Choosing wood for all new interior build...

[boywonder]

In So Cal a 5x5 sheet of 3/4" (18mm actually) baltic birch is about $35

IIRC 1/2" BB is about $28 for a 5x5 and 1/4" 5x5 is about $22

[Bbasso]

Your comments about the Corian countertop give me some confidence thank you.

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by Bbasso

As for the copper idea, I honestly don't have a clue on the costs lol. But it seems like it might be cheaper than stone or Corian?

One other thing to think about with granite or solid surface tops......they are extremely heavy.....and in my van right behind the driver's seat.....wouldn't be fun in an accident to be hit with a large slab of granite or solid surface.

I have a vessel sink also behind the driver's seat......I bought two online from home depot...a cool thick (heavy!!) smoked glass one and a thin nickel plated copper one...I returned the thick smoked glass one.....visions of chunks of 1/2" thick glass flying through the air in an accident....

[Bbasso]

I do remember you posting the comments about the heavy glass sink flying during the event of an accident and actually giggled... That's one of the reasons why I wanted mount the sink underneath the countertop. But I only plan on using a small 12 by 12 or so size stainless steel sink.
Also I plan to incorporate a barrier wall between the countertop and driver's seat, for a few reasons, flying objects in an accident, sound, safety/security and heat reasons too...
This is my fourth van over many years so I've had a lot of time to mess around, learn, experiment,,, also reading a billion posts from everybody who has built vans...
When I mentioned all this to my carpenter friend he started to laugh and said you had a lot of time to think about this I'm not even going to second-guess your thought process. LOL

But I love to keep chatting... I do need to get to sleep because I have my part time job tomorrow morning. Thank you so much everybody for helping out I'll check back tomorrow during my lunch break.

[Flux]

Stainless countertop??

Easy to get maybe a couple corner welds and bends. put it over some ply.....

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by Flux

Stainless countertop??

Easy to get maybe a couple corner welds and bends. put it over some ply.....

....it's only money...you can get more of it.....

[E-rex]

Originally Posted by boywonder

...wouldn't be fun in an accident to be hit with a large slab of granite or solid surface.

People here generally have nicer vans, and higher standards for aesthetics and safety. I can't tell you how many low end DIY builds I have seen online, where they just throw things in the van and depend of gravity to keep it in all place.

All of my plans first pass thru a 'mental filter' where I ask myself what would happen in a serious front end collision, or worse, in a rollover. I think it would be scary easy to be decapitated by a flying piece of plywood that was not well secured..

[86Scotty]

I prefer 3/4" birch for cabinetry. It works great with the T-molding I prefer to wrap cabinets in. I have no idea how heavy the builds I've done are because I've never dropped a van on my toe but they seem to still climb hills and go down the freeway ok.
I've tried 1/2 but 3/4 is the minimum to me to sink screws in and feel good about a solidly built and secured cabinet. I don't have all that much experience in cabinet building though and couldn't tell you what a biscuit joint is. I think Bojangles is one.

I did a small granite countertop in a van awhile back but I too think it's too heavy. I really like the idea of butcher block (wood) so it can be secured with a ton of screws from beneath.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Nick]

After much devate I used birch with Formica and "Corian", while not as nice as wood laminate or varnish that stuff takes the abuse that these vans need to get to really enjoy them.

I also added a 1/2 plastic angle between the bottom of the gabinet and the floor so I can be more liberal with water when sponge cleaning the floor.

Very happy with the results.

[luked]

Would love to see it