Arauco plywood

[gdougherty]

I'll usually find a void or two in the sheets of Arauco, but they tend to be small and far between. Any gaps in an edge get filled in with gorilla glue and/or wood filler. Once sanded and textured you can't tell the difference. As Bill said, the cab design makes up for having any of the small voids. The exterior plys are good and thick instead of thin veneers so by the time I Gorilla and brad the edges together I know it's not going anywhere. Wherever I want the added certainty I use screws to pull the edges together. Usually angled 1.25" brads and Gorilla glue work just fine. The cross-angled brads help hold the edges together until the glue sets.

[SoundInMotionDJ]

I calculate plywood at 15/32" * 48 * 96, or 1.25 cubic feet per sheet.

Your weight of 43 pounds is 34.4 pounds per cubic foot, which is inline with my measurements of BCX sheets. Close enough for CalTrans...

Fair enough. I try to forget that every piece of plywood is shorting me 1/32 of an inch of material...

I was actually surprised that a sheet weighted 43 pounds...I guess I'm getting use to moving them around...cuz it sure didn't feel like 43 pounds to me.

--Stan Graves

[bgavin]

The Arauco at $23 per 4x8 is certainly more cost effective for a herd of large boxes, i.e. T48 at 2.5 sheets per box.

Q: anybody have any hardness or durability experience with Arauco?

Harley uses Italian Poplar, but says it is quite soft and prone to damage. My experience with BB is it wears like iron. American Birch (ha!) is junk.

[gdougherty]

I would classify the Arauco as soft. It's fairly easy to pull the head of a screw down into the surface with a cordless drill. It gouges and dings, but that's what corner protectors are for, protect corners and keep the surface off the ground.

[DaveK]

The Arauco at $23 per 4x8 is certainly more cost effective for a herd of large boxes, i.e. T48 at 2.5 sheets per box.

Q: anybody have any hardness or durability experience with Arauco?

Harley uses Italian Poplar, but says it is quite soft and prone to damage. My experience with BB is it wears like iron. American Birch (ha!) is junk.

I've used all three. Arauco (radiata pine) is about the same weight as domestic birch, costs 1/3 less, and has a thicker outer ply. However, it is more prone to splitting and tear-out when working and more prone to warping. I have not had a chance to test the strength of the bond between the top ply and second ply of Arauco, but the domestic birch bond is very weak.

BB is in a class by itself. Stronger, heavier, and more expensive. That pair of T36s are made from BB. They would weigh 25 pounds less using domestic birch or pine. OTOH, with a box that big, I like the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are built like a tank.

[bgavin]

BB is in a class by itself. Stronger, heavier, and more expensive. That pair of T36s are made from BB. They would weigh 25 pounds less using domestic birch or pine. OTOH, with a box that big, I like the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are built like a tank.

That completely sums up why I put up with the weight and expense.

[davygrvy]

What's the availability of BB these days? I could only find a C-grade Chinese birch when I was looking back in October. There was also a wait on a Croatian import, too.

[DaveK]

What's the availability of BB these days? I could only find a C-grade Chinese birch when I was looking back in October. There was also a wait on a Croatian import, too.

In stock at Hughes Hardwoods in Ranch Cordova. Both 5x5 and 4x8 sheets available last time I was there.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I would classify the Arauco as soft. It's fairly easy to pull the head of a screw down into the surface with a cordless drill. It gouges and dings, but that's what corner protectors are for, protect corners and keep the surface off the ground.

My Arauco DR250 with high build DuraTex finish is rock hard.

[gdougherty]

I would classify the Arauco as soft. It's fairly easy to pull the head of a screw down into the surface with a cordless drill. It gouges and dings, but that's what corner protectors are for, protect corners and keep the surface off the ground.

My Arauco DR250 with high build DuraTex finish is rock hard.

I don't have the high build coating on mine, but hardness is also relative. It's not nearly as hard as the oak I've used in finish work around the house, but it's also not as soft as poplar. Given the choice between calling it hard or soft, I'd go with soft. Now would I use anything else decent that I can find in the area? No. It's plenty strong, lightweight and once coated looks as good as BB but from my searching costs 50% less. I don't abuse my cabinets and the ocasional ding or gouge can be repaired.

I will have to pick up the high build Duratex next round though, thanks for the recommendation.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I would classify the Arauco as soft. It's fairly easy to pull the head of a screw down into the surface with a cordless drill. It gouges and dings, but that's what corner protectors are for, protect corners and keep the surface off the ground.

My Arauco DR250 with high build DuraTex finish is rock hard.

I don't have the high build coating on mine, but hardness is also relative. It's not nearly as hard as the oak I've used in finish work around the house, but it's also not as soft as poplar. Given the choice between calling it hard or soft, I'd go with soft. Now would I use anything else decent that I can find in the area? No. It's plenty strong, lightweight and once coated looks as good as BB but from my searching costs 50% less. I don't abuse my cabinets and the ocasional ding or gouge can be repaired.

I will have to pick up the high build Duratex next round though, thanks for the recommendation.

The wood is soft, for sure, but coated with 1/16" or more of DuraTex it's tougher than anything short of formica.

[bgavin]

I have a T24 covered in Formica. The only weak point is the edges. It is easy to snag an edge and lift up the Formica. Edge protectors avoid this problem.

[Tim A]

I've used all three. Arauco (radiata pine) is about the same weight as domestic birch, costs 1/3 less, and has a thicker outer ply. However, it is more prone to splitting and tear-out when working and more prone to warping. I have not had a chance to test the strength of the bond between the top ply and second ply of Arauco, but the domestic birch bond is very weak.

BB is in a class by itself. Stronger, heavier, and more expensive. That pair of T36s are made from BB. They would weigh 25 pounds less using domestic birch or pine. OTOH, with a box that big, I like the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are built like a tank.

There is one alternative that'll save wweight and cost. Use BB for the outside panels, and something lighter and less expensive for the interior. The weight will come in about halfway between all BB or all Auraco, the outside will be tough as nails, and the inside is protected anyway. I'm thinking this may be the way I go with my 14" T-39's.

[bgavin]

Which then begs the question:
which weighs less... 3/8" BB plates, or 1/2" Arauco?

I keep 3/8" BB in stock, and have not seen the same size in Arauco at all. 3/8" is a 25% weight reduction, making it weigh less than 1/2" Arauco plates. And BB is still better wood.

[Tim A]

Which then begs the question:
which weighs less... 3/8" BB plates, or 1/2" Arauco?

I keep 3/8" BB in stock, and have not seen the same size in Arauco at all. 3/8" is a 25% weight reduction, making it weigh less than 1/2" Arauco plates. And BB is still better wood.

I missed the 3/8" part. If I could find BB in 3/8" I'd probably settle in with it for the long haul.