Carpentry and Woodworking - plywood as a radiator cover

I am looking to build a radiator cover (old-fashioned steam radiators)-- have seen the plans on this website, but there was not much info on suggested materials. Does anyone think that there would be problems with using plywood (let's say an oak plywood) as the material for the radiator cover? Would it have problems being heated repeatedly? I was going to paint it white, to match baseboard.

If that material wouldn't work, would I need to use a solid wood?

I feel sure that plywood would work. We don't have steam heat in the south. Plywood is veneered in the choice of wood over a substrate usually made of pine, birch, or other inexpensive wood. I would not use oak plywood unless I wanted the appearance of the grainy surface of oak with a paint finish.

For an inexpensive altenative to plywood, consider MDF. It is heavy to move, but is less expensive than almost anything, is already smooth enough to prime and paint without sanding, and has no grain to follow during construction.

If you want to stay with plywood, consider shop-grade birch. It is smooth for painting and is less expensive than the cabinet grade which is manufactured with staining in mind.

I don't know about the persistent heat from the radiator. I don't imagine that it would be a problem with a properly designed cover. Perhaps someone from the steam-heat part of the country can address that point.

Hope this helps.