OhioDad Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Hello, everyone! I'm in the early stages of planning a dollhouse build for my daughter's 5th birthday. She has some very specific requests, haha... so, I'm looking to build it custom. I'm an experienced woodworker (dressers, tables, a canoe, etc...) - so I'm not concerned with the construction aspect of it. I'm confident(-ish) in that. My question though is... what material should I use? I see most purchased doors/windows (which I plan to buy) say they "fit standard 3/8" walls" ---- so what material are they using at 3/8"? Ply? MDF? Other? Thanks in advance to anyone/everyone who can help a newbie out! I'm excited to get started but would hate to jump-the-gun and end up with a house and no finishing materials to purchase! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fov Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Welcome to the forum! Either plywood or MDF would work. A lot of dollhouse kits are MDF but personally I think cabinet-grade plywood would be nicer and easier to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Ryan, you are such a good guy to build this for your little princess! Ibetcha that 3/8" plywood weighs a whole lot less than 3/8" MDF, besides being a whole lot easier to work with (I LOVE wood!). The hubs and I used this book to build our eldest granddaughter her first dollhouse: https://store.doverpublications.com/0486234932.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhioDad Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 Thank you, fov & havanaholly! Now, a follow-up... where do you find 3/8 or 11/32 MDF or plywood? I’m having no luck... only the standard 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, etc. Granted, I haven’t been out to the lumber yards or specialty shops - but online searches aren’t producing results. I’m in Ohio (Columbus-area) - not some remote corner of a far-flung territory - so, I’d think it would exist here... but where? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) Lowe's? Home Depot? I've found it those places. Actually I've used those components with the Greenleaf kits (1/8" plywood) and shimmed the excess with scraps from the kit. Edited February 5, 2021 by havanaholly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhioDad Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 I’ll have to make a trip to see if it’s in stock. Websites say it’s not available or sold in any nearby stores. Thank you again though! Really helpful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Hobby Lobby sells sheets of wood 1/8" in different types of wood. At least in my locale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fov Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Where did you see 3/8" listed for the components? I'm looking at the Houseworks windows and they all say they fit a 1/2" depth. https://www.miniatures.com/Windows-C138.aspx I wouldn't buy 1/8" plywood for a child's dollhouse, I think you want sturdier than that, but if for some reason you need to get something thinner than 1/2" you could do 1/4" plywood and shim the windows or the trim to make them fit. Adding siding to the front of the house would help bump out the windows, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhioDad Posted February 6, 2021 Author Share Posted February 6, 2021 Hi, fov... I noticed on another website that most of the windows mentioned it being 3/8”. On the site you referenced, the doors all seem to be 3/8” - example: https://www.miniatures.com/Traditional-Door-P17509.aspx. I might be worried over nothing due to my lack of experience... but I appreciate everyone who’s willing to answer my elementary questions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fov Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 Hmm, it might be because with windows they give a little extra clearance to accommodate siding, but doors could go on interior walls as well as exterior walls, so they don't make them quite as deep? I mostly do half scale so I'm not as familiar with the standards for 1:12 scale. I just measured one of my 1:12 dollhouses and the walls are 3/8". I'd go with that if you can find it, but if you can't you'll be able to make 1/2" work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 (edited) Baltic Birch comes in 3/8inch. It might be a special order thing at Lowe's etc. You can ask at the pro desk. This is cabinet grade plywood that most of the premium dollhouses are made of. https://www.woodworkerssource.com/plywood/38-baltic-birch-plywood-pack-choose-your-size.html Edited February 6, 2021 by Mid-life madness 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qubanqtee Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 I had to buy 3/8" Baltic Birch to replace a missing roof on my American Craft Products Queen Anne that will be coming up for rehab when we relocate and I had to go to a lumber store. it was not expensive at all...I paid about $11 for a half sheet and they graciously cut it down to make it more manageable. Took just a few minutes to cut it to what I needed and now it has a roof! It's the prettiest smoothest piece of wood I've ever seen lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.