I've been thinking of doing that too, and it will hide the ugly ply edges
(though this piece of ply I have has 7 layers and actually looks pretty
good).
> If I did this, I think I'd make the edge trim an eighth of an inch
> thicker than the plywood (protruding "out") in order to emphasize the
> "panel-door" look. (Assuming that it's not *too* difficult to
> reposition the hatch retaining setup.)
I think that might hold water at the lower section.
> A cabinetmaker would have done it this way to start with in order to
> conceal the ugly plywood endgrain and otherwise disguise the fact
> that the "panel" is plywood.
>
> The hatch could look magnificent. ("Uhh, yeah! I planned it that
> way!").
>
> Start by making a paper pattern of the finished size, then reduce the
> pattern by the width of the edge-trim.
My father is a pretty good cabinetmaker so he and I are discussing ideas
now. First problem is the asymmetry in the sliding hatch which I think I
will cover up with a piece of trim, since it was a sloppy cut to begin with.
The wooden parts could then be simply cut to fit, but i might put the trim
around the edges as you suggest.