Another Lowe's Plywood Product

[DaveK]

My local Lowe's has a new product on the shelves from Georgia-Pacific called the "Craftsman Panel". It looks like a GP answer to Arauco. It has an A side, a C side, claims minimal voids, and costs the same. The only difference is 4 equal plys instead of 5.

How suitable do you think this product is for building BFM speakers?

[Tim A]

Bill says 5 ply minimum. I just picked up a sheet of A/C yellow pine yesterday for $26. 5 plies, good one side, mediocre the second side. I wouldn't use it for subs, but for DR's (200, 50, 80, and 90) or Omni's and O'Tops it'd be ok.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Stiffness is directly proportional to the number of plies. Some 4 ply may be adequate, but with 5 ply or more you need not be concerned.

[DaveK]

Stiffness is directly proportional to the number of plies. Some 4 ply may be adequate, but with 5 ply or more you need not be concerned.

Thanks. The GP sheets I pulled off the rack seemed a little more warped than the Arauco sheets. That must be why.

I think I'll wait for Lowe's to get more Arauco in stock (or swallow hard and pay 2.5x the price for BB).

[JazzyRick]

There's a regional competitor here in the midwest to those other Orange and Blue stores called Menards. They have some generic 5 ply 1/2" BCX plywood for like $15 a 4x8 sheet. It looks plenty good enough to carpet. The nicer stuff is around $19 a 4x8 sheet. I'm pretty sure this is in direct response to those other two just building up in the area the last 3 or 4 years. I don't think there was either here 4 years ago...now all 3 of those are within 2 miles of each other....on both sides of town. Mind you Appleton, WI is only about 100,000 people. Probably 250,000 with the surrounding communities and such, but that's a lot of wood for a smaller town if you ask me.

[LelandCrooks]

YOU GUYS ARE KILLIN" ME.

Big boxes are THE ENEMY. At least they have been for me for my entire life. Been competing with them in one form or another since my dad started a Hardware store in '58.

Find a good independent, establish a relationship, and they will take good care of you. The large standalones or small 3 or 4 store chains can match the boxes on most stuff. Look for the place that the cabinet builders use. I guarantee it's not those big boxes. Here in small town america, (12,000) our local yards regularly beat the boxes on house bids. I buy 5 -7 ply BB for $20-25 sheet. I don't even bother with 4x8, the bb is cheaper by the sq ft.

[wannabe]

There aren't always local hardware stores around anymore. I know in NJ there are a few lumber yards but a lot of em don't deal with the general public so its tough.

[Tim A]

I can't even find BB. If on the off chance I do, it's expensive. Plus it's heavier than hell. I hate working with the stuff. My dream material would be the 11 ply 'blonde hardwood' at Lowe's without the veneer. As it is right now if I had to build a sub I'd be forced to use it and route the sides to eliminate the veneer.

Local guys? I've called them all. The answer is "We don't carry anything like that, no one uses it anymore." That even includes A/C in many cases. You can just flat out forget A/B, haven't seen any since I was 25. The only local I have around here with a big selection is Fingerle Lumber in Ann Arbor. I can get anything I want there, but the prices are high and you aren't going to build a raport with them, they're HUGE. They take up about 5 blocks in downtown AA. "European Birch" is about $90 a sheet. The only thing I buy from them is 1/8" birch, which is about $24 for a 4 x 8 sheet.

Like it or not, the big boxes are here to stay.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I don't think there was either here 4 years ago...now all 3 of those are within 2 miles of each other....on both sides of town. Mind you Appleton, WI is only about 100,000 people. Probably 250,000 with the surrounding communities and such, but that's a lot of wood for a smaller town if you ask me.

We have a Lowes and HD within 1/2 mile of each other in a town with a population of less than 5,000 and total population of less than 30,000 within a twenty mile radius. And another Lowes 10 miles down the road.

[bgavin]

DaveK, I use Hughes Hardwoods in Rancho. They are off South Sunrise, turn left at the Kinkos. Half a block down on the right side. They are a full service supply with an extensive range of premium product. Including bender ply, etc.

$28 for 1/2" BB in 5x5
$34 for 1/2" "american birch" in 4x8.

I just did a T39 in the "american birch". It is acceptable, but certainly not in the same league as BB. Numerous voids filled with some drywall-mudlike filler. It will do the job, but is best covered by carpet.

[Mikey]

Pffft ... you guys have it MADE!

The town of Pahrump has a population of about 40,000 people and the only place to get wood is Ace Hardware. There are no lumber yards or "big box" building centers. Luckily, Home Depot just broke ground, so we'll have that in the not-too-distant future. At least Ace has a very good 5-ply 1/2" for $30 a 4x8 sheet which I REALLY like. HD will have to supply something pretty spectacular to make me switch.

[fender3x]

We have a Lowes and HD within 1/2 mile of each other in a town with a population of less than 5,000 and total population of less than 30,000 within a twenty mile radius. And another Lowes 10 miles down the road.

Contrast that with Miami...a metro area of 6 million +... I have not been able to find a single local supplier of BB, nor do the local Lowes carry Arauco. Lots of local lumberyards, all filled with thin veneer crapola. I have only found one place that has decent 5 ply pine. Ah, but in NH, even the box stores have wood suitable for Bill's cabs. No wonder he thinks it's paradise

[bgavin]

We have... a population of less than 5,000 and total population of less than 30,000 within a twenty mile radius.

No wonder he thinks it's paradise

That is why he thinks it's paradise.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Ah, but in NH, even the box stores have wood suitable for Bill's cabs. No wonder he thinks it's paradise

No sales tax, no income tax, and the lowest liquor prices in the nation. Eat your hearts out, flatlanders!

[bgavin]

And among the highest property taxes in the nation, too.

I can not smoke, not drink, and earn little money.
I can't stop paying property taxes. That is why we cannot move within California... I have cheap taxes (1993 level set) and don't want a 400% increase in my annual tax bill incurred by changes houses.