Melamine vs plywood for kitchen cabinetry?

[nandishc057]

hello all,

i would like to make kitchen cabinets with drawers,

which one to choose, melamine or plywood with spray paint 

which one gives realistic look ?

thanks in advance 

[EricL]

Hello @nandishc057 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about melamine versus plywood.

The store does carry a few melamine panels that have different finishes on them. However, due to the limited stock, there are not enough large sheets to affordably build a cabinet with drawers. This is where plywood shows its versatility because the surface can be stained or painted to whatever colour you like. You can create a fine finish on its surface by applying a filler and it comes in large sheets. 

If there were different sheet sizes in melamine, I’d probably choose melamine, but right now the large sheets only come in white.

Plywood on the other hand comes in different qualities that range from good, better, best. Due to its sheet size, it is economical to build with plywood.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[Nailbag]

Hi @nandishc057 

Aas @EricL mentioned you can't buy from Bunnings large sheets of melamine so Plywood would be your next best option. But you really would need to use marine ply as that has the smoothest surface. Then paint the facia's with one of the available cabinetry effects products.

Nailbag

[twocutekelpies]

I recently weighed up these options for my linen cupboard and found it more cost effective to use full size sheets of melamine over equivalent thickness plywood. To get a better finish with marine ply would've been cost prohibitive. Add to the fact that I don't like painting much, the melamine just needed the edges finished off and I found black iron on edging to add a touch of difference. 

I also recently converted one of my kitchen base cabinets to have drawers using a melamine sheet, before that, I've always used stick frame to build cabinetry because weight is such an issue in the caravans I was fitting out. 

It also really depends what look you're after. Plywood is much more versatile with colours. You could also mix it up, Melamine for the cabinets and drawers and ply for the doors and drawer faces. 

Shelley 

[Dave-1]

Good Morning @nandishc057 

Thats a hard question Plywood would certainly be the easiest to source and to use. It really comes down to what your preference is look wise. If you tend to lean towards a particular style why not have a go at making up a small cupboard, see how easy it is to source the material and build it. It will show the cost and wetheer you really like it.

As a personal choice I have at various stages wanted a plywood style (with oiled surfaces) and a black marine ply that @Nailbag has mentioned. I am yet to decide as I keep switching between several looks.

Dave

[Noyade]

I would love to see you succeed with the plywood @nandishc057.

And I would love to see photos of your success.

I have no love for MDF, chipboard or a melimine surface.

I am slowly replacing all the melamine in my home with solid wood.

[nandishc057]

Hi @EricL 

if I prefer to go with plywood, will I get smooth mat finish surface,

any suggestions/process to get smooth white finish 

thanks

[JacobZ]

Hi @nandishc057,

As plywood has exposed timber grain on the face, it will never be quite as smooth as melamine, but you can get it fairly smooth by sanding, priming and painting. 

Start with a medium grit such as 120-grit, then move up to a finer grit, such as 240-grit.

When it has been sanded smooth, you would remove all sawdust, then apply a high-quality primer such as Dulux PRECISION Maximum Strength Adhesion Primer.

Typically, for cabinets, you would use an enamel paint such as Dulux Aquanamel, but unfortunately, they do not have a matte option. The only white, matte paints I am aware of are the cabinetry effects paints @Nailbag mentioned above such as the Dulux Design Chalk Effect Paint or Rust-Oleum Linen White Ultra Matt Chalked Paint.

Everyone has their preferences, but if you wanted smooth, matte white cabinets, using melamine such as this CUSTOMpine 16 x 2400 x 1200mm White Matt Carcass Particleboard would be much simpler.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob