I was thinking the same thing. I'm about to build one and was second guessing it because all I see is those klunky 2x stands. People underestimate the strength of plywood.
Yeah and it's only $130 for a piece of plywood or $9 for 2x4s 😅. Not to mention you need decent cabinetry tools to make straight rip cuts compared to a cheap miter saw for 2x4s. Yes different categories for sure. Edit: sorry prices have come down, plywood sheet is now only $90.
@@Dassick89lol I was just thinking this. I have the tools, as I own a wood shop, and if you want professional quality, you’ll be out at least $2000 in tools to build.
Thanks Rob. Thats a good way of putting it. I could have shaved a couple hours off by using the stationary equipment but I wouldn't let it stop me if I didn't have them. So many ways to accomplish a task
This is exactly what I am looking for. Question, how much weight can plywood support? Also, what is bracing the front opening of the cabinet, would the weight of the tank not cause the front to collapse? Thanks for the video!
It must be fine. I noticed my seapora is very similar design but the whole back is that very thin hardboard most furniture use as the back. So really just two legs and a front support bar and it supports 48gal tank
Cool Cabinet mate, that Kreg hinge jig looks great & I like how you’ve opted for a paint finish as it’s a modern look, hope you’re well & keep making 👍👍👍👍
Ive done this method before, only issuse is the straight edge is near impossible to get dead straight and if your cuts are out by the smallest amount everything ends up not being perfectly square. Much easier to get it all cut by a shop on a big panel saw.
Nice work on that aquarium stand. Love all the variety of projects you are doing. You should have more subscribers bro! Keep it going and do a couple of metalworking projects. I haven't watched all your videos but you are doing great.
Thats awesome. There is a pretty large reefing community here in Central Florida too. World wide corals and top shelf aquatics are right down the street. I love the hobby. Probably more expensive than woodworking though!
@@TwistedWorkshop77 I buy alot of my coral from wwc. We are in NE Texas, so my tank is about as close to the ocean I get after 12 years in the navy lol.
@@TwistedWorkshop77 it can be expensive. But I do both. My shop is full of festool and jet tools. My tank is full of sps, and high end equipment. My wife may read these, so theres no need to discuss costs. You understand lol
I like this build. I was expecting the plywood to just be a facade over an internal frame of 2x4s, instead this is exactly like commercial mdf stands, only this is plywood which I think is much stronger than mdf.
man you made it look so easy! ha there is a market out there for this type of vid. can you make a step by step vid for us dummies. I get the whole process but would be nice to have some thing we could fallow along. thanks for posting man!
that was a nice cabinet but i think you should put one more plywood in the middle inside the cabinet since it was double door..so the cabinet would be more stable and secure to hold the weight of the tank
Thanks! The cabinet is still going strong the way it was built. That strip of plywood would make it stronger though. If you were not going to put a sump underneath the tank, it would be a good idea.
Thanks! I never did a structural analysis on the stand but it is in line with how professional stands are built. It has had a full 40g breeder tank on it for the last few years and no problems
Thanks for sharing this build video. I'm currently using this design to build a stand for my 90 gallon aquarium. I've see several comments from peopl concerned about this stands weight capacity. You mentioned in one of your post that you used this design on a 120 gallon. Did shore up the frame any more than is shown in this video? Perhaps a center brace?
Great video! This was very inspiring. I would love to make one myself, but what adjustments would you make if I wanted to build a stand that is 120 cm wide , 50 deep and 100 cm tall (47in x 19in x 39in) to hold a 360L (80g)tank? Or a tank that weighs about 500kg (1102lb)? Can this be done without 2 by 4 if i add plywood to the center? Thanks in advance.
This is an excellent and very clean looking build! I wish i would have seen this video before building a stand for our 65g. Construction was similar with 3/4" plywood and Kreg pocket holes, but I like your method of door installation better. My question, what brand of edging do you use ? Thanks!
Nice video and thanks for sharing it. How do you plan to install the Push-To-Open Latch System I don't see any support to screw in those. Building a similar stand for 72 gallon Aquarium and wanted to check.
I was wondering if I could get your help on making one of these for a tank I'm getting in a few days... I'll really just need the measurements and I'll rewatch your video to do the rest
Yes this would have looked great with a laminate. Unfortunately it was for a friend on a budget and laminates can be costly. If I ever make another one though
Nice one Dave! I really enjoy watching these videos. I am planning to build a built in clothes drawer for my tiny home, and I want to use plywood. This video gave me so e good ideas.
