sunnywater
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Post by sunnywater on Jun 20, 2020 7:41:53 GMT -8
We are thinking of getting our Birch panels from Buffalo in Minnesota (mentioned earlier in thread).
From their website: Buffalo Veneer produces Bending plywood in a Veneer core panel only. We use either a “Lauan” or a “Basswood” substrate depending on the customers preference. Face and back veneers are per the customer’s specifications. We stock Bending plywood in Birch, Mahogany, and Red Oak. Other species are available upon request and may require a minimum.
Any ideas/opinions on the use of Lauan or Basswood?
Thanks! Gwen
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datac
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Post by datac on Jun 20, 2020 11:13:16 GMT -8
You don't need bending plywood- it's far more expensive and doesn't provide the structural strength you need. 99% of the time standard 1/8" birch veneer ply is plenty flexible enough for the gentle curves in vintage trailers. Lauan is usually used as a generic term for any asian mahogany-like woods, whether or not they're actually lauan (could be meranti or mersawa or a dozen other species), but it's fine as a core. Basswood is very soft, and isn't common outside of specialty applications like bending ply.
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nate
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Post by nate on Jun 20, 2020 11:36:12 GMT -8
I got my birch ply from the place in Buffalo. I thought it was a reasonable price for a quality product. I suggest that you make sure they have at least twice the number of sheets that you need so you can pick out the best ones!
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datac
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Post by datac on Jun 20, 2020 11:40:38 GMT -8
Well, it's possible they might call it anything, but bending ply is a specialty product used when a very tight bend radius is required, down to a few inches. If you pick the thing up and it's floppy like a noodle, that's not what you want.
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sunnywater
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Post by sunnywater on Jun 20, 2020 11:56:40 GMT -8
You don't need bending plywood- it's far more expensive and doesn't provide the structural strength you need. 99% of the time standard 1/8" birch veneer ply is plenty flexible enough for the gentle curves in vintage trailers. Lauan is usually used as a generic term for any asian mahogany-like woods, whether or not they're actually lauan (could be meranti or mersawa or a dozen other species), but it's fine as a core. Basswood is very soft, and isn't common outside of specialty applications like bending ply. Yikes, I am so glad you said something, I dug deeper and they also have veneer core plywood which they describe as being structurally more sound that the bending plywood. I was so shocked to see anything 1/8" that I assumed there had to be only one kind! I took down my previous question just to make sure that I don't confuse anyone else. Thank you, datac!!
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sunnywater
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Post by sunnywater on Oct 31, 2020 19:09:06 GMT -8
We finally bought all our 1/8 birch plywood today. After searching and searching ("greatest scavenger hunt of your life"), we found a place about 2 hours away and I could have roamed the store for hours. Just an amazing store. Great customer service. Beautiful North American made birch ply. They had over 100 sheets and encouraged us to look through to find sheets that we liked and that matched. Owl Hardwood Lumber, Des Plaines IL (just northwest of Chicago) $23.75 a sheet but since we were buying enough for the entire camper, we got a volume discount and so it was $22.56 a sheet. Kirk standing by a gorgeous slab of wood with a whole bunch of pretty birch panels. (Posted from Flickr)
We could have spent hours here. (Posted from Flickr)
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Post by vikx on Oct 31, 2020 21:19:33 GMT -8
I love that slab! Just gorgeous...
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sawset
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Post by sawset on Nov 1, 2020 5:08:43 GMT -8
Beautiful North American made birch ply. They had over 100 sheets and encouraged us to look through to find sheets that we liked and that matched. Owl Hardwood Lumber, Des Plaines IL (just northwest of Chicago) $23.75 a sheet but since we were buying enough for the entire camper, we got a volume discount and so it was $22.56 a sheet. We picked up 15sheets two weeks ago, Owl Hardwood, Lombardy IL. They had about 45 sheets on hand. About $22.50. Also got some birch and doug fir planks for the cabinets. Their prices for hardwoods is about 50% more than others (Kettle moraine hardwoods, WestBend WI), but the quality is high (select and better, theirs was mostly better, knot free), and their varietys are more diverse. I didn't ask about country of origin, but if NAmerica is correct, then I'm happy about that. The next closest place was Bay Lumber in Greenbay, but their inventory was variable (none at this time) unless someone (rv company) places a large order and they have some leftovers.
