What thickness ply should I use for book case backs?

[Michael Dunn]

I just built some shelves and used 1/4" and didn't like it. I was painted so it wasn't a big deal aesthetically. I'm thinking 1/2" would be better. I have a larger book shelf install coming up. These will be stained. The 1/4" didn't have very nice faces. What do you guys recommend for a built in bookcase back?

Actually, I dot even know yet if he wants them built in or free standing. Would that hangs the back design at all. I wouldn't think so.

[Todd Burch]

I just built some shelves and used 1/4" and didn't like it. I was painted so it wasn't a big deal aesthetically. I'm thinking 1/2" would be better. I have a larger book shelf install coming up. These will be stained. The 1/4" didn't have very nice faces. What do you guys recommend for a built in bookcase back?

Actually, I dot even know yet if he wants them built in or free standing. Would that hangs the back design at all. I wouldn't think so.

If you read what you said literally, "I just built some shelves and used 1/4" and didn't like it.", I wouldn't like it either - but you meant you used it for the back.

With that worked out, I would venture to say, most free standing book cases use 1/4" ply for their backs. Why would you like 1/2" better?

Some people don't even put backs on built-in cases.

Besides not liking it because you are staining it, and it doesn't have good faces (sounds like a selection issue), what don't you like about it? 1/4" is perfectly capable of supporting even a free standing bookcase for all intensive purposes.

[Michael Dunn]

If you read what you said literally, "I just built some shelves and used 1/4" and didn't like it.", I wouldn't like it either - but you meant you used it for the back.

With that worked out, I would venture to say, most free standing book cases use 1/4" ply for their backs. Why would you like 1/2" better?

Some people don't even put backs on built-in cases.

Besides not liking it because you are staining it, and it doesn't have good faces (sounds like a selection issue), what don't you like about it? 1/4" is perfectly capable of supporting even a free standing bookcase for all intensive purposes.

Lol!!! Yeah, my prior client wanted smiley shaped shelves. Ha! I used 2"x12"s as face frames. He couldn't access the shelves. LOL!!!

I know 1/4" is quite strong for squaring up and eliminating racking. I used 1/4" pegboard to sure up my assembly table/workbench. I didn't even glue it. I just brad nailed it. It doesn't rack at all now.

The last shelves I made were for a retail type environment with large glass windows in which potential customers (of the retail space, and mine I guess too, right?) could possibly see the ugly back. Like I said, it was painted white and ended up looking just fine. Along the way I feared what the end result would look like.

Now that I may be staining 1/4", IF he wants a back, like you mentioned. If its built in the added support comes from the wall studs. 1/2" would be way overkill I guess, right? If he doesn't wan them built in I guess it doesn't matter if the back side is ugly, since their up against walls.

[Michael Dunn]

In my defense, I did say the back in the subject of the OP...

[Kent A Bathurst]

1/4" is fine, because the object of the back is to square up the case and shelves.

If it is a question of appearance, you can get very nice 1/4", if you go to the right sources. Don't think, though, that I recall 1/4" A1. More likely A2 or A3.

3/4" is available as A1. I have used that for the case work, since both sides will be seen.

If it will be against a wall, you don't care what the back side looks like.

[Everett Fulkerson]

For visible cabinet backs like in built-ins and glass door cabinets, I use 1/4 MDF core. This is the type of material used in flat panel doors so one side is "show" but both sides are A grade veneer with no defects.

Usually any 1/4 hardwood face ply will have one nice side. Its when you get into the standard sheet goods for basic cabinetry that you run into crap veneer.

[Jeff Monson]

The built-ins I just completed are 1/2" backs. I usually use 1/4", but these cases were very large, plus a gloss finish. I wanted a material that didn't appear "wavy" the way 1/4" can appear on a wide span.