Progress and plywood questions

[tom mann]

I made some progress on my LAJ layout this week:  the insulated garage door was installed, allowing my garage to become climate controlled.  I sealed up most of the exposed insulation with sheetrock, and primed most of the walls.  This should cut down on the dust significantly.

So I went out to the big box diy stores in search of Birch plywood and came up empty handed.  A search on Lowes and Home Depot websites shows that no stores near me even carry birch plywood.  So, where can I get it?

[Iain]

Lowes will probably order it for you.

[wcfn100]

Without knowing where you're at, there should be small building supply shops listed in the phone book.  That's what I had to do to get foam sheets in Phoenix.


Jason

[3rdrail]

Y'all still have Hechinger's in that area? Or, ask a cabinetmaker where he gets his birch plywood - most use it.

[Mark5]

Y'all still have Hechinger's in that area? Or, ask a cabinetmaker where he gets his birch plywood - most use it.

Hechingers is long gone.

[Chulvis]

Here in San Rafael it is only the smaller "specialty shops" that carry that kind of stuff, Tom. I'm sure it is the same where you are.

[tom mann]

A few years ago, when i built my Domino module-based Goose Island layout, I got all the nice 3/4" Birch plywood at Home Depot.  Now, all they have is this junk-looking plywood that looks like it's made of cardboard.

I hope that the day laborers haven't been using this cheep ply on all the new houses around here...

[railspike55]

Tom

Have you though about using solid core under layment? usually one side is good.
You may have to be picky. 

The wood is I think a little softer the birch but may work for you.

Ron N.

[wm3798]

Check your friendly local 84 lumber.  We used to carry birch and oak plywood when I worked there, but that's over a decade ago now...
At the very least they should be able to order it for you.

Frankly, for benchwork, I think you're wasting a ton of money using cabinet grade plywood.  Sanded BC pine will give you plenty of durability once you seal it up.  Tongue and groove subfloor plywood is your best bet, because while it may look a little funky, it will have zero internal voids.  You have to cut off the edges, but you'll save a boatload of cash... cash you will need to do homage to the Great Walthers Gods...

Lee

[Iain]

I hope that the day laborers haven't been using this cheep ply on all the new houses around here...

I've worked in a few houses here that have "50 year warranty" stamped on the OSB used for flooring.  Since we know that 99% of the time these days something will fail within the first year after warranty expiration, makes you wonder what will happen to that flooring.

I wouldn't know about birch ply, I used scrap marine plywood.  Heck, every bit of wood I use for layout building is scrounged.  Most of it is pine, but I have maple, cyprus, cedar, and oak mixed in as well.

[kiwi_al]

This is gonna be one of those really daft questions, why do you want to use birch plywood - what makes that better than good ole garden variety pine ?

I can really only get pine and use that.

cheers

Alister

[Sokramiketes]

This is gonna be one of those really daft questions, why do you want to use birch plywood - what makes that better than good ole garden variety pine ?

I can really only get pine and use that.

cheers

Alister

I've been using Baltic Birch and would have a hard time going back to Pine unless I was filling up a basement empire where cost is more of a concern.  Baltic Birch is manufactured to tighter tolerences, is void free, and has more laminations (layers) per sheet thickness, making it more stable.  Even the edges of the sheets are pretty, and it has less grain pattern. 

(I'm stealing one of Jamie's pics here:)


1/4" Baltic top, 1/8" side rails, 3/4" end plates.  We get compliments on the carpentry; it looks like cabinetry because it's made from the same materials. 

[Bob Bufkin]

Here's some info on fire retardent plywood.  Don't know if it's any use of not.
http://www.inspect-ny.com/structure/FRTplywood.htm

[wcfn100]

Here's some info on fire retardent plywood.  Don't know if it's any use of not.

Don't tell the fire marshall.  Wouldn't that just put an end to N-trak if it gets that extreme.


Jason

[wm3798]

To get a smooth surface, 1/4" luaun is a helluva lot cheaper than birch, perhaps a little softer, but if you're going to bury everything in foam and Sculptamold anyway, I don't see the point in having "pretty edges and a tighter grain pattern".

It's probably a combination of personal preference mixed in with a little snob appeal as far as I can see.

It recalls my recent railfan trip with Ed... We stopped for coffee... he went to one side of the parking lot to a Starbucks and paid $4+, waited in line, elbowed his way through the crowd (most of whom were wearing black turtlenecks and looking uppity) to get to the gourmet creamer selection ..  I went to the other side of the parking lot to Dunkin Donuts, got a large black and a donut for about $2.50, and waited for him by the car for 15 minutes.  In the end, we both got a cup of coffee.

I suppose if you're in the practice of displaying unfinished modules the grade of plywood is important.  Otherwise, at least in my world, economics drives the bus.

Lee