Plywood

[mike james]

I just found 5 ply Arauco at my local Menards. Price is in the $22-$24 dollar range, about the same as Lowes. Menards is closer to where I live then Lowes by 100 miles(round trip). Thought I would pass this find on to others that may live in the rural midwest.


Mike

[Rug]

Sweet! Menards is a LOT closer to me than Lowe's.

[David Homer]

I'm a happy camper, too. There is a large Menard's here in Kzoo, and they have an expanded lumber department. Not only do they have the 1/2" auraco, they have 4x8 sheets of the more expensive 1/2" birch ply. They claim its the thickest lamination available. However, not all Menards are created equal.. The store in the southern end of town is much smaller, and does not carry any of this.. Maybe over the weekend I'll get the project started...

[Adam Schaible]

Hi guys, quick question.

A local lumber yard has baltic birch from russia, 3/4" 13 ply (and half inch - not sure how many plies) in 5x5 sheets. They said it is grade C. Most of the sites I've seen online are grade B.

He said it is void free, but I'm an idiot when it comes to this stuff. Would this grade C material be ok?

Thanks

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Hi guys, quick question.

A local lumber yard has baltic birch from russia, 3/4" 13 ply (and half inch - not sure how many plies) in 5x5 sheets. They said it is grade C. Most of the sites I've seen online are grade B.

He said it is void free, but I'm an idiot when it comes to this stuff. Would this grade C material be ok?

Thanks

We don't use 3/4 inch.

[Adam Schaible]

Ok, fair enough. Right now I only have the XF plans so I thought some of the bigger cabs might use 3/4". My only experience is with commercial cabs and they seem to use 3/4".

Anyway, I'd much rather use 1/2" - but will I be ok with grade C or should I try to find some grade B?

Additionally, I saw a post where you mentioned you've used Arauco. The closest Menards is about 75 miles away, so I'm willing to pay the extra cash for the local birch (they are asking $24.12 per 5'x5'). Do you see an advantage with Birch or Arauco?

Thanks

[David Carter]

Additionally, I saw a post where you mentioned you've used Arauco. The closest Menards is about 75 miles away, so I'm willing to pay the extra cash for the local birch (they are asking $24.12 per 5'x5'). Do you see an advantage with Birch or Arauco?

I get my Arauco from Lowe's, but, if I could get 9-ply baltic birch for those prices, I'd take it in a heartbeat. Having said that, I'm not enough of a woodworking expert to know exactly what kind of quality is implied in the C rating, so it would be good to get other responses.

[Adam Schaible]

Lowes around me doesn't carry the Arauco for some reason. He said there will be patches on both sides with grade C - but I'm not so concerned with the finish as much as being void free.

[Gauss]

I just found it in Michigan at Menard's (Thanks to a post in this forum - thank you thank you). Here's to hoping Menard's has invaded your neck of the woods.

[DJPhatman]

I just found it in Michigan at Menard's (Thanks to a post in this forum - thank you thank you). Here's to hoping Menard's has invaded your neck of the woods.

Please post what city for the benefit of others on the forum. Thank you.

[jcmbowman]

yes, please!

[Adam Schaible]

Ok, so the Baltic Birch I picked up is considered 4/B quality. I've done a lot of searching but can't get any difinitive answers on how this rating system works.

The lumber yard said the rating only applies to the faces, and that the inner plies are all just about the same. He said a B/B (what I've seen online) has fewer patches on the faces than the 4/B. For this application, I don't think that matters much.

Am I off base? Is a 4/B ok? It looks pretty solid and I only found about 2 small patches per side.

Thanks

[bgavin]

Interesting.
The load of BB I purchased for my four T48 had a lot more than 2 patches. Both sides.
Still had to pay $31/sheet for it.

I'm not used to seeing BB with patches.

[Adam Schaible]

My logic is, that if it's going to be covered then the surface patches don't really matter. Is this correct?

[bgavin]

Yep.