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Residential Cabinet, Countertop & Shelving Manufacturing

Cabinets

APA sanded plywood is particularly useful in furniture, cabinets, built-ins, shelving and similar applications. Sanded plywood can be manufactured with a special inner-ply construction that resists indentations and punctures from concentrated loads with a beautiful, finish-quality surface for visible applications. And since it is sanded at the mill, little or no sanding is required for most applications. Easy to stain attractively, plywood contributes warmth and the natural beauty of real wood while meeting project cost constraints. In addition, APA Rated panels are exempt from U.S. HUD and California formaldehyde regulations due to their very low emission rates. For information on formaldehyde, visit our formaldehyde page. Photo courtesy Olympic Panel.

For applications in which the panels will be painted or laminated over, Medium Density Overlay (MDO) plywood is a strong choice. MDO is often used for cabinets and built-ins, paneling, wainscoting and partitioning, particularly for shelving that may be exposed to water, such as in bathrooms or kitchens. MDO is an ideal base for paint and is designed to be exposed to wetness when finished.

Although it performs perfectly well without further finishing in applications where it is not exposed to water, MDO should always be face-primed and top-coated with a compatible solid-color stain or paint if subjected to wet or humid conditions. Some producers of MDO offer panels with a pre-primed surface. Follow the panel manufacturer's recommendations for stains and paints.

Countertops

Because wood structural panels are flat, smooth and dimensionally stable, they are an excellent choice for countertop substrates. Wood structural panels experience negligible movement, meaning the counter laminate or surfacing materials will not bow or shift. Wood structural panels provide a durable, long-lasting solution for countertops in residential applications.

Shelving

Wood structural panels are one of the most economical shelving materials because the grade and thickness can be selected to match the particular application. In situations where the load will be heavier, thicker panels can be chosen. Lighter load situations won't require as much support, so less expensive, thinner panels can be selected.

Cutting. When hand sawing, use a saw with 10 to 15 points to the inch. A combination or fine-toothed blade without much set is recommended for power sawing. Use a sharp saw and remember that planning and layout can minimize waste.

Edge Treatments. In most industrial applications, no special edge treatment is required for structural panel shelving. For appearance, however, or uses where panel edges may need protection from careless loading procedures, edges may be chamfered or protected with stock wood half-round or standard metal or plastic edge strippings.

Finishing. Because structural panels are real wood, they will accept any standard wood finish if the surface is clean and the manufacturer's directions are followed. For durability on frequently cleaned surfaces, use washable paints or high density overlay (HDO) plywood. In situations where panel shelves may be exposed to unusual edge damage or abrasive wear on their surfaces, they can be economically covered with expendable hardboard, a thin sheet metal or other protective surfacing.

Consult the tables in APA publication Materials Handling, Form M200.