Wood Panels a Good Option?

[The-V8-Power]

Hey all,
Just after a bit of assistance.
Has any one used those Wood Panels that the hardware stores such as Bunnings and Mitre 10 sell? In particular the Porta Pine ones?
Yes, I know that normal pine is suspectible to shrinkage and twisting but these were panels that had several smaller pieces finger jointed together.
Just wondering if these were worth the money since they are the right size for the project that I am going to make.

Cheers all :)

[wyldnyt]

what are you going to be using them for, bit more info would be good?

[The-V8-Power]

Oh yeah sorry about that.
Its going to be an Entertainment/Storage Unit type of thing.
Biggest piece is 1500mm long so thats the main reason behind the board/panels idea.

Early SketchUp Image:
http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq186/Predator_07/EntertainmentunitFinal2.png

[Nidz]

If you bought all the materials to make that from Bunnings or one of those hardware stores, you might as well buy one ready-made from a Pine store for around the same price.. Get one un-stained and paint it or stain it yourself.

[wikky]

If you bought all the materials to make that from Bunnings or one of those hardware stores, you might as well buy one ready-made from a Pine store for around the same price.. Get one un-stained and paint it or stain it yourself.

There's no fun in that though Nidz. Making it yourself (if you can, or think you can for that matter) is what it's all about. :yup:

[theVman]

Fair bit of work in that. I would be tempted to use some quality timber like Tasmanian Oak to make it out of given the work involved or as others said you may as well buy one already made if using basic pine.

Looks good tho - the beauty of sketch up. From a design refinement point of view though I hope you dont mind if I suggest the buttom support legs are increased in size to match the top or visa versa.

[The-V8-Power]

If you bought all the materials to make that from Bunnings or one of those hardware stores, you might as well buy one ready-made from a Pine store for around the same price.. Get one un-stained and paint it or stain it yourself.

That option is not do-able since I have to make it for one of my VCE Subjects. The thing is it would probably be cheaper to buy one premade considering how big the one I plan to make is. Thanks but :)


There's no fun in that though Nidz. Making it yourself (if you can, or think you can for that matter) is what it's all about. :yup:

Yeah true that's another good point if you finish it, you have some form of accomplishment. Only have about two months to make it so it should be touch and go.


Fair bit of work in that. I would be tempted to use some quality timber like Tasmanian Oak to make it out of given the work involved or as others said you may as well buy one already made if using basic pine.

Looks good tho - the beauty of sketch up. From a design refinement point of view though I hope you dont mind if I suggest the buttom support legs are increased in size to match the top or visa versa.

I was looking at that timber actually even wrote it down as my preferred option for my folio. But I just have to weigh up the costs and see how much it would cost for each one. Since the Pine Boards are about $60 for 1800*450*19 and they are laminated so I guess it has some strength but I guess TasOak put together with biscuits would be too just a lot heavier.

Yeah, true thanks for that tip. It does look slightly out of balance now that you mention it but should be fixed when the product is complete. Likely to be a real dark cherry red or brown still deciding.

Thanks everyone :)

[mjrandom]

I built my own coffe tables, entertainment unit, stereo rack thing and video/DVD/CD cases (think bookcase only different) out of jarrah and stained tassie oak (because I couldn't get jarrah for a decent price back here in Q). Just bear in mind if you use pine it will be obviously pine grain no matter what colour you stain whereas tassie oak can be substituted for other timbers and it makes a very passable jarrah with the right stain and treatment.

[Timson]

Considering you are doing it for a VCE project I am assuming that proof of concept, design elements etc. will be more important than the actual material used. In your brief just remind them that you used pine strictly from a financial point of veiw. The laminated pineboard will be fine to use, it can be more stable than finger jointed boards as there is minimal moisture in the core. You will need to finish the edge with a trim or you will see the craftwood core. Just don't get the boards with a chipbaord core. Finger jointed pine board can warp as the board dries out (it can shrink as well). Your initial design looks good, just consider leaving room around the electronic equipment, especially the amplifier, when stuff like that goes into a cabinet the heat dissipation is compromised. You can find guides for minium gap requirements on the net. It's a good idea to keep all of the equipment central in the cabinet as you have done, my cabinet is 2.5 meters long and the amp and ps3 are at opposite ends. Spent $300 on a HDMI cable to join the two, if the stereo gear were together I wouldn't have needed a longer cable.

Hope this helps,
Tim.

[The-V8-Power]

I built my own coffe tables, entertainment unit, stereo rack thing and video/DVD/CD cases (think bookcase only different) out of jarrah and stained tassie oak (because I couldn't get jarrah for a decent price back here in Q). Just bear in mind if you use pine it will be obviously pine grain no matter what colour you stain whereas tassie oak can be substituted for other timbers and it makes a very passable jarrah with the right stain and treatment.

Sorry for the late delay in replying. For the doors I am considering a pattern of some sort with the left over pine and some Jarrah/Tas Oak. Still undecided but I am leaving them too last to avoid making them too small.


Considering you are doing it for a VCE project I am assuming that proof of concept, design elements etc. will be more important than the actual material used. In your brief just remind them that you used pine strictly from a financial point of veiw. The laminated pineboard will be fine to use, it can be more stable than finger jointed boards as there is minimal moisture in the core. You will need to finish the edge with a trim or you will see the craftwood core. Just don't get the boards with a chipbaord core. Finger jointed pine board can warp as the board dries out (it can shrink as well). Your initial design looks good, just consider leaving room around the electronic equipment, especially the amplifier, when stuff like that goes into a cabinet the heat dissipation is compromised. You can find guides for minium gap requirements on the net. It's a good idea to keep all of the equipment central in the cabinet as you have done, my cabinet is 2.5 meters long and the amp and ps3 are at opposite ends. Spent $300 on a HDMI cable to join the two, if the stereo gear were together I wouldn't have needed a longer cable.

Hope this helps,
Tim.

This post was a big help thanks :) I did as you said and put it from a financial view as the savings were about $200 and saved a lot of time as well. I have also looked into the minimum gap requirements and put this as part of my marketing and also likely as part of my folio.

I did in the end up getting the panels and must say they are easy to work with and accept stain really well. Still a while off from finishing this thing but :(