Sourcing Plywood for a Pair of DR250

[David Carter]

I'm looking for sources for the various woods I'm going to need for a pair of DR250s. I can get the 1/2" baltic birch from the same shop I got it from for my O10 (although the price has gone up from $25 to $38 for a 5x5 since Feb!).

Unfortunately, the same guy says he doesn't have (and says he can't get) 1/8" or 1/4" in the widths I need. I saw a sticky post here that gives a link to a site that has 3/8" and 1/8" bendable plywood. However, they don't seem to have any 1/4". Is it critical that the mouth horn sheaths be made of 1/4" on the DR250? Could I use either 3/8" or 1/8". If I could use the 1/8", that would be great for both price and weight!

Anyone else know of any other sources for this stuff?

Also, has anyone done a DR250 out of Lowe's Arauco? Was in there today and saw some 3/4" Arauco. Didn't have time to look closely to see if they had it in 1/2".

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

However, they don't seem to have any 1/4". Is it critical that the mouth horn sheaths be made of 1/4" on the DR250?p

Yes. 1/8 is too thin, 3/8 won't bend. I can't believe no one carries something as ubiquitous as 1/4 A/C plywood.

[David Carter]

However, they don't seem to have any 1/4". Is it critical that the mouth horn sheaths be made of 1/4" on the DR250?

Yes. 1/8 is too thin, 3/8 won't bend. I can't believe no one carries something as ubiquitous as 1/4 A/C plywood.

I'll keep looking around. There are probably other places in town that I haven't contacted yet.

Regarding your statement about 3/8" not bending, I assume that there are exceptions since you posted a link to some 3/8" bendable birch ply a while ago (vandykes.com). If push came to shove, I assume I could use that stuff so long as it would bend, right?

[gdougherty]

All my cabs are out of the Arauco stuff. Lightweight and strong enough for me.

[David Carter]

All my cabs are out of the Arauco stuff. Lightweight and strong enough for me.

Thanks for the reply. I'll have to take a closer look next time I'm in Lowe's.

Have you built any DR's? If so, what did you use for the bendable stuff?

[SoundInMotionDJ]

All my cabs are out of the Arauco stuff. Lightweight and strong enough for me.

Thanks for the reply. I'll have to take a closer look next time I'm in Lowe's.

Have you built any DR's? If so, what did you use for the bendable stuff?

Only one of the three Lowes near my house carries 1/2" Arauco. So far, I've been building jigs and such - but it appears to be good stuff.

For the bent parts of a DR, I'm planning to use 1/4" ply and sheet metal.

--Stan Graves

[gdougherty]

No DR's yet. I've looked around to see what I could use for bendy stuff but I haven't found any 1/8" any of the places I've looked except for specialty lumber stores that want a small fortune for each sheet.

[hclague]

Dave et al

This is the company that MANUFACTURE's the bendable Plywoood ( other plywood as well )

Buffalo Veneer & Plywood company
501 6th Ave NE
Buffalo, MN , 55313-1655
Phone: 763-682-1822
FAX: 763-682-0795

For some reason they do not have a direct website.

I was lucky. They are only a 20 minute drive from me.

Hal

[David Carter]

This is the company that MANUFACTURE's the bendable Plywoood ( other plywood as well )

Buffalo Veneer & Plywood company
501 6th Ave NE
Buffalo, MN , 55313-1655
Phone: 763-682-1822
FAX: 763-682-0795

Thanks for that info.

I'm going to be spending Christmas in Rochester, MN at my brother's house. I wish I was going to be there for more than just one week so I could check it out and meet a fellow BFD cab builder. As it is, I'm barely going to have time to catch my breath before it's time to go back home!

[SoundInMotionDJ]

During a trip to Lowes this morning, I noticed that they are selling a 5.2mm (~3/16") Luann plywood that has three equal plys, plus a veneer. It won't bend tight enough to make the butt cheeks, but it might do to make the horn sheaths.

--Stan Graves

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

During a trip to Lowes this morning, I noticed that they are selling a 5.2mm (~3/16") Luann plywood that has three equal plys, plus a veneer. It won't bend tight enough to make the butt cheeks, but it might do to make the horn sheaths.

--Stan Graves

Lauan tends to splinter a lot, and veneers are structurally a bad idea, as they'll peel under stress.

[hclague]

Dave

This place MANUFACTURES's the bendable plywood:

Buffalo Veneer & plywood co

501 6th Ave NE
Buffalo, MN , 55313-1655
Phone: 763-682-1822
FAX: 763-682-0795

There is no website for some reason, but I'm sure they ship.

Hal

[David Carter]

During a trip to Lowes this morning, I noticed that they are selling a 5.2mm (~3/16") Luann plywood that has three equal plys, plus a veneer. It won't bend tight enough to make the butt cheeks, but it might do to make the horn sheaths.

Yes, I went to Lowe's on my lunch break today and saw that samw stuff. Based on everything I've read here, I'll be staying away from the veneer stuff.

I have also called around to every place I can think of in this area, and nobody has 1/8" or 1/4" A/C. Lowe's and HD both have 1/4" B/C pine, so I may have to resort to that. For the 1/8", I guess I'll be ordering it from somewhere.

[SoundInMotionDJ]

During a trip to Lowes this morning, I noticed that they are selling a 5.2mm (~3/16") Luann plywood that has three equal plys, plus a veneer. It won't bend tight enough to make the butt cheeks, but it might do to make the horn sheaths.

Yes, I went to Lowe's on my lunch break today and saw that samw stuff. Based on everything I've read here, I'll be staying away from the veneer stuff.

The equal plys were what attracted my attention. I agree that given the ready availability of 1/4", it's not worth messing with this stuff.

I have also called around to every place I can think of in this area, and nobody has 1/8" or 1/4" A/C. Lowe's and HD both have 1/4" B/C pine, so I may have to resort to that.

I'm using the BC pine. I bought enough for internal braces on the T39's, and for the horn sheaths on DRs.

Don't sweat the difference between A and B grades. One pass with a random orbit sander, and a little care to cut between any "footballs" on the B side will net you A grade.

--Stan Graves

[David Carter]

I have also called around to every place I can think of in this area, and nobody has 1/8" or 1/4" A/C. Lowe's and HD both have 1/4" B/C pine, so I may have to resort to that.

I'm using the BC pine. I bought enough for internal braces on the T39's, and for the horn sheaths on DRs.

Don't sweat the difference between A and B grades. One pass with a random orbit sander, and a little care to cut between any "footballs" on the B side will net you A grade.

Thanks, Stan. I've not worked with plywood enough to know the difference between the various grades, so this makes me feel better about the BC stuff. This will be my first build aside from an Omni 10 which I did with 100% baltic birch. Think I'm going to try the Arauco from Lowe's for the DR250's. It looks good, and it's $24 for a 4x8 vs. $38 for a 5x5 of baltic birch!