What is the name of the oil resistant and water resistant primer spray paint you used? Im needing to build myself another aquarium. I just found a 1/2" puddle of water in my current plywood stand.
Looks really good but my butt would pucker filling the tank up with water. I don't think pocket hole and plywood is enough to support this. Time will tell but yikes. I would prefer to see a frame built with 2x6's and skinned in plywood.
This was for a 40 gallon tank but I have a 120g on a similar stand. The stands from red sea and waterbox are built with a similar construction(twist locks instead of pocket holes). Stands from ADA also. All that being said, I did pucker when my friend put water in the tank and if I were making this for a tank longer than 4 ft I would have went the 2x4 and 2x6 (or welded up a box steel frame and powder coated it if budget would allow) route for sure!
The cabinet I built for a 65g used only 3/4" birch plywood, glue and pocket holes w/ Kreg jig. No 2x4 or 2x6 frame and it's still extremely sturdy. My first aquarium cabinet I ever built was for a 55g and used a 2x4 frame skinned in 1/2" birch. Even with hand selected 2x4's, it's harder to get a straight and level line versus hardwood plywood cut w/ a good circ saw and track guide. 2x4 framing is overkill for most aquarium stands. The 75g stands at big box pet stores are only made from 1/2" melamine, so 3/4" plywood with the right construction technique should work fine.
@@TwistedWorkshop77 thanks for this reply... I was wondering how those brands can include a stand that doesn't seem to have any additional 2×4 supports but holds up fine... I'm gonna make a similar stand for a 50 gallon tank I'm getting in a few days... Thanks for the video too!!
Thank you! Cabinet stores usually have higher grade better quality plywood. The vaneer if hardwood is usually really thin on liwes plywood and hard to sand smooth or keep from chipping. If I wanted to stain the cabinet instead of painting it, I would have used higher quality plywood
you probably won’t reply to this video anymore but I want to build this and currently 4ftx8ft 3/4 plywood costs like $83 is that normal or is there a cheaper option? Like where should I buy in America
First of all, gorgeous stand and great tutorial. I do have a question though. Structurally speaking, would it be safe to build the stand 1.5” wider on the sides and 3/4” in the front so the bottom 3” of the tank (namely the sand bed) is covered? The tank I’m building for is 24x24x30 75g and I want the sand hidden except for the top view. Would this design be structurally safe if the the tank didn’t sit on the corners or would I need a few additional boards under the top board? Thank you! -Also Dave
Hi, the tank that is displayed in this video looks like a 40 gallon breeder maybe? I have a 40 breeder that I need to build a stand for and would like to know if this stand would hold the weight? Any input is appreciated.
Yes, this was for a 40g breeder. It is still holding the weight with no problem. With a fish tank stand, it is important to brace it or build it so that it does not rack side to side
Thanks for the feedback. Do what you need to feel safe. This worked for me. Still standing. The design is modeled from Red Sea, water box and a couple other brands of aquarium stands that don’t use a brace. This tank is 36 in wide (40g). With all that being said, if you don’t feel comfortable , make it with a brace. I wouldn’t want to be worried about it all the time
If it is built square and flat,, I believe so. The 40g breeder tank it was built for has a plastic rim around the bottom. The tank rests evenly on the top of the sand but I still use a thin piece of neoprene between the tank and stand. If the stand was more modern design (Flat glass bottom), I would have used a thicker foam between the tank and stand to even out pressure. I hope this answers your question
Essentially. Edge banding just comes prepared for use banding edges. Typical veneer usually comes in sheets of some kind in limited length with no adhesive pre-applied while edge banding typically comes in a role like tape so it’s the roughly same width of the edge you’re banding and has a heat/pressure sensitive adhesive pre-applied to it. It’s also on a roll so you have several feet of continuous banding. Think of an 8 foot long countertop that needs banded. Having sections of banding (if using typical veneer) looks bad because you can see the vertical edge of each section. Those visible edges will also show through your finish unless you fill them and by that point it’s just too much unnecessary work. A continuous length (if using edge banding) eliminates all of the faults of using sections of veneer. Of course, if you aren’t doing any edging that’s over 3-4 feet long, you could find some nice pieces of veneers that you could most defiantly use that aren’t all that expensive if you know where to look. You’d just have to apply adhesive yourself. Heck, you could even veneer the entire cabinet if you wanted to spend the money on larger veneer panels. A lot of mid to high-end furniture is made this way. They’ll use a more affordable wood for the frame and structure then skin the entire thing in thin panels of exotic veneer then charge astronomical prices.
