I’d like to build a few cabinets using some 1/2” and 3/4” plywood and have them be a painted finish. Garage use so I want them sturdy but not left bare.

The one issue I’m trying to decide on is how to finish the edges so they look decent.

I’d prefer to not do actual edge banding but I’m open to suggestions.

it depends if you are doing face frame or frameless? faceframe just miter the corners frameless buy some plywood with 9 or 13 plys fill and sand the edge if you don't want to edgeband.

They will be frameless. Newbie messing around so I’m learning as I go.

What would be a good filler for the edges?

You need to watch more youtube videos of pro-like DIY guys building plywood cabinets for their garage. However, if you buy metal cabinets you may be happier in the long run, they'll stay clean and you won't loose 20% of your volume and shelf space with all the wood framing and sheathing you'll need to build them. I've done it both ways and I'm way more happy with commercial metal cabinets.

I think 3/4 ply is overkill. 1/2 to 5/8 would prob give you better results, and don't use 2x4 for framing, just too bulky and way overbuilt for garage cabinets.

Just my opinion, but there are guys on this forum who know the real answer, and have done some very fine work in this area.

It’s also for learning and practice.

All the metal cabinets I’ve seen are very expensive for what you get.

I've built a lot of cabinets and 3/4 ply is all I ever used, faceframe and frameless. If the cabinets will have doors the doors with overlay hinges will cover at least part of the edge. Iron on edge banding is pretty good stuff and pretty standard for cabinets or you could rip some poplar down and glue/pin nail on solid wood edge banding. I wouldn't play with sizing (glueing) the edges, banding is easier and faster.

Thank you all.

Eventually I want to build a miter saw station and such.

quote:

Originally posted by Riley:
It’s also for learning and practice.

All the metal cabinets I’ve seen are very expensive for what you get.

Yes for sure. The good ones are commercial cabinets and shelving, but you can find deals on used units. I've used both types, homemade and otherwise, and my experience is the used commercial or heavier duty non-commercial grade cabinets and workbenches are superior, and give you better, cleaner, and larger storage space. By a mile. Nothing wrong with DIY though, and it's a LOT of fun learning as you go, along with the self satisfaction of creating it. If you build it yourself, you could use it until your needs exceed what you built, and then you can replace it with better DIY skills, or go the commercial unit route. Like anything nice, cry once buy once, easier said than done. Consider as well if you build your own, if you don't already have the saws and tooling to build it, that stuff could get really expensive depending on how much your willing to compromise in the build. And, materials will cost more than you anticipated, especially these days, and it will be the little stuff, not the big sheets of plywood and other lumber. That will be a small part of the expense depending on how fancy you go with your design and build. Either option is serious fun and satisfaction, so you can't lose either wayl

If you'll be building base cabinets consider making pullout drawers for them. Way better than reaching behind things on shelves.

Because I really dislike banding, I rip maple boards to 1/8" thickness and then glue / pin nail them to the cabinet carcass edges. Then the next day I fill the nail holes and do a quick sanding. The 1/8" thickness provides a really rugged edge and because it's maple, it very rarely splits when you nail it on.

Hope this alternative helps.

quote:

Originally posted by mark60:
If you'll be building base cabinets consider making pullout drawers for them. Way better than reaching behind things on shelves.

That is the plan. Then I can get the experience and use the expectedly rougher product where it’s not so important visually.

I like the maple and poplar edge trim idea.