Pro tip: I used to think a 1/4 inch plywood back was fine for a dresser, but a job in Duluth changed my mind.

I built two nearly identical pieces for a lake house up there, one with 1/4 inch and one with 1/2 inch Baltic birch. After a single humid summer, the thinner one started to bow and the drawer alignment went all out of whack. The extra $40 in material for the 1/2 inch made the piece feel solid for years. Anyone else have a specific project that convinced them to never skimp on a certain material again?

3 comments

3 Comments

haydeng471mo ago

Been there. Built some garage cabinets with cheap 1/4 inch stuff and the doors wouldn't close right after a year. Switched to 1/2 inch for anything that needs to stay flat, like cabinet backs or drawer bottoms. It's just way more stable when the weather changes. That little bit of extra thickness makes all the difference.

kai_butler831mo ago

Actually, 1/2 inch plywood can warp too if it's not good quality.

miles_sanchez1mo ago

My uncle's 1960s dresser has a 1/4 inch back that's still perfectly flat. The real issue is modern plywood quality. A lot of the stuff at big box stores is just garbage with voids and uneven glue. I used some for a simple bookshelf back and it cupped in a month. Now I only buy from a proper lumberyard, even for basic projects. The good stuff costs more but it actually stays straight.