Hey everyone! I'm gearing up to build a French cleat wall but I'm not planning on hanging anything too hefty—just a small cabinet for organizing sandpaper and router bits. My question is, is standard spruce plywood sturdy enough for this, or should I shell out an extra $25 for this Aspen plywood? I've heard it's a type of hardwood, but I'm not sure if that really makes it a better choice. Any advice?
3 Answers
The key factor here is the core of the plywood. Even though the outer layer might look nice, it’s the core that gives strength. I’d suggest checking the thickness and quality of the core. Regular spruce probably has a solid pine core, while Aspen could have something similar. Either way, both should serve your purpose well for lighter items.
Honestly, go for the thickest plywood without compromising on quality. When I built mine, I ripped the sheet into cleats using a circular saw set to 45 degrees. It worked great and made the process super simple. Just keep enough leftover for future projects—those extra pieces can be really handy!
Aspen does technically count as hardwood, but it's not as strong as some softwoods. If you're not hanging anything heavy, I think basic spruce plywood should work just fine for your cleats!