Popular Woodworking 2005-11 № 151, страница 51

WOODWORKING

ESSENTIALS

BY DAVID THIEL

Casework Construction:

Wood Selection and Prep

In this chapter of our series on case construction we focus on the materials that make up the boxes-within-boxes that are casework.

We'll discuss using solid wood versus plywood, and discuss the properties, both pro and con, for each. Along that

same line, we'll consider the concerns of wood movement when using solid wood. For that concern alone, a lot of casework is constructed out of plywood.

Whether it's plywood or solid wood, getting the boards ready to use takes some particular steps to get it right.

These steps include proper planing, joining and even gluing techniques. We'll show you the best ways to work in either medium and we'll also take a look at using either power or hand tools for these steps, and a combination of both.

Plywood or Solid Wood?

Case construction is mostly about joining panels together to form one or more boxes. Coming up with the panels is where we start.

Plywood is actually a very old invention. The Egyptians used a crude form of plywood by cross layering thin sheets of wood, alternating the grain direction. Their intent was to make a stronger, more stable piece of wood and that's the same reason we continue to use plywood in our projects today.

We've added veneer to the equation to make plywood an even more valuable building material. Rather than go to the expense of using solid panels of what can be very expensive wood types, a thin veneer of these woods is used as the outer surface of plywood. This gives the appearance of nicely figured, solid wood, with the structural benefits of plywood, and it'll save some money.

Casework can be made from both plywood and solid wood, or a combination of the two, as shown in this blanket chest.