Replies

1. 
   mudman | Sep 29, 2006 02:56am | #1

   Realistically they are both very durable and what ever might happen to damage one would shurly damage the other. If a heavy pot with a sharp edge is tossed into the cabinet scratching the side either would be damaged. As to wear and tear both will last the life of the cabinets. Obviously Ply is better than PB or MDF core when water is involved. The real question is budget. Prefinished ply looks nicer to me (and most others it seems) but costs double what melamine costs.

   To really answer your question good melaminw should be tougher to wear than Pre finished ply.

   Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

2. 
   oldusty | Sep 29, 2006 05:35pm | #2

   CJH ,

               Melamine is heavier , deflects more under a load and is not as resilient to moisture . As far as the durability of the finish as Mike said in the life of the cabinet there will be little difference one way or the other .The plywood is easier to touch up . For a work shop countertop or bench top Melamine is pretty slick and smooth and the weight works fine . It really boils down to what you want the interiors to look like imo .

                     dusty

1. 
   CJH | Sep 29, 2006 05:49pm | #3

   Thanks, I appreciate your input."The plywood is easier to touch up."How do you touch up pre-finished plywood? I was under the impression that nothing sticks to it, aside from putting down a vinyl sealer and then topcoating with something else. This is what I was told at my local wood supplier.

1. 
   oldusty | Sep 29, 2006 06:26pm | #4

          Being wood , we could deal with the finish one way or the other , personally I don't use the prefinished material . Efforts to touch up Melamine are difficult at best . If nothing sticks to the prefinished ply , then how will you fasten interior parts and such ? Will each joint need a dado ? That will build a strong cabinet , while creating more work than you may be prepared to execute . Why not just finish the plywood interiors yourself , it goes very fast depending on the finish you use . Sounds like more time for you but remember the insides are not as visible as the face and outsides of a cabinet . I have never prefinished the sheet goods before cutting and assembly .

                      good   luck      dusty

1. 
   CJH | Sep 29, 2006 06:47pm | #5

   I just found an old post on another woodworking forum that nothing sticks to it, not even a vinyl sealer. I found posts about how to join the material but did not read them much. Obviously dados are a popular choice, although I think alternatives were discussed.I am still considering finishing the interiors myself but want to weigh my options first. I am leaning towards that right now.