Price of baltic birch ply.

[vlad335]

Once again... Trouble finding the proper wood.

Seems the wood source for the guy who is going to help me build a set of T-48's is for regular birch ply. I suspect it's the thin veneer crap so multiple calls to every lumbar yard in the phone book. One place said they can order it and called back.

Price is $52.95 for a 5x5 sheet of 9 ply.

Is this high? If so, what is the normal price for this stuff?

[Tim A]

I'm done using Baltic Birch. First of all, it's too hard to find. Secondly, it's too expensive. Third, it's too heavy.

If all he can find is the veneered stuff, he can use a router to dado a groove for the panel edges. All you have to do is remove enough to take the paper thin veneer out of the equation.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Price is $52.95 for a 5x5 sheet of 9 ply.

Is this high? If so, what is the normal price for this stuff?

That's grand theft, $15-$20 too high.

[LelandCrooks]

$22 5x5 sheet 1/2 bb.

[fender3x]

I have to pay a ton for plywood here in Miami. Not sure about the T48, but other BFD plans allow for the use of 5 ply pine. I am convinced that to get BB here I'd have to order it over the internet. I once paid $50 per sheet for maple ply and it turned out to have the thin veneer you describe. It sucked. I was SO happy to finally find good quality 5 ply pine for around $32-35 per 4x8 sheet.

There are work arounds for thin ply. Tim's is a good system. Leland (I think) has talked about using biscuits to compensate for thin plies. I have used dowels. But it's easier to just use the recommended wood

[Les Webb]

I use a good quality chinese birch that is sourced local. Good glues and a nice thick veneer. Most all the cabinet builders here are using it. Comes in a white or a red birch. Red birch stains and looks very nice, it's what a lot of the local cabinets are being built of. Sells locally for about $32 for a 4x8. I can get a better deal

[gdougherty]

I've been real happy with the Arauco ply at my local Lowes. $22 for 15/32"x4'x8'. It warps easily, but I tend to pick it up, rough cut most of my stuff, and then trim it down and force it straight as I build. Fortunately Bill's designs are well braced and everything I've built so far is a generally square design so guidboards and panel edges give a pretty true box. I think the internal bracing is part of what makes Bill's cabs sound so good. I was tapping around the sides on my OT12's and marveling at how solid everything sounded.

[vlad335]

Price is $52.95 for a 5x5 sheet of 9 ply.

Is this high? If so, what is the normal price for this stuff?

That's grand theft, $15-$20 too high.

Believe it or not, thats the best price I got so far! Other places have quoted me even higher ( 65.00!!!) so no baltic birch for me. Not that I couldn't pay it, I simply refuse to. Plus it would have to be ordered and I would have to store it somewhere. With all the humidity right now, too many things could go wrong.

I built the OT-12's and OT 212's from the 5 ply "blondwood" from Lowes. $25 bucks a sheet, doesn't warp, ( Unless its underwater but thats another story.) and they have plenty of it. Bought a router and I think I'm going to go with the 1/8" deep dados in the side panels. This would help with assembly as well.

I can't think of any other option. We are playing out for the first time on 9-15-07 and we got to get this system built and tested.

[vlad335]

I've been real happy with the Arauco ply at my local Lowes. $22 for 15/32"x4'x8'. It warps easily, but I tend to pick it up, rough cut most of my stuff, and then trim it down and force it straight as I build. Fortunately Bill's designs are well braced and everything I've built so far is a generally square design so guidboards and panel edges give a pretty true box. I think the internal bracing is part of what makes Bill's cabs sound so good. I was tapping around the sides on my OT12's and marveling at how solid everything sounded.

Know what you mean. The O-tops I made are like little brick sh*thouses. Just for the hell of it, I stood on an OT-12 and not even a creak. Mind you, I weigh 250 lbs.

Concerning the Arauco ply, Lowes gave me a price of 32.00. I would have to store it while making the cabs and I have no idea how long that will take.

[vlad335]

Found a Baltic birch supplier today. Get this... They are located 2 miles from my house!

http://www.homecraftveneer.com/

THey have a huge stock and last but not least... $26 a sheet of 5x5! Right under my nose the whole time.

[David Carter]

Found a Baltic birch supplier today. Get this... They are located 2 miles from my house!

http://www.homecraftveneer.com/

THey have a huge stock and last but not least... $26 a sheet of 5x5! Right under my nose the whole time.

Lucky dog! I got 5x5 baltic birch for $25 in February, and now it's gone up to $38 for a 5x5.

[vlad335]

I'm done using Baltic Birch. First of all, it's too hard to find. Secondly, it's too expensive. Third, it's too heavy.

Wow! Damn right it's heavy! seems like twice the weight.

I think i'm going to use it for the top and 2 sides of my second Titan. These seem to be the panels that would be in the most danger of delaminating with this sub. Whats left over from 2 sheets I can use for braces.

( I already bought wood yesterday for the interior panels. )