Comments on: A baltic birch plywood primer http://www.dans-hobbies.com/2010/01/09/a-baltic-birch-plywood-primer/ The things i do for fun. Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:50:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dan http://www.dans-hobbies.com/2010/01/09/a-baltic-birch-plywood-primer/comment-page-1/#comment-666 Dan Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:17:14 +0000 http://www.dans-hobbies.com/?p=779#comment-666 Hi Max, Pretty much any plywood will have the appearance of light and Dark plies once finished. This is because of the orientation of the individual plies, Each ply is rotated 90 degrees to the previous ply. Thus when you cut through a sheet, and expose the edges what you get is long grain, end grain, long grain, end grain etc. End grain absorbs more finish than long grain, so it usually takes on a darker color than long grain. How drastic the difference in color is will depend on the finishing method being used. With regard to type, I thing grade CP would work fine for your application, as long as you get get lucky and don't happen to expose a void while cutting the sheet to size. Hi Max,

Pretty much any plywood will have the appearance of light and Dark plies once finished. This is because of the orientation of the individual plies, Each ply is rotated 90 degrees to the previous ply. Thus when you cut through a sheet, and expose the edges what you get is long grain, end grain, long grain, end grain etc. End grain absorbs more finish than long grain, so it usually takes on a darker color than long grain. How drastic the difference in color is will depend on the finishing method being used.

With regard to type, I thing grade CP would work fine for your application, as long as you get get lucky and don’t happen to expose a void while cutting the sheet to size.

]]> By: Max Webber http://www.dans-hobbies.com/2010/01/09/a-baltic-birch-plywood-primer/comment-page-1/#comment-660 Max Webber Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:13:23 +0000 http://www.dans-hobbies.com/?p=779#comment-660 Hello Dan! Thank you for the Baltic birch info. I think you are knowledgable and maybe can give me advice on a project. Cost is a factor. I saw some artwork that was made up of about a 2" plywood frame. The only part of this frame exposed was the sides that have the light and dark plys. Clearly two or more sheets were laminated together to make 2". The exposed plys were perfectly planed and had a light clear coat. My question is, are you aware of any plywood that has the light and dark plys like the baltic birch, that would be least expensive? Considering only the ply side would be seen, and the surface ply facing the wall, or glued to the underside of the painting. Some of the pieces I will be working with are 48" x 60" but the width of the frame would only be inch or 2. I hope you check these older posts. i didn't find anywhere to contact you directly. Well, thanks M Hello Dan!

Thank you for the Baltic birch info. I think you are knowledgable and maybe can give me advice on a project. Cost is a factor. I saw some artwork that was made up of about a 2″ plywood frame. The only part of this frame exposed was the sides that have the light and dark plys. Clearly two or more sheets were laminated together to make 2″. The exposed plys were perfectly planed and had a light clear coat.

My question is, are you aware of any plywood that has the light and dark plys like the baltic birch, that would be least expensive? Considering only the ply side would be seen, and the surface ply facing the wall, or glued to the underside of the painting.

Some of the pieces I will be working with are 48″ x 60″ but the width of the frame would only be inch or 2.

I hope you check these older posts. i didn’t find anywhere to contact you directly.

Well, thanks M

]]> By: Dan http://www.dans-hobbies.com/2010/01/09/a-baltic-birch-plywood-primer/comment-page-1/#comment-494 Dan Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:40:47 +0000 http://www.dans-hobbies.com/?p=779#comment-494 Toby, Don't use plywood for the top surface of a floor, it's not hard enough. In home construction, plywood should only be used as a sub-flooring. Toby,

Don’t use plywood for the top surface of a floor, it’s not hard enough. In home construction, plywood should only be used as a sub-flooring.

]]> By: Toby http://www.dans-hobbies.com/2010/01/09/a-baltic-birch-plywood-primer/comment-page-1/#comment-493 Toby Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:04:29 +0000 http://www.dans-hobbies.com/?p=779#comment-493 I am interesting in installing a plywood floor in the living/dining room and kitchen (approximately 1,000 sq. ft) of my mid-century home. My contractor is concerned about the longevity of plywood as a flooring material given the high traffic these rooms receive. Anyone know how Baltic Birch plywood floors look after a few years of use? I am also hoping to avoid having the screw heads or plugs visible - has anyone done this? Thanks Toby I am interesting in installing a plywood floor in the living/dining room and kitchen (approximately 1,000 sq. ft) of my mid-century home. My contractor is concerned about the longevity of plywood as a flooring material given the high traffic these rooms receive. Anyone know how Baltic Birch plywood floors look after a few years of use? I am also hoping to avoid having the screw heads or plugs visible – has anyone done this?