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sunnywater
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Post by sunnywater on Nov 1, 2020 5:29:32 GMT -8
We picked up 15sheets two weeks ago, Owl Hardwood, Lombardy IL. They had about 45 sheets on hand. About $22.50. Also got some birch and doug fir planks for the cabinets. Their prices for hardwoods is about 50% more than others (Kettle moraine hardwoods, WestBend WI), but the quality is high (select and better, theirs was mostly better, knot free), and their varietys are more diverse. I didn't ask about country of origin, but if NAmerica is correct, then I'm happy about that. The next closest place was Bay Lumber in Greenbay, but their inventory was variable (none at this time) unless someone (rv company) places a large order and they have some leftovers. I agree the quality and diversity of the wood was excellent. For me the customer service really won the day. Of the 10 plus places we called in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, they were by far the most responsive and helpful. That was also the case when we went to buy the sheets. They were crazy busy but took time and interest in our project. They seem to have stock very consistently (we have called several times thinking we would go to pick up the plywood just to have weather get in the way). They remind me of the way businesses used to be run and I can't wait to go back.
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Jul 28, 2021 15:06:32 GMT -8
I’m about to give up on 1/8” birch. I’ve called everywhere in a 4 hour radius. I called Nashville plywood and they told me that they buy from the 2 largest vendors in the country and they don’t have it and couldn’t give me any indication of when they would. I can find butt loads of 1/4” but no 1/8 or 3/16. No help from any of the cabinet shops either. I’m thinking of 1/4” on the walls and decide on the ceiling when I get there.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Jul 29, 2021 12:39:13 GMT -8
I’m about to give up on 1/8” birch. I’ve called everywhere in a 4 hour radius. I called Nashville plywood and they told me that they buy from the 2 largest vendors in the country and they don’t have it and couldn’t give me any indication of when they would. I can find butt loads of 1/4” but no 1/8 or 3/16. No help from any of the cabinet shops either. I’m thinking of 1/4” on the walls and decide on the ceiling when I get there. I'm having the same issues. Nothing at all in NC. I found it still available Boulter Plywood, Somerville, MA. They will pack it up and ship it.
20 sheets
Around $200 for shipping $60 for packing and I think it was $53 a sheet
It's that or nothing.
The cost of materials has really caused me to pause. I figure a frame-up rebuild with new skin will cost $9000 for materials...without the cost of the camper.
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Post by vikx on Jul 29, 2021 14:48:38 GMT -8
Also look for "door skins". Some worker bees don't even know they are usually 1/8 ply... They come in 3 x 7 and 4 x 8. Maybe not the best quality.
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Jul 29, 2021 14:51:43 GMT -8
I’m about to give up on 1/8” birch. I’ve called everywhere in a 4 hour radius. I called Nashville plywood and they told me that they buy from the 2 largest vendors in the country and they don’t have it and couldn’t give me any indication of when they would. I can find butt loads of 1/4” but no 1/8 or 3/16. No help from any of the cabinet shops either. I’m thinking of 1/4” on the walls and decide on the ceiling when I get there. I'm having the same issues. Nothing at all in NC. I found it still available Boulter Plywood, Somerville, MA. They will pack it up and ship it.
20 sheets
Around $200 for shipping $60 for packing and I think it was $53 a sheet
It's that or nothing.
The cost of materials has really caused me to pause. I figure a frame-up rebuild with new skin will cost $9000 for materials...without the cost of the camper.
I emailed a place in Atlanta and they have 19 sheets of the bending birch at 34.50. That would be a 6 hour round trip for me on that.
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Jul 29, 2021 14:56:23 GMT -8
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Jul 29, 2021 17:04:08 GMT -8
I tried there a few months ago. No luck.
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