The answer is yes, plywood is used even in the finest solid wood furniture. But there's a very good reason for it. Simply put, solid wood moves. Without the plywood material to handle the movement of the wood, your solid wood furniture is at risk of cracking.
Hardwoods like rosewood, mahogany, mango, and acacia are the most preferred. These hardwoods are long-lasting and their texture allows artisans to build furniture with magnificent carvings. Softwood, such as pine and cedar, is easily procurable and costs less compared to hardwood.
Plywood products are more affordable, and the marine-grade plywood is waterproof and lasts longer than a waterproof grade or commercial grade, which is only moisture resistant. Solid wood is far better for bookshelves and wardrobe doors because plywood cut into long pieces tends to bend in the middle.
This resistance makes plywood a better choice than MDF for use in general-purpose home furniture such as tables, chairs, decking and planters, as it is in industries in which exposure to chemicals is commonplace. As well as being an excellent thermal and noise insulator, plywood carries an aesthetic appeal.
The grade that is used to make furniture, such as cabinets, tables, chairs, etc., is grade A. This letter signifies that the wood panel has very little knots, or that the knots have been replaced and sanded, gaps or voids on the edges that have been filled in and smoothed out, and that overall just looks good.
A-grade plywood is the highest quality. While it will cost more, the time savings can be worth it for projects that will be visible to the eye. This type of plywood is smooth and easy to paint.
A-grade: The best plywood for furniture pieces and cabinets, A-grade plywood has a smooth and sanded surface with minor defects. These qualities will reflect in the plywood prices. B-grade: This grade of plywood is similar to the A-grade variety, with a few knots. However, the defects can go up to 1 inch across.
Much of the IKEA furniture is made from particleboard with a smooth, white finish. This densely compressed wood provides a lighter weight piece of furniture than solid wood. There aer two types of particle boards, one is extruded, and the other is platen pressed.
Plywood is lightweight.
For all its strength, plywood is surprisingly much lighter than solid wood. That makes plywood easier to use for furniture-making. Heavier solid wood, meanwhile, can prove unwieldy or more labour-intensive, both for crafting furniture and other commercial applications.
With the advantage of being manufactured 100% from natural plantation wood, plywood has relatively high durability and a lifespan of up to 35 years.
Wood. The wood that is typically used in high-end furniture is solid, first-grade wood. Since the wood is carved by hand, detailed wood is a reliable telltale sign of luxury furniture.
The most expensive wood is agarwood. Other expensive woods include: African black wood, sandalwood, koa wood, Brazilian rosewood, lignum vitae, cocobolo wood, purpleheart wood, bocote wood, holly tree wood, bubinga wood, and pink ivory. Several of these woods cost upwards of $100,000 per kilo.
Today, most furniture is made with ash, pine, gum, and poplar; pine, fir, and other inexpensive woods are used for hidden parts. The rare woods are used only for very good furniture, and they're often used in combination with the less expensive woods.
Osb is stronger than plywood in shear. Shear values, through its thickness, are about 2 times greater than plywood. This is one of the reasons osb is used for webs of wooden I-joists.
Pros and Cons of Plywood
Plywood is a very strong material and hence it is less susceptible to damages. Plywood is a bit expensive and hence it can be heavy on the pocket. It exhibits high dimensional stability with reduced expansion and shrinkage. Since it has high strength, plywood is difficult to cut and mould.
Plywood holds up quite well to water exposure. It can also handle heavy loads, so consider it for framing walls or kitchen cabinets. If you have no specific preference and you're just thinking about cost, then MDF is the winning choice. But if durability or strength is what you're after, plywood wins hands-down.
MDF, laminates, softwood, and melamine are also hallmarks of cheap furniture. Of course these materials are great for less used spaces and children's bedrooms, but if you spot these materials in cheap bedroom furniture, be sure to know that it won't be high quality.
In IKEA cabinets, the boxes are constructed with: MDF for the box core. Melamine foil (a type of laminate that contains no wood) for the veneers covering the sides of the box.
When you shop at IKEA, you should not expect to find heirloom quality furniture. While most of the products are certainly affordable, longevity is not typically a common attribute. (Very often affordability and quality do not go hand in hand unless you are buying used furniture.)
A-grade plywood: This is the highest-quality plywood and therefore typically the most expensive, since the veneers will be flawless. A-grade plywood is smooth and can be easily painted. B-grade plywood: B-grade plywood is slightly less smooth than A-grade plywood and has a solid foundation.
Marine plywood is the highest grade of plywood. Marine plywood is available in the following grades: A-A, A-B, and B-B. It is usually made from Western Larch or Douglas Fir wood.
While cabinet plywood is available in sizes from one-eighth-inch and up, many fabricators favor domestic ANSI HP-1 nominal three-quarter-inch panels for its supportive properties. These panels can be used without bracing or nailing on the backs and sides of the cabinet.