Which Wood Is the Cheapest to Use for Cabinet Making?

Softwood

• Softwood is a common type of wood that is easy to work with in terms of cutting. Softwood comes in various finished treatments, such as sawn treated, sawn and planed for different looks and textures. Softwood is one of the cheaper types of woods that would be acceptable for cabinet making. A softwood maple 4-by-4-inch piece may range between $3.50 and $7.50, depending on the location where you purchase your wood and the final cut of length and width.

Hardwood

• Hardwood is more expensive than softwood, but it also provides a clean finish and higher level quality. Hardwood is often used on flooring and more expensive outdoor woodworking, where quality and appearance are often top priority. Kitchen and garage cabinets may be made from hardwood, but prices may range between $6.50 and $12.50 depending on the cut and overall size of the hardwood. If the hardwood is finished or colored, additional fees may be added on top of the original costs.

Plywood

• Although plywood is frequently cheap wood, you want high quality plywood for your cabinets. Plywood is known for its strength and durability, but it is also very difficult to work with and does not hold paint very well. Plywood comes in various grades, so choose the highest grade, which is A. A cherry plywood sheet measuring 4 feet by 8 feet may run upwards of $99.95 for the best quality. Although expensive, it is strong enough to hold strong equipment and machinery in garage cabinets.

Wood to Avoid

• When you are looking for wood, avoid the obvious cheaper wood types as they do not provide enough strength to store your heavier items. In addition, some of them do not do well when cut or when nails are used. For example, avoid using chipboard as it may crack and crumble for cabinet making. This type of wood is frequently used as an under-layer for flooring. In addition, avoid using conti boards, although they have a nice finish. They are not durable enough for cabinet making, as they require additional support to hold items.