rudderless
New Member
Is the grain on your plywood attractive? if so, you may want to consider using Watco Danish Oil or something similar to bring out the depth, and then coating with a wipe on polyurethane finish to protect the surface. Spray on or brush on are also options, though spray on in cans can get expensive as it doesn't go that far (a cabinet has a lot of surface area), and brush on takes time and patience to apply without getting dripping. If you go with oil/poly, you can sand with a 100 grit paper, then with 150 prior to oiling. Not necessary to sand between oil and poly, but wipe down with a tack cloth before applying the poly. I would not start with an 80 grit paper on plywood veneer as the outer veneer is typically very thin and 80 grit is quite aggressive- you're likely to sand through to the under layers if you aren't careful. When sanding plywood, it isn't necessary to apply much pressure as you aren't trying to shape it, just smooth out the surface. Allow the oil to dry per instructions on the can before applying the poly. Painting is more forgiving regarding surface prep, I wouldn't sand beyond 100 grit.
Regarding trim, if you have a decent table saw and router, you can make your own putting a bevel or rounded edge on the trim pieces. If not, you can easily use a iron-on edge banding to give yourself a finished look. To avoid an Ikea look, you can use an edge banding (or trim, for that matter), with a contrasting color/grain. This stuff is super easy to apply, a kid could do it, and can be trimmed to the width of your plywood using a simple razor/utility blade after application (3/4" plywood is typically slightly under the stated size). Edge banding can be found at any woodworkers supply shop (Rockler, Woodcraft or better yet, your local mom and pop shop).
Great Thread. Thanks to all of you that gave their ideas.
