What Type Of Plywood Is Best For Painted Cabinets?
The best ply for any painted furniture project is Grade A plywood. Or, more specifically, Grade A Birch Plywood. We’ve already gone over why Grade A plywood is so good (smooth, easy to paint, no defects).
However, when it comes to choosing the specific type of lumber that plywood should be made from, Birch stands heads and shoulders above the rest.
Birch plywood is more wear and tear resistant than other types of plywood. And thanks to its clever cross-banded veneer layering, it is able to hold up against any warping or bowing problems.
This is especially useful if you are planning on painted kitchen cabinets. All of that humid steam in the air is unlikely to be a problem for warp-resistant birch plywood.
What Other Kind Of Plywood Is Best For Painting?
If you are looking for Birch Plywood, but the store is all out, then you could also consider purchasing Maple Grade A plywood.
Maple plywood is great at shrugging off stains – and holding up against dents and scratches. And the main advantage behind Maple ply is its durability (this wood type is even harder than Oak).
However, it does not have the warp-resistance edge that Birch plywood offers.
Can Any Type Of Plywood Be Considered Cabinet Grade Plywood?
As long as the plywood is smooth, defect-free, and is quality enough that a paint brush can run over it with no resistance… then yes. Any plywood can be Cabinet Grade Plywood.
However, cabinet grade plywood choices tends to be more maple, birch, oak and even ash. Whereas other plywood types such as Douglas Fir or Pine are preferably used for outdoor constructions.
Can B Grade Plywood Be Painted Too?
While B Grade plywood’s surface isn’t free of faults, what few flaws it does have are minor. Things like tiny visible knots are par for the course with this plywood type.
So B Grade plywood can be painted onto, provided you don’t mind the appearance of the odd natural imperfection here and there on its surface.
Plus, a big advantage this plywood has over its Grade A counterpart is its more affordable price. Which is a big help if you are building a set of cabinets on a strict budget.
So, To Wrap Things Up…
There are several types of plywood out there for you to choose from. And all of them have various features that you may need to take into account. Every one of those features, (from the number of veneer layers to the type of glue used to bind them), can be a factor for you to think about.
But, when it comes down to choosing plywood for your cabinet, the choice is simple. Cabinet grade plywood is what you need as it is made from better wood and also has a better finish on each surface.
I’m not saying that other plywood types don’t also have a nice finish, but most of the standards usually don’t. And cabinet grade birch plywood is pretty much the best plywood you can use for your cabinet furniture project.
