sides. All the local veneer is very expensive and also thin (about 0.4 max 0.6mm) and not really meant to be sanded and stained.
I’m thinking one of 3 options. There is one place where I can get a sheet of plywood with 4mm hardwood on each side but it costs about $200 for a full 4x8 sheet! Therefore, I was thinking of using it only for the two most outside walls. The problem with this is that the interior of the two outside walls will be hardwood as opposed to the other interior walls. The other two options would be to attach a panel of the above to the exposed sides which is sometime done with a ¼ inch hardwood. Is there any problem attaching a ¾ inch piece to the two exposed sides? I can possibly do the same with plain ¾ oak.
If it’s ok to attach a panel, what would be the best the best way to attach the it to the sides (I’m guessing glue and maybe using a micro pin nailer or dowels)?
Thanks