Post by John Palmer on Oct 28, 2020 10:20:49 GMT -8
Number one most asked question on the Shasta Vintage Trailer Talk forum, has to be about Shasta VIN numbers. I would never try to answer anything in that endless topic.
Number two most asked question, has to be about finding plywood panels. The first thing I would suggest is to do a search on VTT. You will find countless posts about the topic. Many have taken the time and contributed their sources. In summary. here's the deal on plywood.
You will not find 3mm (1/8" thick), and 5mm (1/4" thick) Birch plywood in your local big box store on a Sunday afternoon. Even if your found some kind of thin Luan plywood, it would most likely not take stain or shellac very well. Another issue with the big box stores is they are expensive. So, lets not talk about Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, etc.
Your local convenient franchised hardware store is not going to have this plywood, so lets eliminate ACE, True Value, Tractor Supply, You Do IT, OSH, etc.
Your local lumber yard stocks the special sized framing lumber needed to build a house, your not going to find it there either.
SO John, you ask where the hell is this stuff?
Every major metro area has a commercial supply area where the local cabinet makers, and cabinet shops go to purchase their supplies. These specialty stores are listed a "hard wood, and plywood" stores. They have bulk rough cut wood, like walnut, birch, poplar, maple, and they stock all of the special kinds of plywood's. These are specialty stores, you will not find them open evenings, most are closed on weekends, you will not find them with any big neon signs, they are located in industrial areas, and open M-F 8 to 4.
A 4 by 8 sheet of 3mm is around $18 to $20. A sheet of thicker 5mm for the walls is about $22. Make sure you buy all of your wood at the same time so it sorta matches. Make sure you look closely at the sheets (as in inspect) because the quality of the imported plywood is poor at best. Make sure to store your sheets standing on edge with a thicker sheet of plywood to keep them flat.
There's really no issue sourcing birch plywood panels in any major metro area of this country. There's three different specialty stores selling it within five miles of my house. If you choose to live in a rural area, you will need to drive into the city to make your purchase.
John
Number two most asked question, has to be about finding plywood panels. The first thing I would suggest is to do a search on VTT. You will find countless posts about the topic. Many have taken the time and contributed their sources. In summary. here's the deal on plywood.
You will not find 3mm (1/8" thick), and 5mm (1/4" thick) Birch plywood in your local big box store on a Sunday afternoon. Even if your found some kind of thin Luan plywood, it would most likely not take stain or shellac very well. Another issue with the big box stores is they are expensive. So, lets not talk about Home Depot, Lowes, Menards, etc.
Your local convenient franchised hardware store is not going to have this plywood, so lets eliminate ACE, True Value, Tractor Supply, You Do IT, OSH, etc.
Your local lumber yard stocks the special sized framing lumber needed to build a house, your not going to find it there either.
SO John, you ask where the hell is this stuff?
Every major metro area has a commercial supply area where the local cabinet makers, and cabinet shops go to purchase their supplies. These specialty stores are listed a "hard wood, and plywood" stores. They have bulk rough cut wood, like walnut, birch, poplar, maple, and they stock all of the special kinds of plywood's. These are specialty stores, you will not find them open evenings, most are closed on weekends, you will not find them with any big neon signs, they are located in industrial areas, and open M-F 8 to 4.
A 4 by 8 sheet of 3mm is around $18 to $20. A sheet of thicker 5mm for the walls is about $22. Make sure you buy all of your wood at the same time so it sorta matches. Make sure you look closely at the sheets (as in inspect) because the quality of the imported plywood is poor at best. Make sure to store your sheets standing on edge with a thicker sheet of plywood to keep them flat.
There's really no issue sourcing birch plywood panels in any major metro area of this country. There's three different specialty stores selling it within five miles of my house. If you choose to live in a rural area, you will need to drive into the city to make your purchase.
John
