Valleyslim Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 With plywood prices so high, I was wondering if I'm crazy for considering melamine to make a miter station out of? Any thoughts or just wait for plywood to go back to normal prices? I would use mdf for the table tops. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 You might look into using hardwood veneer ply like oak or maple from you big box store. It is mostly the construction grade material that seems to be seeing the high prices. In my local Lowes 3/4 Maple was $58 a sheet and 3/8 OSB was $38. You wouldn't want to us OSB for you top but the pricing in my location tells me you might want to look at hardwood ply. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valleyslim Posted May 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 32 minutes ago, Chet said: You might look into using hardwood veneer ply like oak or maple from you big box store. It is mostly the construction grade material that seems to be seeing the high prices. In my local Lowes 3/4 Maple was $58 a sheet and 3/8 OSB was $38. You wouldn't want to us OSB for you top but the pricing in my location tells me you might want to look at hardwood ply. Yeah maple ply from my local lowes is 88.93 so I'd rather not use that. I used to pay 47 for a sheet of maple 3/4 from the local hardwood dealer. Not anymore. Melamine on the other hand is 32 for 3/4. Thats why I'm considering it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 I would think that melamine would make a great surface, but if the substrate is particle board it might not stay flat enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewisc Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 I went with 2 layers of MDF glued and screwed together with a masonite over the top. Cheap and solid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 29, 2021 Report Share Posted May 29, 2021 Yesterday I paid $52.50 for 3/4”, $48.95 for 1/2” and $19.50 for 1/4” birch ply from the hardwood dealer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby W Posted May 30, 2021 Report Share Posted May 30, 2021 Melamine can work pretty well if you design it right, but you need to know that there are multiple types and grades. The stuff in the big box stores is the low grade and will have trouble holding fasteners - it crumbles. The better cabinet grade stuff has a denser core and is more structurally strong. All of the cabinets in my shop are made from it and they are strong. You can get it from lumber yards that sell to the cabinet makers. Plywood is better and cheaper there too. Take a look at Confirmat fasteners too. They work great Melanine and MDF panels. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valleyslim Posted May 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2021 Im actually talking about the cabinets, not the tops. Tops I'm using mdf which is almost 50 a sheet here not to mention hard to find atm. My lowes had 0 mdf last week. I'm in Idaho and wood is extremely expensive here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyJack Posted May 31, 2021 Report Share Posted May 31, 2021 On 5/29/2021 at 9:22 PM, Valleyslim said: Im actually talking about the cabinets, not the tops. Tops I'm using mdf which is almost 50 a sheet here not to mention hard to find atm. My lowes had 0 mdf last week. I'm in Idaho and wood is extremely expensive here Using melamine doesnt bother me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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