I'd say the Baltic or Russian Birch is pretty standard fair now days
for cabinetry. Most of the drawer/door shops do offer solid stock
with/without dovetail or box joints but it is just for the highest end
cabinet work.
For furniture it's a different story and depends on the piece. I've
seen both box and dovetails done with Baltic but I think it's a waist
and it's had to avoid the chip out.
So if you want box or dovetail jointed boxes then solid and especially
if the box dovetails into the drawer front.
I don't think standard plywood would every be right except maybe is
some utility/workbench type situation.
"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> --
Hey Swingman, I just finished up on my kitchen job today. I had to
coordinate around the granite counter top people. They are suppose to put
the top and sink in Friday. I am glad to be finished with that job.
"Vic Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred among
> the
> wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid stock?
>
> Vic
If I am using mechanical metal drawer slides I prefer to use Baltic Birch.
If I am not using mechanical metal drawer slides I use Hard Wood for the
drawers and the pieces supporting the drawers. The harder the wood the
smoother and easier it is to push and pull the drawers.
"Leon" wrote in message
> If I am using mechanical metal drawer slides I prefer to use Baltic Birch.
> If I am not using mechanical metal drawer slides I use Hard Wood for the
> drawers and the pieces supporting the drawers. The harder the wood the
> smoother and easier it is to push and pull the drawers.
I just used 1/2" maple on my last batch of drawers, but prefer 5/8" if I
didn't have to loose so much to waste.
Also just used the Hittech full extension slides for the first time and like
them, although they are a bit fussier to make a drawer for than Blum or
Accuride.
Besides being very quiet, with an expensive feel, they are completely
undermounted (but mount in the cabinet like a side mount Accuride) and since
you don't have to tip them to mount them, you can get more drawer height in
the opening. You also get 3/8" more drawer width when using them (inside FF
width, less 5/8", instead of the 1" I usually have to allow.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 5/14/05
Vic Baron wrote:
> Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred among the
> wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid stock?
>
> Vic
Most of the time I use solid maple. My lumber supplier also is a
millworks shop so I get his "cut offs" for next to nothing. Most run 2
to 4 foot. I also got a deal on the pre-finished sides. I think they are
from nova or something like that. I got a box of 12". It's pre-finished
both sides with a 1/4 slot, 8' long.
Vic Baron wrote:
> Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred among the
> wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid stock?
>
> Vic
I have tried plywood, birch, maple and oak.
What I prefer now is birch for sides, false front and back -- 1/2 inch
stock. Couple of dovetails, plywood bottom with appropriate veneer. --
1/4 inch (roughly) with most suitable finish for rest of furniture.
Screw on false front, then I can change drawer faces to change finish
and style if need be...
Works for me. :-)
--
Will
http://woodwork.pmccl.com
Occasional Techno-geek
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Vic Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred among
> > the
> > wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid stock?
> >
> > Vic
>
> If I am using mechanical metal drawer slides I prefer to use Baltic Birch.
> If I am not using mechanical metal drawer slides I use Hard Wood for the
> drawers and the pieces supporting the drawers. The harder the wood the
> smoother and easier it is to push and pull the drawers.
>
Interesting point.
I once made a set of drawers using BB ply and milled a stopped dado in each
side. Attached a hardwood runner to the case which fit inside the dado. The
BB sliding on the hardwood runner was perfect. The drawer held table silver
service so it was heavy and it still worked well.
LOL! Same problem - truck bed has a 4x8 flat spot - 5x5 has to lean!
Vic
"Bruce Farley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have only used the Baltic Birch and I have no complaints. Except for
> bringing it home, I get it in 5'X 5' sheets and they don't really fit in
> my truck!
> Bruce
>
> Vic Baron wrote:
>
> > Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred among
the
> > wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid stock?
> >
> > Vic
>
"Vic Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
>
> Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred
> among the wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid
> stock?
>
Speaking as I do, for only a miniscule portion of the wReck, I'll share my
current experiment.
I'm redoing the master bath vanity and master closet system. I brought
home from my professional plywood vendor today, prefinished Appleply drawer
stock, with appropriate bullnoses already in place.
1/2" x 12" x 8' was about $30, not at all cheap, but those rascals can be
drawers in under an hour, with no further finishing required. And I can
handle them much more easily by myself than I can full 4' x 8' sheets.
Prefinished edgebanded maple ply was noticably less, and will likely be
fetched on the next run, as the project scope has already crept.
Patriarch
> > Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred
> > among the wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid
> > stock?
That reminds me of the last New Yankee Workshop TV show I watched. Norm
produced some drawer siding stock that he bought prefinished with the top
edge banded and a precut 1/4" slot for the drawer bottom. Apparently, it
comes in a variety of sizes up to 12" high I think he said. Has anybody used
this stuff? I can envision it saving a great deal of time in drawer
construction, especially for contractors.
I have only used the Baltic Birch and I have no complaints. Except for
bringing it home, I get it in 5'X 5' sheets and they don't really fit in
my truck!
Bruce
Vic Baron wrote:
> Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred among the
> wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid stock?
>
> Vic
"Vic Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred among
> the
> wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid stock?
>
>
Just my non-professional opinion. Plywood is a good material for probably
90% of drawers. It is stable and works, cost effective and practical. If I
was making a solid wood top quality piece of furniture, I'd definitely use
solid wood for drawers also. I've not made anything in that category yet.
On Wed, 25 May 2005 17:05:26 GMT, "Vic Baron" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred among the
>wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid stock?
We usually use 1/2" BB for kitchen drawer sides but a local lumber
yard recently aquatinted one of our builders with 1/2" apple ply. It
still comes in the 5'x5' size and is 9 ply. The skin is not quite as
nice as the birch but it is somewhat less expensive. That last point
seemed to be the one that impressed the builder.
Mike O.
"SonomaProducts.com" <[email protected]> wrote:
>For furniture it's a different story and depends on the piece. I've
>seen both box and dovetails done with Baltic but I think it's a waist
>and it's had to avoid the chip out.
I did a couple of drawers for my DP table in Baltic Birch with through
dovetails. The result of the exposed plies in the ends of the tails is
"interesting" for shop furniture, but not be viewed as kindly
elsewhere. But as a box to receive an applied drawer front, it is very
solid.
Being a fan of handcut dovetails, I can't relate to the chipout
problem you mention, but chopping out the waste in BB is a strange
sensation, and gives one lots of opportunity to practice sharpening
the chisels.
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.
"Vic Baron" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Just curious - speaking of 1/2" drawer stock - which is preferred among
the
> wreck - 1/2" ply, 1/2" Baltic birch ply, 1/2" milled solid stock?
>
> Vic
> --
> There are 10 kinds of people - those who understand binary and those who
> don't
>
3/8" oak solid stock....mjh