Many furniture fronts, such as drawer fronts and cabinet tops, feature high-grade plywood with attractive veneer. Most cabinet construction uses ¾” plywood, or else ½” plywood, which is usually less expensive, and makes the finished piece somewhat lighter. Lower grade veneers are fine for interior areas, where appearance is not so important. Drawer sides only require ½” thick plywood, and drawer bottoms need only ¼” thick plywood.
Thicker plywood is heavier, but it is also stronger and more durable. For instance, building a large tabletop from ½” plywood, supported only by legs at the corner, will result in a dinnertime disaster. Many table-building plans specify the thicknesses to use according to tabletop dimensions:
¾” plywood for smaller table tops, up to about 18” x 24”
1” plywood for tops up to 24” x 36
At least 1”, and, even better, 1 ½” for larger tables
Plywood is a popular choice for building entertainment units and shelving. However, while ¾” plywood may work fine for shelves less than 30” or so in length, the likelihood of mid-shelf sagging increases with shelf length. Using a thicker plywood helps reduce sag, especially over wider spans, thus avoiding potentially dangerous occurrences involving falling objects and collapsing furniture. Another way to avoid such a problem is by using wood edging to strengthen the shelves, or by installing mid-span supports.
