Plywood - can I go mdf ?

[DJPhatman]

once my shoulder repair is rehab'ed.

How's that going DJ? Any improvement?

At a stale-mate....been off work since valentine's day, no treatment, no money, lot's of BS. I have hired an attorney, and am waiting for my hearing date. Meanwhile, I'm getting worse, not better. If you check the times on some of my posts, you will figure out I'm not sleeping much. I don't even have any good drugs! So I am sucking up the pain, and in a holding pattern with my life. The company has private eyes following me with video cameras, and for the few gigs I booked before I got hurt, I have to pay someone else to load in, set up, break down, load out, and run everything! I hate it! I love doing weddings and parties. I have so much fun, and as a bonus, the looks on people's faces when I tell them "I built the speakers, subs, and the rack case." And, of course, I give FULL props to Bill and his web sites, as the cabinet designer.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I'll probably go back and take a good look @ the fir.

Fir is OK for a carpet finish, gosh awful with paint or DuraTex. Find a local kitchen cabinet maker and find out where he gets his plywood. BTW, 90% of the plywood sold in the northern half of the US comes from Canada, and most of that from Quebec. There's probably a mill within 20 miles of your home. Most of the BB comes from Russia and Finland into QC and Montreal by ship and is sent to the US from there.

[jfr1111]

Fir is OK for a carpet finish, gosh awful with paint or DuraTex. Find a local kitchen cabinet maker and find out where he gets his plywood. BTW, 90% of the plywood sold in the northern half of the US comes from Canada, and most of that from Quebec. There's probably a mill within 20 miles of your home. Most of the BB comes from Russia and Finland into QC and Montreal by ship and is sent to the US from there.

Good advice. I'll be using carpet though, since I actually prefer rat fur over Duratex: I've carpeted audio speakers before, so there's that. Also, this cab won't see the road often and we have very good and (muscular) friends that insure that no bodily fluids taint the equipment so smell/dirtyness of carpet is not an issue.

I'll phone some kitchen cabinet makers around here and ask where they get their BB. Chances are, its from the same source (Huskyplywood then Robert Burey) that I talked about in my previous post. Maybe if I got there in person they'll be more receptive: I know that when I used to work retails, I disliked people phoning to ask questions that would be better suited to an acutal in person discussion.

[Tom]

I have worked in a cabinet shop previously, and still operate a business where I need a few favors from the local cabinet shop foreman.

Unless you are a golfing buddy of the owner, bypass the front desk entirely, if possible. Phone and ask to speak with the shop foreman, and leave a call back phone number. Likely he will call you back when the dust settles. Leave a message regarding "shop waste removal" which should pique interest. The foreman will understand the "waste removal" problem better than the receptionist.

Ask to make a cash and carry purchase of a few sheets of half-inch drawer plywood. Let him know that top & bottom sheets are OK. They buy strapped bulk plywood and typically these sheets are waste, and inefficient to store and salvage - a logistical PITA for the foreman.

Arrange a time. If you show up with an empty pickup truck and cash, he might part with a few sheets. Make sure that the truck bed is empty - it helps to look like you work with your truck, so remove golf clubs, etc.

Cabinetmakers work long hours, and typically work part of Saturday to catch up. The boss/owner will be golfing on Saturday, and the foreman may see the golden opportunity to convert a few sheets of problem plywood into cash for a round or two for the hard-working crew.

Millworkers and cabinetmakers work hard for small paychecks. A good foreman will know how to reward them. Beers taste good after a long week of eating sawdust.

Make a fair offer. Don't put anyone in a situation where they need to lie or steal. The foreman will either help you or send you packing.

[jfr1111]

Good advice, but as was said, it's not that good plywood isn't readily available around here, it's just that I really didn't know what could or should be used. So chances are, I won't have to use ninja tactics to get my wood (funny phrasing...)

Plus, I don't drive a pick-up