Finally. A properly made aquarium stand that isn't made out of 2 x 4s. Thank you!
I was thinking the same thing. I'm about to build one and was second guessing it because all I see is those klunky 2x stands. People underestimate the strength of plywood.
Yeah and it's only $130 for a piece of plywood or $9 for 2x4s 😅. Not to mention you need decent cabinetry tools to make straight rip cuts compared to a cheap miter saw for 2x4s. Yes different categories for sure.
Edit: sorry prices have come down, plywood sheet is now only $90.
@@Dassick89lol I was just thinking this. I have the tools, as I own a wood shop, and if you want professional quality, you’ll be out at least $2000 in tools to build.
Best video I’ve found so far
Thank you!
I wish I'd seen this before I ordered a cabinet! Super well done. 😊
Thanks!
Quality content at its finest. People like you are the backbone of DIY RUclips.
Thanks!
You may have limited your tool selection, but you didn't limit your skill set. Well done, I enjoyed watching your craftsmanship.
Man, you're a good friend
Great project! I love seeing builds done with minimal tools. Also I love how clean you keep your shop! I'm envious!
The foam board cutting table is a great idea! I hate the saw horse-2x4 shuffle.
Loved it Dave. Simple and beautiful. Friend of mine once told me the difference between stationary tools and hand tools is time.
Thanks Rob. Thats a good way of putting it. I could have shaved a couple hours off by using the stationary equipment but I wouldn't let it stop me if I didn't have them. So many ways to accomplish a task
Nice and clean project
This is exactly what I am looking for. Question, how much weight can plywood support? Also, what is bracing the front opening of the cabinet, would the weight of the tank not cause the front to collapse? Thanks for the video!
I would really like to know the same
It must be fine. I noticed my seapora is very similar design but the whole back is that very thin hardboard most furniture use as the back. So really just two legs and a front support bar and it supports 48gal tank
It seems we hangout on the same corners of the internet, Mr. Koh😂
Cool Cabinet mate, that Kreg hinge jig looks great & I like how you’ve opted for a paint finish as it’s a modern look, hope you’re well & keep making 👍👍👍👍
Thanks! It was fun to make and I think my friend was happy with the modern look. Hope your doing well
Best craftsmanship ive seen on this! thank you im doing something very similar
Ive done this method before, only issuse is the straight edge is near impossible to get dead straight and if your cuts are out by the smallest amount everything ends up not being perfectly square. Much easier to get it all cut by a shop on a big panel saw.
Hell of a job
Thanks!
The bonus of plywood is that it doesnt swell like mdf does when exposed to water.
Nice work on that aquarium stand. Love all the variety of projects you are doing. You should have more subscribers bro! Keep it going and do a couple of metalworking projects. I haven't watched all your videos but you are doing great.
Thanks! I haven't filmed a lot lately. The day job took over but I hope to get a few videos in this year
Very nice. Just what I needed to see. I'm going to attempt something similar soon. Thanks for the inspiration
Dude you killed it 🦾
I've built many aquarium stands. We have a huge reef tank community in this area. Myself included...I cant help it. I liked Nemo
Thats awesome. There is a pretty large reefing community here in Central Florida too. World wide corals and top shelf aquatics are right down the street. I love the hobby. Probably more expensive than woodworking though!
@@TwistedWorkshop77 I buy alot of my coral from wwc. We are in NE Texas, so my tank is about as close to the ocean I get after 12 years in the navy lol.
@@TwistedWorkshop77 it can be expensive. But I do both. My shop is full of festool and jet tools. My tank is full of sps, and high end equipment. My wife may read these, so theres no need to discuss costs. You understand lol
I would like a detailed parts list if you have one or a blueprint or something as I would like to build this for a friend
I like this build. I was expecting the plywood to just be a facade over an internal frame of 2x4s, instead this is exactly like commercial mdf stands, only this is plywood which I think is much stronger than mdf.
man you killed this!! this is the video i was looking for. Love the process and even your mistake. Im making this!
