Plywood choice for bookcase???

**hoyt1967** · 12-02-2005, 02:31 PM

Whats a better choice for 3/4" oak plywood when building bookcase side panels, the 3/4" fiber core oak plywood or the 3/4" veneer layer oak plywood, they are both about the same money but I dont know the difference in suggested applications

**Glenmore Henry** · 12-02-2005, 07:37 PM

Jeff I would go for the oak veneered ply wood you can use the fiber cored stuff. But it is just like the stuff you get in the boxes when you buy the prefab stuff. I would think ply wood would be more durable and hold a screw better or even your shelf pegs. You are talking a price in the 40-50 dollar range ply wood right? That would be the way to go.

**hoyt1967** · 12-02-2005, 08:40 PM

The fiber core was 36 per sheet and the laminate was 38 per sheet, I read the fiber has less chance of warping but, I'll be using rabets on the top and bottom for joints so I'd think a laminate would be better for rabet joints correct? Of course I'll go with solid oak top and face frame and shelves but solid oak sides bottom and false top are just too expensive to do, this unit will be 60" tall and 72" wide with raised panel 24" doors across the bottom, really looking forward to starting on it I just had never used fiber core plywood but I think I'll use the laminate unless you guys think different, thanks!!!!

**DMSWood** · 12-03-2005, 04:03 PM

Go with the true plywood.It is much stronger and better support than fiber core.Thats my 2 cents.

**beagles** · 12-03-2005, 04:42 PM

And make sure that at 72 inches wide you support the shelves mid-span at least in one place -- preferably twice... A single span of like that will sag noticably -- even with solid wood.

**hoyt1967** · 12-03-2005, 05:31 PM

10-4 guys, Yes Its got a divider in the middle which will leave
4 shelves at 34 11/16" which I will use solid 3/4" oak, I use a 1/2x3/4" strip on the bottom of the shelf 1/2" in for extra support and covers the shelf pins a little better.