Wood Prices Update 2023

[jimbo7]

Today I stopped by a local wood supplier (for something else) and asked about their stock of 1/2" B.B. they have. They had about 3 dozen sheets of 5'x5' for $94 a sheet. Last time I checked was a few years ago right as the prices started going up and I think the best in the area was around $65 a sheet. This is in the St. Louis area BTW

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I don't see BB prices going down, my assumption being that Russian sources are under an embargo.

[Tom Smit]

I looked a couple days ago at my local supplier. I think 12mm was $119 for a 5x5. 3mm was $79 for a 5x5.

[jimbo7]

Stopped by Rockler yesterday and they only had 2'x4' sheets of "American Birch" ply in stock for $39.99 a sheet. The 1/2" was 5-ply but the layers were inconsistent. Not a thin veneer like the Auraco ply, but certainly not equal thicknesses. The end-grain was not as clean as B.B. either. I'd say better than most Auraco I've purchased but not for the price. Obviously the 5'x5' B.B. sheets are the better in every way and cheapest per sq/ft.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I've never seen 'American' birch. Birch in the US grows where fields are abandoned. They eventually get crowded out by other species that grow taller, so we don't have large stands of birch for harvesting. This looks interesting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WfM72p07EQ
https://www.garnica.one/en-us/where-to-buy.html
Poplar is very good, but has always been hard to find. Perhaps this Garnica brand is expanding to fill the BB void.

[Seth]

I'd absolutely love it if quality poplar ply was available at a reasonable price. Last time I searched, maybe 4ish years ago, (off the top of my head) it was $150ish per 4x8 sheet when 5x5 BB sheets were $36 and 4x8 sheets 5 ply Douglas Fir CD sheathing ply were $24. I went with the Douglas Fir option, more for the weight savings than the price. Being CD, it's got knots on both sides, so lot's of filling and sanding. But, worth it for the weight savings in my particular case, granted my case is very unique and not really applicable to 99% of builders. All that said, the garnica link you (Bill) put up indicates there's a dealer of their products about 60 miles from my location, which is acceptable to me. I'll give them a call this coming week and report back what I learn of the availability and cost of ½"/12mm Poplar ply. Man, that would be sweet if it were reasonable AND available.

[Tom Smit]

<snip>All that said, the garnica link you (Bill) put up indicates there's a dealer of their products about 60 miles from my location, which is acceptable to me. I'll give them a call this coming week and report back what I learn of the availability and cost of ½"/12mm Poplar ply. Man, that would be sweet if it were reasonable AND available.

Apparently, there is a dealer about an hour from me, in London, Ontario. I may tell my local HomeHardware store about them.

[Seth]

The place near me only had poplar ply in ¾", primer'd on both sides, $98.80 for 4x8 sheet. When I asked, the rep said I could order the ½"/12mm, but the minimum order would likely be a truckload.

He also said they have Baltic Birch but were no longer going to carry it. I asked that they consider replacing their typical Baltic stock with Poplar. He said he'd pass on the word.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I don't see poplar as replacement for BB. The most common use for BB is cabinetry, not speakers, in great part because it takes a natural finish well. Poplar is usually has streaks of green, so it's usually used for items that are painted. That jibes with the primed 3/4" that you saw.

[fender3x]

...Poplar is very good, but has always been hard to find. Perhaps this Garnica brand is expanding to fill the BB void.

They guy in the vid says it's available everywhere and gives a website. He's in NE FL, and I am in SE FL so I had high hopes.... But the website is for Garnica products, not necessarily for poplar plywood. There is a local yard that sells Garnica products but, alas, they don't list poplar as an option so YMMV. I am guessing this means my local yard *could* order poplar ply from Garnica but doesn't.

Also, I noticed that there are two kinds of poplar. The "American" kind...and probably some imports...are the same thin veneer stuff that it generally to be avoided. It appears to be the European poplar plywood that is similar to BB. You might want them to send you a pic before you drive far in any case. In my area that's also true of BB...which they will sometimes tell you they have, but when you arrive it's really Chinese.

[AntonZ]

I don't see poplar as replacement for BB. The most common use for BB is cabinetry, not speakers, in great part because it takes a natural finish well. Poplar is usually has streaks of green, so it's usually used for items that are painted. That jibes with the primed 3/4" that you saw.

In my experience BB is also somewhat tougher than poplar, it is more resistant to denting. The smoother surface makes for easier finishing. And it is a joy for woodworking. There is less tearing on the edges and cuts are cleaner. The weight saving is nice on poplar though.

Over here (continental Europe) poplar is significantly cheaper than birch, but prices of wood are still very high. Same goes for most other construction materials.

[Bruce Weldy]

I just checked on BB here in Texas. My local provider doesn't have any. My San Antonio provider is out, but getting some in at $58.70/sheet for 5x5. So, a lot better than most of the country.

[T_Gowan]

In Ontario Canada
1/8 65.39
1/4 76.19
1/2 98.99
3/4 130.69

[AntonZ]

Continental Europe
The place where I used to get ply doesn't have birch at this time. They do still have poplar. It has been a while since I purchased some, it used to be nice quality if I can hand pick and avoid warped sheets. It used to be the same for birch, which they currently don't stock. I found some online at another place, quality unknown.

Poplar ply
9mm (3/8") €72
12mm (1/2") €90
15mm (5/8") €108
18mm (3/4") €124

Birch ply
9mm (3/8") €68
12mm (1/2") €93
15mm (5/8") €137


Funny, poplar always used to be quite a bit cheaper than birch. Not much difference anymore. And all have gone up.

[Tom Smit]

In Ontario Canada
1/8 65.39
1/4 76.19
1/2 98.99
3/4 130.69

How come yours is less 'spensive? LOL. My local store has those sizes for roughly $10 more, for each size.