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Cabinet Finishing [message #42099]

Mon, 04 August 2003 16:02

newsjeff
Messages: 55
Registered: May 2009

Baron

I am starting to put together the materials I need for Pi Theater 4 speakers. I have a couple of questions about the cabinets. I plan on using 3/4" MDF. I was considering finishing the cabinets with cherry veneer to match my room. However, I'm not sure I want to spend the time to veneer them myself (plus I have never done it). The pre-veneered MDF is $90 per 4X8 sheet, and that's a little more than I want to spend.
I saw some cherry vinyl laminate at Parts Express that was really cheap. Has anyone used vinyl laminate on their cabinets? How does it look? Would it be better for me to buy the pre-veneered MDF or maybe try to veneer the raw MDF myself? Any suggestions?

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Re: Cabinet Finishing [message #42101 is a reply to message #42099]

Mon, 04 August 2003 16:23

Jerry Parker
Messages: 58
Registered: May 2009

Baron

Ive used the Partsexpress veneer before on a pair of speakers. It looks alright I suppose, but If you want something really nice looking, I would say to go with the veneer.

Interestingly enough, my friend and I are finishing our speakers this week, (I have the theater 3pis and he has the theater 4pis) and we are using 1/4" thick birch plywood. Hopefully it will turn out ok, and we will post pictures when we finish.

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Re: Cabinet Finishing & Calling Epstein [message #42103 is a reply to message #42099]

Mon, 04 August 2003 18:09

Matts
Messages: 359
Registered: May 2009

Grand Master

Newsjeff,

I think you're comparing apples and oranges here. the Vinyl laminate may be nice for what it is, but what it is is fancy contact paper- not veneer by any stretch of the imagination. I always thought the term "photo laminate" was brilliant marketing! May be good to save hassle, but it's just not going to compare to a real wood veneer that's decently finished, IMHO. Just a question of much you want to do... The pre-veneered wood may be a good compromise if it's good quality.

Also, cherry (the wood, not the picture of the wood) has some special considerations to get a nice finish- not too big a deal. Maybe Bill Epstein or one of the others who knows can fill you in.

Good luck with the project!

Matts

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Re: Epstein's indisposed [message #42104 is a reply to message #42099]

Mon, 04 August 2003 19:01

BillEpstein
Messages: 886
Registered: May 2009

Illuminati (2nd Degree)

Hey newsjeff, shpeaking on behalf of hepstein, I've heard'm shay that it takes about 4 5X5 sheets of Baltic/Finnish/Rooshian Birch ply to make the Theeter 4'sh. A friendly cabinet shop would charge you maybe $50 a sheet and just add them to their regular order.Maybe you offer to pay for cutting the panels and a case of Longnecks, ya' know? Yellow pages is full of little cabinet guys and liquor stores, too.
Birch has a grain similar to cherry if you've had enough to drink. The 11 or 13 ply's make edges good looking enough that you shouldn't have to band'm.
Just build'm and finish'm with a cherry stain and BOILA!
Ya get into trubble while ya build, get aholt a Martinelli, why don't ya.

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