[A/S] high grade plywood

[Chris Koehn <timberguides@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have a fair amount of experience working with high grade interior 
plywood. As it's been mentioned on the list a few times, thought I'd 
pass along a little info.

Baltic birch plywood is my favorite to work with. It is really made in 
the balkans- often Russia. It comes in 60" X 60" (roughly- it's metric) 
sheets and can be purchased in a different grades. Depending on what 
I'm using it for I usually get B/Bb, which has no voids or "footballs" 
on one face (and sanded ones on the other face). I generally buy 1/2" 
thick (again, it's metric..). 1/2" has 9 plys. There are several 
advantages to using this material over conventional veneered plywood: 
It is extraordinarily strong, and can self-support and carry weight for 
relatively great distances without sagging. Since it is void free, and 
since the veneers are alternating in color (light and dark) the edges 
can be left un banded. I simply ease the corners with a router, sand, 
and finish with urethane.

Apple ply is a domestically produced alternative to the imported stuff. 
It is available with a wider variety of species as the top veneer. I 
find the quality to be somewhat inferior to baltic birch in appearance, 
but it's just about as strong and quite a bit less expensive. I've seen 
it with fewer plys 7 or even 5), which would not be as strong as 9 ply, 
so watch that. A 4X8 sheet of apple ply is a bit less than a 5X5 sheet 
of Baltic.

Both of these products are very stable over time. I have built 
furniture and cabinetry from them for more than 10 years and have never 
seen any evidence of "creep", as I have seen in conventional softwood 
core veneer plywood. And it's far, far superior particle board in this 
regard. It's a bunch lighter too.

In our '79 @ 31' Airstream, I am outfitting the closet with baltic 
birch drawers. I am also refitting the bathroom with shelves, and I'm 
even trying it as a bathroom counter top (with 5 coats of urethane..) 
I'm considering replacing those heavy particle board closet doors as 
well. In most cases it's lighter and stronger than the plastic 
components I've removed, and it sure does look better.

While there are mail order and internet sources, I would recommend 
seeking out a local supplier, as shipping will eat you alive. Here in 
the Milwaukee area (and throughout the upper midwest) we are blessed by 
the presence of Alpine Plywood, through which I am able to source just 
about any kind of plywood imaginable.

Best,

Chris K.
#8638