Cabinet Building Material

[Gunman9]

Hi all,

Iv had my CTC for a year and decided recently to remodel because it wasn't working for me. I repainted the interior, all new molding and right now I'm building the cabinets with counter top. It will hold my microwave, Window AC, and storage. I am building the framing out of 2x4 ripped in half.

My question is what material is best for the counter tops and what material is good for facing the cabinet?

Also so I don't have to do another thread. Is there a pre made window AC enclosure that I can vent through the floor?

[EZDog]

I don't think there is really any right material of choice for anything in these trailers that will be a consensus vote among us?

I know what I like to use but we each interpret our needs and the performance of materials in our own way based on our own experiences in the end.

I like 1x clear pine for framing and then use 1/4" or thicker void free Baltic Birch Plywood to skin most cabinets. This is a really lightweight but crazy strong and easy to finish premium sheet material and it can be tough to find sometimes but I have never been let down with the results when using it.
I make doors out of the same but thicker usually.

I also like the look of the exposed end grain pattern of the higher ply count panels when the edge is rounded and a poly finish is applied,not everyone likes this but it is my choice.

For counters there is also no one answer,it depends on the look and design you are after.

That is why this forum is so useful to me I am able to picture so much variety in choices we each make and see for myself what I might like to try before trying it!

[McDave]

I have always liked the look of beaded board, painted or stained. I also like the idea of repurposing materials that were maybe salvaged. Not every piece has to match, but they all tell a story. I'm thinking that this may be an opportunity to use some of the stuff I've been hoarding for decades. You really don't need a lot of any material so maybe a mix and match from the stash pile.
McDave

P.S. Think about repurposing an old piece of furniture? Maybe a dresser or hutch or Hoosier. You could end up with something totally unique without having to start from scratch, and you can utilize that piece that has been in your way for years.

[Gunman9]

Thanks for the input so far. I'm more or less concerned with the type of material for the counter top. The last one I used was pine ready to Stain from lowes and it ended up cracking where the sink was. I get the whole repurposing thing but I want it to look nice and finished and not like someone just unloaded their storage unit in it. Lol. If anyone has any pictures of their cabinets finished that would help a lot! And the material used. Like type of wood board and all that.

[McDave]

"One man's trash is another man's (made in China from genuine plastic) treasure". But seriously, I have a remnant piece of "solid surface" (like Corian) in a blue shade of granite. I don't know what length you need, but you may be able to find a nice piece like that at a cabinet shop. Also, there is the clear epoxy type stuff you see on bar tops that you can lay on pretty thick to just about any surface that should be durable. Or maybe the 1.5"x 1.5" tile (mosaic) sheets? Just throwing ideas out there. I've also seen tongue and grooved oak flooring used for table tops. Looked nice.
Maybe you could have your logo or some kind of artwork woodburned or inlayed into a piece of wood? Sky's the limit.
Good Luck
McDave

[McDave]

Hey Gunman,
I just went back and looked at your build, I really like what you got going there. Are you still doing the BBQ competitions?
That flooring is great, and I really enjoy the rustic wood trim and the signs. What look are you going for now?
McDave

[EZDog]

Thanks for the input so far. I'm more or less concerned with the type of material for the counter top. The last one I used was pine ready to Stain from lowes and it ended up cracking where the sink was. I get the whole repurposing thing but I want it to look nice and finished and not like someone just unloaded their storage unit in it. Lol. If anyone has any pictures of their cabinets finished that would help a lot! And the material used. Like type of wood board and all that.

Since it looks like you are using a standard cabinet why not just use actual countertop?
You can just walk into Lowes and walk right out with one.

[Gunman9]

Hey Gunman,
I just went back and looked at your build, I really like what you got going there. Are you still doing the BBQ competitions?
That flooring is great, and I really enjoy the rustic wood trim and the signs. What look are you going for now?
McDave

I took all that down. Building custom cabinet now, having a custom folding twin xl bed made. Back of the camper will be a pop up shower that will double as a small bed when not in use. I will post a picture of the build soon. I got ride of the white cabinet I was using. Didn't work for what I wanted to do. My window AC unit will store on the bottom of the shelf and the microwave about that, then the countertop. The left side of the cabinet will be all storage. The bottom will hold the cables and breaker box and above that will be storage for food and all that good stuff.