Thanks! Good luck with the build!
man you made it look so easy! ha there is a market out there for this type of vid. can you make a step by step vid for us dummies. I get the whole process but would be nice to have some thing we could fallow along.
thanks for posting man!
Pretty cool. Thanks for posting.
Thanks!
Thank you for the awesome tutorial! I am about to start my stand build.
Pretty beautiful work, dude! Well done! 😃
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
that was a nice cabinet but i think you should put one more plywood in the middle inside the cabinet since it was double door..so the cabinet would be more stable and secure to hold the weight of the tank
Thanks! The cabinet is still going strong the way it was built. That strip of plywood would make it stronger though. If you were not going to put a sump underneath the tank, it would be a good idea.
👍👍👍👍👍👍 great ....perfect one ...no words man..its truly awesome .....❤️🎉🎉🎉❤️🙏
I dig your vid man you made it look easy and a professionally finished product
Thanks!
how much material did you use in total? 1 or 2 full sheets of plywood? and id love to see a picture of the back
Turned out real nice Dave!
Thanks Rob
Good see you're back posting projects! Recently re-watched your blanket chest videos to get inspired into some hand tool work 👍
Thanks! The last couple projects have been plywood. I'm glad they are done so I can focus on some hand tool work as well
Great job!
Great video man. QQ: how much aquarium weight can that sustain?
Thanks! I never did a structural analysis on the stand but it is in line with how professional stands are built. It has had a full 40g breeder tank on it for the last few years and no problems
Great job!!!
Very Nice well done!!
Thanks for sharing this build video. I'm currently using this design to build a stand for my 90 gallon aquarium. I've see several comments from peopl concerned about this stands weight capacity. You mentioned in one of your post that you used this design on a 120 gallon. Did shore up the frame any more than is shown in this video? Perhaps a center brace?
hi mate did this work for your tank?
@@ollielloydjones5774 Yes! Check it out:
ruclips.net/video/n7oITDOMeVM/видео.html
Great job 👍
Would this be suitable for a 90g? 48x18 footprint. The one I built is 2x4 framed, looking to rebuild mine with less bulk to the stand.
Dave bout this cabinet at walmart and good editing skills! 2:16 tells the story clearly! Dont be fooled folks
Pocket holes?
Amazing Built. Can you please provide the build print ? So I can also follow it and build it.
Great build video!
Thank you
Thank you
Do you have a Part list ?
Nice. Can I get a link for the hinges?
I didnt catch what size plywood you're using? 1/2"? 3/4"?
Ahh, upon my 3rd or 4th time watching, I noticed you said you were setting up your jig for 3/4"... Got it
Do you have the measurements for this stand?
Great video! This was very inspiring. I would love to make one myself, but what adjustments would you make if I wanted to build a stand that is 120 cm wide , 50 deep and 100 cm tall (47in x 19in x 39in) to hold a 360L (80g)tank? Or a tank that weighs about 500kg (1102lb)? Can this be done without 2 by 4 if i add plywood to the center? Thanks in advance.
Is marine plywood or your used wood is better?
Marine plywood would be a good choice but the texture may be rough
Birch plywood was the cheapest? I wanna go wherever you get wood
This is an excellent and very clean looking build! I wish i would have seen this video before building a stand for our 65g. Construction was similar with 3/4" plywood and Kreg pocket holes, but I like your method of door installation better. My question, what brand of edging do you use ? Thanks!
Thanks! I dont remember the brand but I purchased it from Home depot
How much would u charge me to build one for me
Nice video and thanks for sharing it.
How do you plan to install the Push-To-Open Latch System I don't see any support to screw in those.
Building a similar stand for 72 gallon Aquarium and wanted to check.
Thanks. Glued in wood blocks behind the trim "upper face frame" so the push open latch could be mounted
I was wondering if I could get your help on making one of these for a tank I'm getting in a few days... I'll really just need the measurements and I'll rewatch your video to do the rest
Dave do you build these and sell them? I have a tank that is in need of a stand but can't find one anywhere. Maybe we can work something out?
maybe in future you try to use waterproof glossy laminate and apply to the whole cabinet just like kintons acrylic
Yes this would have looked great with a laminate. Unfortunately it was for a friend on a budget and laminates can be costly. If I ever make another one though
@@TwistedWorkshop77 yes would love to see diy tank cabinets with full glossy laminate
Morning, I want to try and use this same design for a 125g. Do you know the weight capacity of the plywood on edge?
