When I first built the sewing machine console table, I made only the 3/4" birch ply top, and long oak aprons; I decided to make the top into a torsion-box construct to add rigidity and a little weight. The cores are ripped from 7/8 pine to 3/4 core thickness, and the bottom is 1/2" MDF. Short aprons are 1/2" oak ply.
