How to choose plywood?
The material, extremely easy to work with, seems to encourage creativity and experimentation. Despite its strength, plywood is easy to cut and design. The sheet can be given any desired shape: it bends and will not break.
Plywood is a number of veneer sheets glued together. As a rule, birch or coniferous trees are used, and the inside leaf can be made of coniferous wood, and the outside can be birch. More expensive and high-quality plywood is made from hardwood.
When choosing plywood, pay attention to the following parameters:
- The brand is responsible for the scope of application and moisture resistance. Sheets of the FK, FOF and FKM brands are suitable for furniture. The second option, laminated plywood, is the best, but costs more than the others.
- The grade characterizes the appearance of the surface. Measured from IV to I, E is the highest grade. Each side has its own designation.
- Surface treatment. As in the previous case, it is determined for the parties separately. The designation Ш1 means the presence of grinding on one side, Ш2 – on both sides. ШН – surfaces were not polished.
- The formaldehyde content is designated by the letter E with an index from 1 to 3 and characterizes the degree of environmental friendliness.
You also need to pay attention to the quality of gluing of veneer sheets, the quality and type of wood, and the appearance of the sheet. Plywood has an interesting texture and pattern that does not need to be covered with an additional layer of paint. Preference should be given to manufacturers from Russia.
Children's furniture: safe material
Of course, the first environmentally friendly solution that comes to mind is solid wood . But not everyone can afford this option, and even if budget options exist, the variety of design solutions is limited by price and not the best raw materials. Most often, children's furniture made of solid wood is pine . This is not an expensive type of wood, but due to the fact that it is soft, its appearance is quickly lost.
MDF is definitely better than chipboard, because formaldehyde resins are not used in the manufacture of the board itself.
However, the price of such items, even for interior design intended for a child, is comparable to expensive wooden ones. But MDF has a medium density, and this quality takes away from its versatility. It is impossible to create some elements from MDF, for example, a bunk bed or a two-story play complex.
There are interior items made of glass and metal, but this is dangerous when it comes to active games.
What else does the furniture market offer us?
Tools
What tools can a novice carpenter not do without? Plywood does not require complex special equipment. Everyone has most of the necessary tools.
A ruler, compass, tape measure and square are needed to take measurements and draw a drawing.
The choice of cutting tool depends on the thickness of the sheet used. A sheet up to 1.5 mm thick needs a sharp knife, up to 6 mm a jigsaw is needed, and for the thickest sheets a circular saw is required. You will need a drill to drill the holes.
A chisel, plane, chisel, file and sandpaper are useful for processing parts. The parts are connected using glue, nails and screws. Stock up on tools to work with them.
The choice of accessories depends on what exactly you are going to do. Don’t skimp: high-quality fittings will last longer and won’t let you down at the most inopportune moment.
Children's furniture, material - plywood: environmentally friendly and durable
We know, it doesn’t sound entirely convincing. Therefore, we will try to sort everything out in detail! So, what are the advantages of plywood sheet?
Plywood is a material made by gluing together thin sheets of birch veneer. That is, essentially it is a layer cake. Only when gluing are all layers placed on top of each other perpendicular to the grain of the wood. Thanks to this technology, plywood is incredibly strong, rigid and perfectly absorbs sudden loads. By the way, in Europe plywood is valued much more than in Russia. After all, this is a material that is unique in its qualities! Moreover, the product does not dry out, is not deformed and lasts quite a long time. The material lends itself perfectly to shape cutting, which means it allows you to turn the most daring ideas into reality, unlike other materials.
But there is glue in plywood! Is it safe? Glue glues discord. It all depends on the integrity of the manufacturer. Of course, the adhesive composition is synthetic, but it can be more or less dangerous, its concentration can also be different.
Stages of work
Making furniture from plywood with your own hands begins with drawing a drawing. You can use ready-made drawings or draw your own. Take measurements of the room, calculate the dimensions of each part. Be extremely careful not to discover the error when it is too late.
Transfer the parts to the prepared sheets. Cut out the blanks with a suitable tool. The parts are sanded, varnished or painted, and carved. If the plywood has an interesting pattern, why not leave it? Show your imagination and don’t be afraid to experiment.
The parts are connected using nails, screws or glue. Pay special attention to the parts that bear the main load.
After the glue has completely dried, check the resulting structure for strength. If the test passes, congratulations: job done!
The use of plywood in furniture making
For shelves and wall niches, plywood is used along with gypsum plasterboard and other sheet materials. Plywood in the shelves combines luxuriously with linen and jute ropes, rope hangers, and even hardware can be turned into an additional decorative highlight.
Kitchen cabinets made of plywood are familiar - this is an element of country life familiar to many. But a built-in wardrobe made of plywood, complemented by cladding of the ceiling, walls and a podium for the dining table, is already creative. The sensations from plywood compositions are softness of light and color, naturalness and freshness. Plywood tiles are also in fashion; they are used as a laminate for floor coverings, stair steps, and furniture surfaces. An original cladding technique: plywood parts are placed alternating vertical and horizontal patterns.
The plywood firewood box can be made exactly to the required size. Country tools and their storage, elements of gazebos and porches, repairs of all kinds are also difficult to imagine without plywood. The ease of marking and cutting perfectly straight plywood sheets allows for even less refined work such as cladding and carved decorations for gazebos: the precision of fitting of parts and the experience of the craftsman ensure high-class designer furniture.
Interesting models are made of plywood with ropes and clotheslines. Another interesting type of furniture - made from ropes - deserves special consideration. Poufs, sofas, tables and all kinds of shelves made of wood and rope are products of real craftsmen.
Ideas
Plywood is suitable for making almost any home furniture: cabinets, tables and chairs, sofas and beds.
When assembling kitchen furniture, use moisture-resistant and wear-resistant types of material. Don't forget about the ventilation system and other communications: they should be easily accessible, but when they are not in use, it is better to hide them from view. Pay special attention to wall and corner cabinets, as they require precise calculations and care during assembly.
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Plywood is ideal for creating children's furniture. The environmentally friendly material is safe, and thanks to its wear resistance, it will “endure” the games of the most active and restless child.
For the cabinet, select plywood of sufficient height and length, since you need to use a single sheet. Thickness also plays an important role: the larger it is, the stronger the structure will be. When calculating the parameters of the side walls, take into account the thickness of the doors. The bottom of the bed must be at least 18 mm thick. Timber should be used for the body frame.
Plywood makes a practical and inexpensive set for a summer house.
Despite the ease of working with the material, a beginner should not immediately take on a complex project that requires experience. Start with something simple: a table, a chair. The classic first work is considered to be a rocking chair.
