A guy at the lumber yard kept telling me to try a 1/8 inch roundover bit on my plywood edges

I mean, I always thought it was a waste of time and would look cheap. Last month I was finishing a built-in for a kitchen in Springfield and decided to try it on a scrap piece first. After a light sanding and a coat of paint, the edge looked totally solid, like a finished panel. It completely changed how I handle plywood edges now. Has anyone found a different bit profile that works better for painted work?

3 comments

3 Comments

susanb345h agoTop Commenter

Yeah, that roundover trick is a game changer. I read a forum post a while back where a cabinet maker swore by a 1/16 inch roundover for paint grade work. He said the smaller radius leaves a sharper look that still hides the plywood layers perfectly under paint. I tried it on some shop cabinets and it worked great, maybe even a bit cleaner than the 1/8 inch for a more modern style. It's such a simple fix that makes plywood look so much more finished.

diana5124h ago

My old foreman at a custom shop in Boise insisted on a 3/32 roundover bit for all painted edges. It was this weird middle ground that gave a crisp line but completely erased the plywood lines. We used it on miles of built-in bookshelves. The finish guys loved it because primer would fill any tiny tear-out without losing the sharp look.

stellaperry4h ago

My uncle's shop in Tacoma had a dedicated 3/32 bit just for that, they called it the "paint saver." That trick susanb34 mentioned really is everywhere.