michael_bgood t1_j5cols7 wrote on January 22, 2023 at 1:07 AM

The issues isn't with the veneer, it's the substrate (wood underneath) and connections.

Good plywood is as strong or dimensionally more stable than some solid woods. The better furniture will be made from good plywood

Avoid particle board - any cheap furniture is made from this and will sag or break.

Plywood: https://www.thehandymansdaughter.com/types-of-plywood/

Any woodworkers in the group care to add to this?

EDIT: Good plywood is also more sustainable/ eco-friendly than solid wood. No need to kill more trees than you need to, right?

complywood t1_j5cyse0 wrote on January 22, 2023 at 2:22 AM

Trees are a renewable resource! It's not about how many you kill, it's about how sustainably they're grown/harvested.

Plywood uses less wood, but sticking the layers together involves glue and high heat. Also, in the US, it is almost exclusively manufactured in California, so if you're on the east coast, you have to add in shipping.

Overall locally sourced, sustainably grown solid wood is the most eco-friendly. Unfortunately it can be hard to find out this information.

MayorDaley t1_j5crtww wrote on January 22, 2023 at 1:31 AM

With lumber, you can have stronger joints, like mortice and tenon. Plywood joints are really limited to rabbets and you need more pieces to stabilize the corners. It is difficult to find new plywood with a thick outer veneer, so a deep gouge will go right to the inner core layers. A gouge in lumber looks less obvious, unless the wood is stained a strong color. Lumber will give you the option for a nicer looking bed frame and if well built will outlast a plywood bed frame.

nightmareorreality t1_j5dpkt7 wrote on January 22, 2023 at 6:16 AM

Most joints on substrate/veneer beds will be secured using dowels and metal brackets.

nightmareorreality t1_j5dpi53 wrote on January 22, 2023 at 6:15 AM

Emphasis on re enforcing the connections. If a delivery team assembles your bed, go in after them and make sure all the hardware is present and tight. I repair retail furniture professionally and I can’t count how many bedframes are absolutely trashed from lackluster assembly. Support legs in the slats should be tight and straight up and down, all hardware should be torqued on those corner brackets. The headboard should have a little play at the top because of the weight but none at the bottom.