Baltic Birch Prices and Locations

[Charles Warwick]

I'm currently trying to find good quality Baltic Birch in the Iowa area. I've been using Arauco from lowes for 25 bucks, but it does get dinged up more than I would like, so I'm looking at switching to B.B. but here in Ames, the HL Munn Lumber company apparently doesn't stock it anymore! so I did some searching to check out the prices:

Down in Des Moines I can get B.B. from the Woodsmith store for $77 for a 4X8 sheet, a 'full' sheet for $36 (is this a 5X5?), and a 1/2 sheet for $21

I think I found some at Menards, although I can't be sure of it's quality. It's a 4X8 sheet for $53.

Has anyone used the B.B. from Menards, or know of any other places to buy the stuff?

I'm kind of thinking that if I have to pay 3X the price of arauco I'll probably just stick with it...

[SeisTres]

I just got 8 sheets of BB for all my builds and while it is very nice, now I've worked with both, I will probably get arauco for anything later on. My arauco cabs have held up just fine, and that's not even with duratex. And BB is heavy! I'm just glad that I'm building all my home stuff and the wedges with this or else I would have regretted it. Despite the warping ( ), BB wasn't really that much of a game changer since the weight is a MAJOR con for me. Oh and BTW, that's at $22/sheet(5x5).

But who knows, it might be worth it for you. So you might want to try out just a couple before you go ahead and buy 8 of them right off

[coolhandjjl]

I use the BB from Menards at $53/4x8. It is 8 ply I think? No 5 ply available. I cherry picked for the flattest ones with no twists, and a minimum of footballs. It is quite rigid and stiff, surface seems quite durable, but every now and then, I get a veneer chip that comes off from a cut. No problem if you are doing Duratex, just do some sanding. I'm doing a retro look with my O15, part of it will have a shellac'd tweed tolex, some will have exposed shellac'd plywood, so I need to figure out what to fill the chips with as they always happen in the worst place.

[Bruce Weldy]

I use the BB from Menards at $53/4x8. It is 8 ply I think? No 5 ply available. I cherry picked for the flattest ones with no twists, and a minimum of footballs. It is quite rigid and stiff, surface seems quite durable, but every now and then, I get a veneer chip that comes off from a cut. No problem if you are doing Duratex, just do some sanding. I'm doing a retro look with my O15, part of it will have a shellac'd tweed tolex, some will have exposed shellac'd plywood, so I need to figure out what to fill the chips with as they always happen in the worst place.

Here's two methods to help with the tear-out.

1. Use a straightedge and a sharp knife to score along the cut line. This way the veneer is already cut and won't chip. Just make sure that you cut right on the score line.

2. Put masking tape on the cut line - this helps to support the veneer during the cut.

Both ways work pretty well. I don't ever bother with it if I'm going to paint, but with stain - it's a much nicer cut.

[bzb]

I use the BB from Menards at $53/4x8. It is 8 ply I think? No 5 ply available. I cherry picked for the flattest ones with no twists, and a minimum of footballs. It is quite rigid and stiff, surface seems quite durable, but every now and then, I get a veneer chip that comes off from a cut. No problem if you are doing Duratex, just do some sanding. I'm doing a retro look with my O15, part of it will have a shellac'd tweed tolex, some will have exposed shellac'd plywood, so I need to figure out what to fill the chips with as they always happen in the worst place.

Famowood filler in Birch color!

OP: Unless it's a small strip of something really exotic, like Bubinga or Purpleheart, never buy wood from Woodsmith. Unless you really just like paying double its real value. In that case, let me offer you up some stuff

[Charles Warwick]

I use the BB from Menards at $53/4x8. It is 8 ply I think?

So, is the stuff that you're using from Menards is veneered then? I thought the veneered stuff wasn't as strong as the stuff that was B.B. throughout rather than the one outer veneer... How does it hold up so far? I might be okay with using it actually since it appears that they have 4X8 sheets of hardwood plywood on sale right now for 35 bucks, so maybe even though it's veneered it might at least be worth a shot just to try it.

OP: Unless it's a small strip of something really exotic, like Bubinga or Purpleheart, never buy wood from Woodsmith. Unless you really just like paying double its real value.

Ah, well I was just browsing... It did seem rather expensive, but then they seem pretty knowledgeable too.

[bzb]

Oh absolutely. Most of the guys I've run into in any Woodsmith, Woodcraft, Rockeler, etc are usually well-aged gentlemen who have been woodworking for decades. They know how to use hand tools better than I can use any of my own power tools.

They'll sometimes have deals on items, and they often carry items that you won't find at any other store (other than online). Wood just isn't one of those items


It's not that the thin veneered stuff isn't as strong; it's plywood, and it's plenty strong. The problem is that all joints are butt joints - so the glue is holding onto a layer that could be 1/64" thick. If (when) that delaminates your cabs go poof, apparently.

[Charles Warwick]

Ah, well I could definitely see the veneer coming off being a large problem... Is there really any advantage that the veneered Baltic Birch has over Aracuo? From what I'm seeing, Arauco is probably a better option than the veneered Birch...

[sine143]

aracuo > veneer birch

I'm seeing 22 dollars for 5x5 sheets of true BB here in NC.

[DrDoug018]

aracuo > veneer birch

I'm seeing 22 dollars for 5x5 sheets of true BB here in NC.

I pay $40 for a 5x5 piece of BB at Woodcraft in Columbus. I've never found BB anywhere else around here and I really prefer BB over any other ply I've tried.

Doug

[bzb]

aracuo > veneer birch

I'm seeing 22 dollars for 5x5 sheets of true BB here in NC.

Our prices went up here with this last batch that Suwanee Lumber got in. I paid $26 this week

Georgia Hardwood went up to $26 as well, so something might be going on. Might wanna stock up now if you like saving a few bucks!

Crazy thing is, I found a DISTRIBUTOR for Arauco here in Georgia (their corporate office is here) and they apparently have stacks and stacks of it sitting 5 miles from me... but they won't sell to the public, and no one anywhere near me carries it in stock.

[tdogg]

anyone know of a good source for BB in minneapolis area???? youngblood hardwoods sells 5x5 BB for $35 each (commercial pricing). and menards has arauco for $25 for a 4x8. i think ill be sticking with arauco untill i find a better BB price.

[bzb]

anyone know of a good source for BB in minneapolis area???? youngblood hardwoods sells 5x5 BB for $35 each (commercial pricing). and menards has arauco for $25 for a 4x8. i think ill be sticking with arauco untill i find a better BB price.

Just go to Google Maps, zoom out of your area, and type in "Lumber" into the search bar. You'll find dozens of places you had no clue even existed in your neighborhood.

I found one http://www.hiawathalumber.com/ is near MSP and says "Birch" in their product description.

[Sydney]

I've never found BB anywhere else around here and I really prefer BB over any other ply I've tried.Doug

If you do find it locally...
So far the closest source for guys around here is in Cleveland ( 4 - 5 hrs from here ).
Columbus would only by 3 hours.

Syd

[DrDoug018]

I've never found BB anywhere else around here and I really prefer BB over any other ply I've tried.Doug

If you do find it locally...
So far the closest source for guys around here is in Cleveland ( 4 - 5 hrs from here ).
Columbus would only by 3 hours.

Syd

I don't really mind paying that price. Given the amount of time it takes me to build one of these cabinets, anything I can do to make it easier is worth it. But then again, with LeBron gone, Cleveland could probably use the business.

I built our amp racks and SAC system rack out of the best ply I could find at Lowe's and Home Depot and I didn't like it early as well as BB.

Besides, if it were any cheaper, I'd be tempted to build more cabs.

Doug