Hi, if i use a 3/4 plywood for cabinet aquarium following your design, would it hold 250kg? Or do i need to support it with 2x4? Thanks!
What thickness is the wood and what do i need to support 40gallon aquarium?
Nice one Dave! I really enjoy watching these videos. I am planning to build a built in clothes drawer for my tiny home, and I want to use plywood. This video gave me so e good ideas.
Awesome! Thanks for checking out the video!
@@TwistedWorkshop77, I always watch your videos. I think I have seen all.
What is the name of the oil resistant and water resistant primer spray paint you used? Im needing to build myself another aquarium. I just found a 1/2" puddle of water in my current plywood stand.
is sanding a requirment ?
Looking Good Dave! Which saw guide are you using? I have the Kreg and unfortunately it is limited to 4 feet and does not accept extensions.
Its a cheap clamp from kobalt. I think Bora makes the same one. It only has a 4 ft capacity also. One day I'll get the festool track saw!
Looks really good but my butt would pucker filling the tank up with water. I don't think pocket hole and plywood is enough to support this. Time will tell but yikes. I would prefer to see a frame built with 2x6's and skinned in plywood.
This was for a 40 gallon tank but I have a 120g on a similar stand. The stands from red sea and waterbox are built with a similar construction(twist locks instead of pocket holes). Stands from ADA also. All that being said, I did pucker when my friend put water in the tank and if I were making this for a tank longer than 4 ft I would have went the 2x4 and 2x6 (or welded up a box steel frame and powder coated it if budget would allow) route for sure!
The cabinet I built for a 65g used only 3/4" birch plywood, glue and pocket holes w/ Kreg jig. No 2x4 or 2x6 frame and it's still extremely sturdy. My first aquarium cabinet I ever built was for a 55g and used a 2x4 frame skinned in 1/2" birch. Even with hand selected 2x4's, it's harder to get a straight and level line versus hardwood plywood cut w/ a good circ saw and track guide. 2x4 framing is overkill for most aquarium stands. The 75g stands at big box pet stores are only made from 1/2" melamine, so 3/4" plywood with the right construction technique should work fine.
@@TwistedWorkshop77 thanks for this reply... I was wondering how those brands can include a stand that doesn't seem to have any additional 2×4 supports but holds up fine... I'm gonna make a similar stand for a 50 gallon tank I'm getting in a few days... Thanks for the video too!!
I laughed way to hard at that description , deffs know the feeling but never would’ve thought of it like that if I hadn’t read this. 😂😂😂 cheers.
what type of spray paint did you use on the outside plywood
Excellent video! Is it better to get wood at Lowe’s or a Cabinet store? Why?
Thank you! Cabinet stores usually have higher grade better quality plywood. The vaneer if hardwood is usually really thin on liwes plywood and hard to sand smooth or keep from chipping. If I wanted to stain the cabinet instead of painting it, I would have used higher quality plywood
How much did the wood cost to build this?
Hello I was wondering how much would charge to build one for me for a 29 gallon tank
How many sheets of plywood did you have to use?
you probably won’t reply to this video anymore but I want to build this and currently 4ftx8ft 3/4 plywood costs like $83 is that normal or is there a cheaper option? Like where should I buy in America
What is width of the plywood used for the stand? Great stand and thanks for making it
It's 3/4"
Hello Dave, what is the name of the tool you used to fix the width of the plywood to cut?
Do you have a rough drawing to know what parts I need
I build custom cabinets, so this is very easy. My question is do you know how much weight this will hold?
Thank you for the video I love the style 😍
How much would this have cost if you were doing it for a client?
Between 350 and 450. It would be hard to sell a one off cabinet and compete with the companies like waterbox that make them by the thousands.
@@TwistedWorkshop77 I guess only those who have your skills can actually save money by DIY.
What is total cost of table?
Please reply
Roughly 70.00 for plywood, less than 30.00 in the rest of the supplies. About a hundred bucks total
I’m going to make my frame out of two by fours then put the plywood around it so I could sleep better with the 29 gallon on top
what is the dimension of the table and Aquarium?
Aren't the push release works only with inset doors?
No. They are separate drom the door or hinges. You just have to mount the releases to the cabinet on the top or bottom
Can you paint over the iron on edging? Any special prep needed?
