What plywood thickness is recommended for building pantry cabinets and shelves, and is Sandeply suitable for painting?
Asked by Anton Lampi 
2 months ago
Last Updated: October 21, 2024
I’m planning to make cabinets and shelves for my pantry. Do you think 1/2″ Sandeply is sturdy enough for the sides, or should I go with 3/4″? I’ll definitely use 3/4″ for the shelves.
Do you think Sandeply is the best choice, or would sanded pine ply be good enough since I’ll be painting it?
If you have any pictures of pantry projects, I’d love to see them! Mine is 4′ x 4′ with a door on an angle (check out the diagram).
While I haven’t constructed cabinets before, I recently bought some and noticed that some sides and end panels are less than 3/4, which is quite frustrating. One back panel is only 1/4, which is insufficient. If it were up to me, I’d make everything 3/4.
For a smaller project, I typically opt to use 3/4 for all components to minimize leftover materials.
Painted 1×2 cleats to blend in with walls. Shelves stained to minimize visible scratches
I recently organized my pantry by using drawers instead of shelves. It makes it easier to not lose track of items in the back.
I’m in search of a combination of drawers (below) and shelves (above). I’ve been collecting some ideas, and I really like the concept of having a dedicated appliance section.
That’s awesome! I faced a similar challenge with the appliance graveyard on top of my cabinets. So, I decided to tackle it by creating something new. The built-in shelf is nice, but I worry about things not fitting or it being too deep and stuff piling up behind them.
I thought it would be a good idea to tackle my very first woodworking project by building an entirely new kitchen. It sounded like a great plan in the beginning, but it turned out to be way more labor-intensive than I had anticipated.
Oh, that sounds like a huge undertaking….. are you also planning to make the door and drawer fronts?
And what materials did you use for the carcases….. Sandeply?
Yeah, I actually built the whole kitchen myself. It was my initial project and just like my other ones, it ended up being bigger than I expected. The carcases were made from Russian birch 3/4 ply, funny enough. There were so many different pieces involved. It definitely spiraled out of control, haha. And then I had to figure out how to paint them, which was a whole other challenge with 3 coats and sanding in between.
There are so many cabinets to deal with that it feels emotionally overwhelming. I’ve had to take a break for a few months, constantly reassuring my wife that the end is near.
The norm is 1/2 inch
Yep, I’ve always gone with 3/4″ for cabinet ‘boxes’ and like 3/4″ for shelving. Some stuff with 1/2″ (lots of drawers). I’m not a pro craftsman … just have a lot of experience. 🙂 All my new cabinets are made with 3/4″ boxes (store-bought).
Nowadays, 1/2 ply is considered standard. You can still create sturdy boxes with it, as long as you pay attention to the details.