09-10-2015, 05:20 PM
Mm. The panel is only 10" x 14" and the cut-out piece above is 3/8th thick so that would have been thick enough. But I think you have hit the nail on the head Joe. Cutting lots of 3/8th thick hardwood would have been quite tough on a fretsaw blade so they would have wanted something thinner and then of course they would fall foul of the risk you point out. So they went for 5-ply which is about 1/4" and simply veneered it. Thanks for getting to the answer 
Nick.
Nick.
