I'm building a cabinet that will be stained and have glass doors so I need shelves that look good. Since using solid oak planks for the shelves is beyond my budget, I'm looking for ideas on how to make shelves with oak veneer plywood (that will be the material for the carcass anyway). Specifically, how to handle front edges that will be exposed (obviously the sides and backs don't matter).

That thin veneer stuff is out since I've never seen it stick to plywood edges well and it looks tacky anyway. I'm thinking of using oak strips but I don't have a biscuit slot cutter so I don't know of a good way to attach them. How do these jigs, I've seen, for round dowels work and are they good enough for this type application? I don't want to have to worry about the edges falling off when something is dragged out. What is the best way to cut the strips (and how thick) so I won't have to spend 2 days sanding the joints to blend them?

Any other suggestions for exposed shelves? Thanks.