What to do with plywood

the main reason i paint the shops white

is for reflected light

especially where finishing is part
of the deal

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

I agree with patron. White walls are a must for me. Light is one of our best tools and getting as much as possible in the workshop is a good thing. You do not have to have a “showroom finish” I used a budget roller and paint for a good “workshop standard” finish.

-- Bruce, UK

I agree with Patron. White walls for reflected light. I went several years without white walls, having to use extra spot lighting for doing finish work. Also had to use heavier lead pencils for marking so I could see the cut lines.
White painted walls and ceilings are also easier to clean.
I used a satin finish paint for the walls (to avoid excess glare) and flat white ceiling paint on the ceiling.

-- "Man Plans and God Laughs"

+1 on white, I do love the look of natural wood colored walled workshops but just going from grey concrete to primed drywall in my shop made an incredible difference in the light intensity in the shop

-- John H. [To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk. ~Edison]

Yup, White is right!!!
You could do a whitewash, that would let some of the grain show through, while providing a bit of the light reflecting properties.

-- Randy-- I may not be good...but I am slow!

White, White did I mention White…...

-- What we do in life will Echo through Eternity........

I dont think anyone has suggested white yet, so I with throw it out there… : )

Plus, unless it’s cabinet grade plywood or something, plywood is just plain ugly, no matter if you stain or put a finish on it. Unless of course you like ugly plywood, then by all means….

-- "hold fast to that which is good"

Yeah, stain on plywood probably wouldn’t turn out too good. I vote white paint.

-- Don, Royersford, PA

I just poly’ed mine. Did it before I put it up. Its light enough for me, and it looks like wood. Luckily for me, I don’t believe its ugly, and it is a work shop after all.

Edit: and if you’re like me, you won’t see much of it by the time you are done anyhow. It will be covered with tools, cabinets and storage.

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

I have plain concrete block walls in my shop. In hindsight, I should have painted them…...yes…. White

-- Mike.... West Virginia. "Man is a tool using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all.". T Carlyle

Not only would I paint them white, I would use a high gloss paint to discourage sawdust from settling on the plywood.

well i painted mine before i really started woodworking much,so light wasn’t a major concern.i am an avid college football fan and i painted mine inthere colors.crimson,white and gray.

-- It don't have to be straight,it's just a suggestion!!!

You could cover the walls with tools…

Or you could go crazy…

Or you could be conservative…

-- I would drink a river of the kool aid before I took the smallest sip of the tea...

If painting is not what you really want to do. You could still get the white for reflection and still have that wood grain effect by pickling instead which can be done like a stain.

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-- I don't make mistakes, I have great learning lessons, Greg