Plywood is a fantastic building material when you need to keep costs reasonable and still want a quality final product. While many people are only familiar with plywood when it comes to its use as sheathing or subfloor, you can also use plywood as a finished surface provided you take the necessary steps to make it look good.
The issue with plywood is that on its own it’s not the best-looking surface for a finished project. It tends to be rough-looking and particularly lower-grade plywood will feature surface knots and imperfections that make it a poor choice for a finished surface.
I’ll break down how to make plywood look good, so you’ll be able to achieve a nice-looking finish for whatever plywood project you’re working on.
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Plywood Grades
The first thing to consider when it comes to making plywood look good is that you’ll need to choose the right grade for the job. If you’re working on a project where the plywood will be an exposed surface – like cabinets or a table – then you’ll want to go with A-grade for softwood and either A-grade or B-grade for hardwood.
A-grade plywood indicates a smooth surface veneer with no imperfections or obvious flaws. No large knots will be present or damage to the veneer surface.
While this plywood does cost more than the cheaper construction-grade stuff, this is what you want to use for any project where the surface will be exposed. It can be painted easily, and the surface is already smooth enough that it won’t require heavy sanding.
Sanding
If you start with an A high-grade sheet of plywood, then it comes pre-sanded and you won’t need to sand prior to applying stain or varnish. On the other hand, if you’re working with B-grade or lower, you’ll need to sand the surface to really smooth it out.
Smoothing out the surface is key if you’re going to apply any sort of stain or varnish, as it will make the finished surface appear far more professional looking.
Since plywood veneer is much thinner than other surfaces, you’ll need to take care not to over-sand it and remove too much material. Start with 120-grit to 180-grit sandpaper and manually work over the surface with strokes against the grain. I’d avoid using a powered sander, as it’s too easy to remove too much material.
If it still feels too rough after the first pass, go over the surface a second time with finer-grit sandpaper.
After sanding, make sure to clean up any small particles and dust left over with a vacuum cleaner.
Wood Grain Filler
Wood grain filler is how professional furniture makers achieve the mirror-like finishes you typically find on fine furniture. Sanding, stain, and varnish alone aren’t enough to create this perfectly smooth, flat surface, which is where wood grain filler steps in.
This product is designed to fill in the small holes and pores in the wood surface. It’s not the same thing as wood filler/wood putty, which is a much thicker product designed to fill large cracks and damage to furniture.
You don’t need to use a wood grain filler on every project involving plywood, but if you want that professional-looking finish, then I’d recommend it.
Be careful when selecting the color of wood grain filler that you choose, as this can have a major impact on the final appearance of your project.
Apply the wood grain filler as per the manufacturer’s instructions, allow it to dry fully, and then sand down the surface to smooth it out.
Stain
Wood stain is another good option for making plywood look better. Wood stain is a special coating applied to the surface that will change the color and add character to the plywood.
Before applying stain, you’ll need to sand down the surface to prepare it (assuming you’re not using pre-sanded plywood). Hand sand it with 180 or so grit sandpaper, or if you’re using a power sander, sand at the lowest setting while being careful not to overdo it.
If you’re not sure what the plywood will look like with the stain applied, then one trick you can use is to apply it to the back of the plywood piece and let it dry. If you like the appearance, then you’re in luck – otherwise, no harm done, simply choose a different color wood stain.
Apply your stain with a rag and allow it to soak deeply into the plywood surface. You may need to apply subsequent coats in order to achieve the durable-looking finish you’re after.
Keep in mind that wood stain isn’t going to give you any protection from the elements or water resistance, so it’s best used in indoor applications where this isn’t an issue.
Paint the Plywood
Painting plywood is going to cover up its grain, so it’s not the way to go if you want to preserve the natural wood grain. Alternatively, the paint will provide a protective layer to the surface, plus it’s easy to apply and you don’t need to deal with wood grain filler and the like.
Start with 120 medium-grit sandpaper, and work your way up to 200-grit to create a really smooth finish.
Next up, vacuum and wipe down the surface to remove any fine wood dust.
Before painting, you should consider applying a layer of primer first. Primer works sort of like glue and will help the paint adhere to the surface better, which will create a longer-lasting paint job in the long run.
Depending on the type of paint you’re working with as well as its color, it may be necessary to apply up to 3 coats to get a solid finish with no wood grain poking through. In most cases, two coats will be more than enough, but certain light-colored paints may require a third coat.
Texturing the Plywood
Another option for making plywood look good is texturing the plywood. This will transform normal-looking plywood into something closer to distressed barn wood.
Barn wood is in high demand, and as a result, is increasingly costly and difficult to find. With this method, you’ll be able to transform any old pine plywood into something that highly resembles it.
The first step in this method is to go over the entire surface with a drill and wire brush attachment. Abrade the surface it the direction of the wood grain.
This will scuff up the wood surface, creating a weathered look similar to barn wood.
After using the wire brush attachment, switch over to some 180-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface and remove any wood chips.
Next, apply wood stain using a paintbrush and following the grain. Make sure not to overdo it with the stain, as this can hide the work you just did.
After the stain has dried completely, you’ll need to apply a whitewash over the stained surface. Right after applying the whitewash, completely wipe it clean with a lint-free rag to remove it.
The whitewash is designed to provide an antique effect of a previous coat of paint that has worn off.
Lastly, apply a polyurethane sealer over the surface to seal the surface.
Polyurethane Coat
This is one of the most common coatings for plywood projects, especially for hardwood plywood furniture. Polyurethane is easy to work with and will result in an excellent, weather-resistant, finish.
After the polyurethane coating is applied, applying a coat of wax over the surface is a good way to protect it from long-term damage. Wax will provide a high gloss shine, and protect the surface from dust settling on the surface.
Drying Oils
Drying oils like Tung oil, linseed oil, Danish oil, and others are a good choice for finishing plywood. These oils will cure into a durable hard surface that’s somewhat weather resistant.
Drying oils are pretty easy to apply, you simply sand down the surface, wipe it and vacuum it clean, and then wipe down the surface with a rag soaked in your choice of drying oil.
Depending on the particular oil you’re working with, it may take a long period of time for the oil to fully dry and cure. This is particularly true for oils that are 100% pure, rather than oils with varnish mixed in.
Repeated application of drying oils will increase the durability and luster, which will enhance the appearance and functionality of the finished product.
Burn the Plywood!
Ok, so this doesn’t mean you set your plywood on fire, but one way of enhancing the surface appearance is to char the surface using a propane tank and blowtorch extension. This process results in a beautiful raised wood grain look and is perhaps the best way to enhance the look of cheap plywood.
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