Which Plywood Is Best for Dining Tables
To this day, plywood remains a go-to for home furniture, including dining tables. It’s the best option for building this piece of furniture because it’s durable, cheap, and readily available. Given the wide variety of plywood on the market today, you may be stumped as to which kind to utilise for your dining room table’s construction.
MR-grade plywood is the best choice for dining tables. In addition to its exceptional durability and low price, this plywood also offers the added benefit of being resistant to moisture. These qualities make it an excellent material from which to construct your dining table.
There are other materials besides MR-grade plywood that can be used to construct a sturdy table. Plywood of many sorts and qualities can be used for this endeavour, each with its own advantages. This post will explain the benefits of utilising MR-grade plywood for your dining table project and compare it to the alternatives.
Describe MR-Grade Plywood.
Commercial plywood, often known as MR plywood due to its resistance to moisture, is the type of plywood most commonly used to construct indoor furniture.
Plies are bonded with urea-formaldehyde resin to create MR-grade plywood. The high resin content gives this plywood exceptional durability and resistance against dampness.
With its resistance to moisture, MR-grade plywood is a great choice for your dining room table, which may come into contact with drinks and other liquids. Nevertheless, water resistance is not the same as waterproof.
Though, you should still take precautions to avoid water damage to your table.
Multiple layers of veneer are used to construct MR-grade plywood. Typically, there are four to twelve plies of wood in each layer. Plywood is measured in thickness increments of 1/4 inch (0.63 cm), 3/8 inch (0.95 cm), 1/2 inch (1.27 cm), and 3/4 inch (1.89 cm), and each increment determines the number of plies (1.90 cm).
The amount of plies in each layer contributes to the plywood’s overall strength. A three-ply plywood is not as sturdy as a four-ply plywood. It does, however, come at a higher price.
Extremely lightweight at less than 10 lbs (4.53 kg) per square foot, MR-grade plywood has an extremely smooth surface finish on both sides.
Having it this way simplifies the process of building a dinner table.
In addition to its resistance to moisture, the durability and stability of this plywood are what truly set it apart from the competition.
Unlike cheaper plywoods, MR-grade plywood is made with urea-formaldehyde resin, which ensures that the plies in each layer are strongly adhered to one another and less prone to separate or distort over time.
Plywood Alternatives for Your Dinner Table
It has been brought out that besides MR-grade plywood, there are many more options for your dining table. Unfortunately, you can also expect to pay more for them.
Let’s investigate many of these possibilities in greater depth.
Boiling Water Resistant (BWR) Grade Plywood
Waterproof BWR-grade plywood provides superior water resistance to MR-grade plywood.
The phenol-formaldehyde resin used in BWR-grade plywood is more durable than urea-formaldehyde resin. Taking all of things into account, the higher price tag compared to MR-grade plywood is to be expected for this product.
However, BWR-grade plywood provides excellent value for the money spent because it is stronger and less likely to warp than MR-grade plywood.
Boiling Water Proof (BWP) Grade Plywood
We suggest BWP-grade plywood for your dining table if money is no object.
Also, BWP-grade plywood is fireproof and resistant to termites.
BWP-grade plywood is widely employed in boat building and bridge construction, while MR- and BWR-grade plywoods are mostly used as indoor furniture. It is also a popular material for use in the construction of watertight outdoor furniture and flooring.
What Degree of Thickness Is Best?
In the ideal case, a dining table’s top would be constructed of plywood with veneers that were at least 0.50 inches (1.27 cm) thick. It must be durable enough to withstand the elements without being cumbersome to move.
How Thick Should Your Plywood Dining Table Top Be?
You shouldn’t use any plywood thinner than 14 inch for your dinner table (0.63 cm). To use the table outside, this thickness is ideal because it makes it portable and easy to set up and take down.
The standard thickness for plywood used to make dining tables is 12″. (1.27 cm). This thickness provides the necessary sturdiness and longevity without adding unnecessary weight or bulk to the table.
We recommend utilising 34″ (1.90 cm) plywood for your dining table if you want it to last as long as possible. This thickness makes it more cumbersome to work with, but the benefits are well worth the trouble.
Hardwood vs. Softwood Plywood for Your Dining Table
The quality of your dining table’s longevity and steadiness will be determined by the wood from which it was crafted. This is because hardwoods cannot bend as easily as softwoods.
As their names imply, softwoods like pine, fir, and spruce are more malleable than hardwoods like oak and maple. As an alternative to plywood, hardwood is recommended if you want a sturdy dining table that won’t move when you lean on it to serve.
You can use softwood for your table if you don’t mind it being a bit more pliable. As opposed to dining tables, which get a lot of use and are often leaned on, these softer woods could be fine for use as end tables.
Plywood Comes in a Variety of Grades
Plywood, too, has its own classification system, with grades A through C. Let’s take a closer look at them.
Grade A Plywood
Only use Grade A plywood, the best there is. Plywood belonging to this category is the only one not plagued by voids and other flaws. It’s easier to finish than other sorts because it’s been sanded smoother. It is the priciest plywood available, as you might expect.
Grade B Plywood Grade
Grade B plywood is not as high-quality as Grade A plywood, but it doesn’t mean it’s bad. As long as the finish isn’t crucial, such as when painting or using it as a table base, it can be sanded smooth and serve various purposes.
Grade C Plywood
Plasterboard of grade C is the lowest quality available. Grade C lumber typically has more flaws than Grade B lumber and may need to be filled before use or painted after assembly. It can deform if exposed to the elements because moisture will get trapped between the layers.
Avoid this type if money is no object.
Final Thoughts
Plywood, as you can see, is available in a wide range of varieties, each of which serves a specific purpose.
We choose MR-grade plywood for dining tables since it is the strongest and most stable type of plywood available. It is more durable than softer grades, resistant to moisture, and doesn’t necessitate any additional effort when being handled. It can also be sanded and painted or stained without any problems.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any further questions about using plywood for dining tables or any other use. Feel free to contact us to continue the conversation.
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