Oak and Oak Plywood in same project

teamtj · Post by **teamtj** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:43 am

Like most new woodworkers probably do, I've been looking at the various woodworking magazines and I'm finding some really cool projects.

Now there is one I'd like to start, so I went to Lowe's to look at wood and I've found the following issue...

The project calls for Oak and also Oak Plywood, but the Oak at Lowe's is darker than the Plywood... See the attached picture...

I presume that if I use the 2 woods in the same project, there will be noticeable differences...is that correct? If so, what can I do to NOT have the differences?

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 12:56 pm

You can even out the color somewhat with stains or dyes. But, ply will always absorb stain differently than solid.
There are finishing gurus who know far more than I. I just pick an oil stain (often Watco) and play with the number of applications to get the look I want.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 1:03 pm

teamtj wrote:Like most new woodworkers probably do, I've been looking at the various woodworking magazines and I'm finding some really cool projects.

Now there is one I'd like to start, so I went to Lowe's to look at wood and I've found the following issue...

The project calls for Oak and also Oak Plywood, but the Oak at Lowe's is darker than the Plywood... See the attached picture...

I presume that if I use the 2 woods in the same project, there will be noticeable differences...is that correct? If so, what can I do to NOT have the differences?

Try shopping at a lumber yard rather than at the big box stores. You might find closer matches there]Hood Industries[/URL]" outlet nearby.

mgbbob · Post by **mgbbob** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 5:58 pm

After suffering through some big box pains and fellow Shopsmith user told me where he buys his hardwood lumber and plywood. 5 Miles from my house. Much better quality and the owner really cares about his product.

Bob

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 8:49 pm

You can also look at Home Depot. HD wood is not planed as well and is not sized as well as boards from Lowe's. HD wood is also cheaper per Bd Ft. Lowe's boards are finished 4 sides and milled to exactly 3/4".

I think the wood you found at Lowe's is all heartwood from a red oak source.

You need to be careful if you buy Home Depot boards, but you'll be O.K. if you can take the time to plane those boards down to 3/4". They will measure roughly 13/16" or slightly larger.

On the other hand it is not a bad thing to have boards (frames) darker than panels. It will depend a lot on the color you want.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 9:18 pm

IIWM, I would look elsewhere for oak plywood. I do not like the grain pattern on that piece!

dlbristol · Post by **dlbristol** » Thu Sep 19, 2013 11:18 pm

charlese wrote:You can also look at Home Depot. HD wood is not planed as well and is not sized as well as boards from Lowe's. HD wood is also cheaper per Bd Ft. Lowe's boards are finished 4 sides and milled to exactly 3/4".

I think the wood you found at Lowe's is all heartwood from a red oak source.

You need to be careful if you buy Home Depot boards, but you'll be O.K. if you can take the time to plane those boards down to 3/4". They will measure roughly 13/16" or slightly larger.

On the other hand it is not a bad thing to have boards (frames) darker than panels. It will depend a lot on the color you want.

I made some bed side stands for my wife and used red oak from a local hardwood supplier and oak ply from the same place. There was considerable difference in the unfinished color. After I stained the pieces, I was surprised to find that the color ( minwax golden oak) seemed to minimize the differences and 2: The solid frames and ply panels were not in the same plane and the color differences were not really visable in the room light. AS Charlese stated, the difference can be a nice contrast. I found the solid edging I put on the ply tops made a very nice contrast and my wife actually liked them. Another unexpected thing was that the contrast seemed to help conceal a few " minor' issues I had with the edge of the plywood. The drawer front on the first one was a salvaged piece of red oak from another project that took stain very differently than the rest of the wood. It also had a nice effect with the grain running perpendicular to the frame. She like that as well, so I did the others with the same wood. I draws your eye to the front center and away from the other frame. All three drawer fronts are lighter that the frames.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Sep 20, 2013 1:08 pm

JPG40504 wrote:IIWM, I would look elsewhere for oak plywood. I do not like the grain pattern on that piece!

The piece of ply shown in post #1 is rotary cut plywood. If you want another grain pattern you could try flitch cut (sliced) ply. For a few $ extra you can order quartersawn plywood.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Sep 20, 2013 3:58 pm

charlese wrote:The piece of ply shown in post #1 is rotary cut plywood. If you want another grain pattern you could try flitch cut (sliced) ply. For a few $ extra you can order quartersawn plywood.

I call that the 'peeled' look!:D;)