Sorry, just saw this. You can paint the edge banding. Prep is the same as bare wood. Light sabding and some primer
can the birch ply wood be stained and look pretty good?
Yeah. The birch takes stain really well. The only problem with it is that outer layer is really thin and splinters easy
First of all, gorgeous stand and great tutorial.
I do have a question though. Structurally speaking, would it be safe to build the stand 1.5” wider on the sides and 3/4” in the front so the bottom 3” of the tank (namely the sand bed) is covered? The tank I’m building for is 24x24x30 75g and I want the sand hidden except for the top view. Would this design be structurally safe if the the tank didn’t sit on the corners or would I need a few additional boards under the top board? Thank you!
-Also Dave
I guess I could just nail in trim up top instead lol
I think nailing on trim would be a good idea. I would want to have the sides right under the the edges of the tank for the most support
What size table?
Where do you live? Lol I need a stand just like this one for 20 gallon long.
Like your video !! also how many sheets of plywood you use to make the stand
Thanks! I use 1 and a half sheets
What is the size of this stand ?
It won't do well with contact with water...
is it strong enough even with center support?
Yes. Still holding up fine
@@TwistedWorkshop77 how much liters is the tank? i have the same structure except i don't have a back support, only middle support.
@@RonaldJayBuayan the tank is a 40 gallon breeder
Can that hold the weight
So far so good! Yes without a doubt. I've made a few and no problems. If you build it well and focus on not letting the stand rack it should be fine
What size plywood is this built with?
3/4 inch plywood
Whats the size of the tank?
It was for a 40g breeder
Can you make me one? LOL
What size the table? And size the tank?
18 1/4in x 36in. 34in tall. 40 gallon tank
@@TwistedWorkshop77long ?x wide?x tall?
@@zidanarsyad5020 18 1/4 inches wide x 36 inches long x 34 inches tall
Ok.thanks sir
lol, “don’t need a garage full of equipment”…after using a garage full of equipment.
Hi, the tank that is displayed in this video looks like a 40 gallon breeder maybe? I have a 40 breeder that I need to build a stand for and would like to know if this stand would hold the weight? Any input is appreciated.
Yes, this was for a 40g breeder. It is still holding the weight with no problem. With a fish tank stand, it is important to brace it or build it so that it does not rack side to side
@@TwistedWorkshop77 subscribed, thank you!
Please for cabinet length 60cm x WIDTH 35cm X HEIGHT 70cm..
With plywood 20mm
Smh you really should have a middle support that runs the full depth. Love the build but that's too much weight
Thanks for the feedback. Do what you need to feel safe. This worked for me. Still standing. The design is modeled from Red Sea, water box and a couple other brands of aquarium stands that don’t use a brace. This tank is 36 in wide (40g). With all that being said, if you don’t feel comfortable , make it with a brace. I wouldn’t want to be worried about it all the time
Please reply
If it is built square and flat,, I believe so. The 40g breeder tank it was built for has a plastic rim around the bottom. The tank rests evenly on the top of the sand but I still use a thin piece of neoprene between the tank and stand. If the stand was more modern design (Flat glass bottom), I would have used a thicker foam between the tank and stand to even out pressure. I hope this answers your question
is edge banding the same as veneer ?
Essentially. Edge banding just comes prepared for use banding edges. Typical veneer usually comes in sheets of some kind in limited length with no adhesive pre-applied while edge banding typically comes in a role like tape so it’s the roughly same width of the edge you’re banding and has a heat/pressure sensitive adhesive pre-applied to it. It’s also on a roll so you have several feet of continuous banding. Think of an 8 foot long countertop that needs banded. Having sections of banding (if using typical veneer) looks bad because you can see the vertical edge of each section. Those visible edges will also show through your finish unless you fill them and by that point it’s just too much unnecessary work. A continuous length (if using edge banding) eliminates all of the faults of using sections of veneer.
Of course, if you aren’t doing any edging that’s over 3-4 feet long, you could find some nice pieces of veneers that you could most defiantly use that aren’t all that expensive if you know where to look. You’d just have to apply adhesive yourself. Heck, you could even veneer the entire cabinet if you wanted to spend the money on larger veneer panels. A lot of mid to high-end furniture is made this way. They’ll use a more affordable wood for the frame and structure then skin the entire thing in thin panels of exotic veneer then charge astronomical prices.