Thanks

Toby

]]> By: James http://www.dans-hobbies.com/2010/01/09/a-baltic-birch-plywood-primer/comment-page-1/#comment-263 James Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:21:19 +0000 http://www.dans-hobbies.com/?p=779#comment-263 Indeed a very informative article, that clears up several questions that people have in regard to Baltic Birch Plywood. I would like to point out some misconceptions that people tend to have in regards to Baltic Birch plywood. Well first of all 8x4 or 4x8 sizes have been always available on the market, but those have been primarily used in heavy industries. Baltic Birch is very well known for it's strength (bending properties) and wear resistance, that is where you see 4x8 being used as industrial flooring, container flooring and other heavy duty flooring applications. Just sheer life span and resistance to abuse of Baltic Birch flooring is amazing. Also 4x8 sheets are used in concrete form work and again just because it can be used over and over again. The reason why you see most of the lumber yards and suppliers carry 5x5 sheets is because it is being thought that 5x5 sheets produce less leftovers and can be cut very efficiently in cabinet making and furniture industries. Another factor that has been keeping 5x5 trend going is milling machines and laser cutting machines where most of the programming is configured for most common standard, that is 5x5. Recently there has been a trend that leans toward using 4x8 or 8x4 sheets since this size is easier to transport and there are many other applications that require Baltic Birch Plywood in such size. Another interesting misconception that people have is as to a true standard of Baltic Birch. Sometimes people settle for a product that is made in China an is claimed to be a true Baltic Birch. In fact ask yourself a simple question "where is China and where is Baltic Sea" well we talking about 10,000 mile difference between regions. So once someone goes to the store and claims they got a bargain on Baltic Birch for half the price, well that is just a simple lie, unless bought in quantity from a wholesaler. Just think of it, cut in Europe and brought for processing to Asia hmmm, on top of that Russian Rail Roads are notorious for being very very expensive. So how is it cheaper? Well answer is simple, so what you really getting from Baltic Birch that is stamped Made In China? Well you are getting two veneers of birch, on top and bottom and you get good old pine or poplar in the middle. What is most disappointing in this matter is in fact that the whole concept of strong and durable product is gone and on top of that a bad name is given. So please beware of such misconception. I hope that my contribution will be of help, and good luck with your Baltic Birch Plywood projects. Indeed a very informative article, that clears up several questions that people have in regard to Baltic Birch Plywood. I would like to point out some misconceptions that people tend to have in regards to Baltic Birch plywood. Well first of all 8×4 or 4×8 sizes have been always available on the market, but those have been primarily used in heavy industries. Baltic Birch is very well known for it’s strength (bending properties) and wear resistance, that is where you see 4×8 being used as industrial flooring, container flooring and other heavy duty flooring applications. Just sheer life span and resistance to abuse of Baltic Birch flooring is amazing. Also 4×8 sheets are used in concrete form work and again just because it can be used over and over again. The reason why you see most of the lumber yards and suppliers carry 5×5 sheets is because it is being thought that 5×5 sheets produce less leftovers and can be cut very efficiently in cabinet making and furniture industries. Another factor that has been keeping 5×5 trend going is milling machines and laser cutting machines where most of the programming is configured for most common standard, that is 5×5. Recently there has been a trend that leans toward using 4×8 or 8×4 sheets since this size is easier to transport and there are many other applications that require Baltic Birch Plywood in such size. Another interesting misconception that people have is as to a true standard of Baltic Birch. Sometimes people settle for a product that is made in China an is claimed to be a true Baltic Birch. In fact ask yourself a simple question “where is China and where is Baltic Sea” well we talking about 10,000 mile difference between regions. So once someone goes to the store and claims they got a bargain on Baltic Birch for half the price, well that is just a simple lie, unless bought in quantity from a wholesaler. Just think of it, cut in Europe and brought for processing to Asia hmmm, on top of that Russian Rail Roads are notorious for being very very expensive. So how is it cheaper? Well answer is simple, so what you really getting from Baltic Birch that is stamped Made In China? Well you are getting two veneers of birch, on top and bottom and you get good old pine or poplar in the middle. What is most disappointing in this matter is in fact that the whole concept of strong and durable product is gone and on top of that a bad name is given. So please beware of such misconception. I hope that my contribution will be of help, and good luck with your Baltic Birch Plywood projects.

]]>