Reply by ChrisF

#1 – You can use a veneered plywood if you choose. My dresser top, drawer fronts and sides are veneered cherry plywood and by looking at it(no touching) you would never know it. Going with ply can be cheaper but even when getting it from a GOOD source you stand the chance of getting what you pay for. That being said, you never know what solid wood could do over time.

#2 – I believe in “going with what you know”. While a simple glue only joint should be good enough I always go with my biscuit joiner since I have one. Sometimes it depends on the project. I too cant get dowels to line up right and I even have a jig for that application. I use the biscuit because that is what I am comfortable using. If you do tongue and groove well there is nothing wrong with that and it creates, in my opinion, a better joint and yes would help for an accurate glue up.

#3 – I’m sure others will feel different but I am not a fan of T&G-ing plywood for an edging application. I would not do it out of fear that downward pressure, over time, would cause unnecessary stress on the plywood at the edge and I would end up with the plys separating. My answer here is ONLY from my own thought process and subsequent worries. I have never tried T&G for this. Those that have might swear by it and have had success.

Hope this help and good luck!

-- I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing.