What's to chat about?

[Seth]

Having a little trouble sourcing poplar ply.

9 Ply birch is readily available and the 5'x5' sheets are waaay more reasonably priced than the 4'x8's. It would take 6 additional sheets to do the 4 cabs with 5'x5' sheets and that option would still cost $175 less than going with 4'x8' sheets, even though there's an additional 100 square feet of product in the 5'x5' option. Interesting.

Gonna do a little more poplar hunting before I pull the trigger and just go with the birch. The local HD carries 23/32" Arauco, maybe I'll drop in and see if they can special order some 15/32".



What are you guys up to? Anything interesting?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

As I said, poplar is considered a junk wood, unsuitable for a natural finish. The main use for BB is cabinets that have a natural finish. Ergo BB is common, poplar isn't. You can get poplar, or okoume, another strong but light species, from plywood specialty suppliers, but not local lumber yards. For instance, https://forestplywood.com/

[Bruce Weldy]

9 Ply birch is readily available and the 5'x5' sheets are waaay more reasonably priced than the 4'x8's. It would take 6 additional sheets to do do the 4 cabs with 5'x5' sheets and that option would still cost $175 less than going with 4'x8' sheets, even though there's an additional 100 square feet of product in the 5'x5' option. Interesting.

That's because it comes from the Baltics where 5x5 is the norm.....thus, there is a premium for the 4x8. I built my first T39s using the 4x8 because I had already done my cut list when I went to buy it. Every build after that has been with the 5x5. Definitely cheaper by the square foot in 5x5.

You can't go wrong using the BB. It is so great to work with. Dead flat, doesn't warp after you cut it. And don't worry about needing a little more in the 5x5...you'll use those scraps for all kinds of things.

[Seth]

As I said, poplar is considered a junk wood, unsuitable for a natural finish. The main use for BB is cabinets that have a natural finish. Ergo BB is common, poplar isn't. You can get poplar, or okoume, another strong but light species, from plywood specialty suppliers, but not local lumber yards. For instance, https://forestplywood.com/

Bill, super helpful, thank you. I found a plywood specialist about a half hour away and their website claims they have both, okoume and poplar. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what the lowdown is. Thanks again

[Seth]

Best forum ever. Thanks all for your thoughtful posts and posits, and thanks for hosting, Bill

[Seth]

You seem to have made up your mind already. I highly recommend you do what you suggested here though, but instead of OSB build both from decent ply. You wouldn't need to scrap two cabs, only one. That offsets the costs of the otherwise wasted OSB and you know for sure what you will get. You might even be able to sell the one cab you don't want to keep. Last but not least: when building a herd it is often recommended to build one cab to completion first. You learn as you build that one, then do the rest of the chosen model in parallel production style.

Thanks for the recommendation Anton. I hadn't given much consideration to that option. Hearing it from you, it does make sense to make them 100%. However, you're also right that I've pretty much got my mind made up at this point.

... complete one first. I'd read that somewhere else too. Makes a lot of sense. Thanks for bringing it up again.

[Seth]

So, here's what I've learned about the Poplar situation... or what I've been told. The inexpensive green streak poplar was imported from China and is no longer imported due to tariff's. The Poplar that is available is Italian Poplar, which has some special fire rating, has a clean natural finish suitable for cabinetry, and due to its weight advantage is used for RV and Marine cabinetry... and is way more expensive than the 4'x8' BB. The company I spoke with is the supplier, so he didn't quote a specific price, but did say it's much more spendy than BB.

Oh well. I'll check on the possibility of getting 15/32 Arauco at HD and if that doesn't pan out I'll just squeeze the trigger on the BB.

[Seth]

You can't go wrong using the BB. It is so great to work with. Dead flat, doesn't warp after you cut it. And don't worry about needing a little more in the 5x5...you'll use those scraps for all kinds of things.

I'll tell ya... I hadn't seen sheets of BB before, only the typical plywood stock at usual lumber yards and home improvement stores. After seeing it, I can totally get what you're saying. It was beautiful, and flat, clean edges without voids... looked like a premium product for sure.

[AntonZ]

You will love working the BB. It sure is nicer to work with than poplar. I find the latter tears a bit at the cuts, if that makes sense. Birch gives a cleaner cut. Poplar is also softer, it dents easier. Funny it is so expensive over there. Here it is the other way around. Decent poplar is easier to find than birch (the good stuff), and also significantly cheaper.

[Rich4349]

To reduce chipping, apply tape to your cut line, and scrape it on good with your thumbnail or a hunk of plastic like a credit card. Then put as full length of a ruler down as you have, clamp it down, and score that line with a fresh exacto / razor, right on the line. This pre-cuts the facing layer, and all but eliminates pop-ups on the cut.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

The inexpensive green streak poplar was imported from China...

Plywood, maybe. But I've used plenty of poplar 1x4 etc with green streaks, all of it from the US and Canada. It's sold as trim lumber, intended to be painted. It's used a lot for electric guitar bodies too, if they're painted or sunburst finished. This picture shows a poplar guitar body blank, with the characteristic green steaks:
https://www.bestguitarparts.com/guitar- ... _Blank.htm

[Seth]

Plywood, maybe. But I've used plenty of poplar 1x4 etc with green streaks, all of it from the US and Canada. It's sold as trim lumber, intended to be painted. It's used a lot for electric guitar bodies too, if they're painted or sunburst finished. This picture shows a poplar guitar body blank, with the characteristic green steaks:
https://www.bestguitarparts.com/guitar- ... _Blank.htm

I'm 100% certain you're right, he was talking specifically about plywood. Personally, I find the uniqueness of the green streaks an attractive quality.

[AntonZ]

To reduce chipping, apply tape to your cut line, and scrape it on good with your thumbnail or a hunk of plastic like a credit card. Then put as full length of a ruler down as you have, clamp it down, and score that line with a fresh exacto / razor, right on the line. This pre-cuts the facing layer, and all but eliminates pop-ups on the cut.

Thank you Rich, I will definitely give that a try next time I cut poplar.

[Bruce Weldy]

I've use just masking tape with good results. I've also tried scoring along a ruler with a utility knife - just have to be sure you are dead on the cut line.

Most important though is having a really good blade in your saw. If you are using troublesome ply, then go to a high-tooth-count plywood blade for less tear out.

[Rich4349]

Thank you Rich, I will definitely give that a try next time I cut poplar.

OH, but if you're using a circular saw, flip that board over so the blade is cutting UP AGAINST the "good looking" side of the board. Now the outer sides and faces of a Tuba / Titan will have BOTH sides of them exposed, so figure out which side matters most to you and position the direction of blade spin accordingly.