Solid wood face frames kept warping, so I went full birch ply

Solid wood face frames kept warping on me in damp conditions. Switched to birch ply and it's been solid, but traditional cabinetmakers give me side eye. Y'all think I'm cutting corners or smart for adapting?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade7389d ago

Back in my apprenticeship, we used solid oak for face frames and fought warping constantly. I switched to birch ply on my own projects and the difference in stability is night and day. But when you get that side eye, what specific complaints do they have? Is it just about tradition or do they claim a loss in quality? I believe using stable materials in damp conditions is just good sense, not cutting corners. Plywood has come a long way and the best grades look and work just as well as solid wood for many applications. Maybe the real corner cutting is ignoring the problem and letting cabinets fail later.

jenniferb539d ago

My buddy had a client throw a fit because he used plywood for a bathroom vanity frame. The guy kept going on about how his granddad only used solid oak and that anything else was junk. Well, two years later, that "junk" plywood frame is still perfect, while the solid oak door on the same vanity is cupping so bad it sticks. The client never said sorry, but he did call my friend back to fix the door!

the_sean5d ago

@jade738 nailed it, true craftsmanship means picking materials that last.