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Post by Teachndad on Jan 10, 2022 6:41:10 GMT -8
Hi Friends,
In looking for birch paneling, what makes a good product? What negatives should someone look for?
Thanks,
Rod
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Jan 10, 2022 7:28:13 GMT -8
The answer on the east coast, any 1/8” birch panel you can find is a good panel.
The conventional wisdom from years ago was never buy birch panels that are milled outside the US. But since they aren’t made anywhere in the US that I know of, it seems like dated advice.
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Jan 11, 2022 5:31:29 GMT -8
If you can find it and it has a good grain finish then buy it. I lucked up and found some on marketplace that a guy had. There’s none to be found where I’m at. I called every place I know and it’s pretty much obsolete so you’re gonna have to be lucky, drive for hours or pay some very escalated shipping.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 13, 2022 8:16:56 GMT -8
You really won't know until you cut it and shellac it. I have found some paneling made in Indonesia that is terrible. It has such thin veneer that you can sand right through it in no time. And sometimes, the seams of the veneer start to come up after the first coat of shellac. Another problem I find from paneling made over seas is that the core has garbage in it. I mean real trash like old clothes and crap. When you cut it your saw will wind up a bunch of thread that comes out of the core. They actually put their trash and old clothes and crap into the core mix. Kinda reminds me of going to Tijuana in the old days to get your upholstery in your car done. You had to watch those guys because for stuffing they would use anything lying around including horse dung.
So as soon as you get your paneling home, take a sheet and cut it. If you have no problem with the core, then go ahead and put a coat of shellac on it and see if the seams for the veneer pop up. I go through a lot of birch, oak and maple paneling so I've pretty much seen it all. The worst thing about todays 1/8 inch paneling is that it's not a full 1/8 inch thick. It's really thin and weak.
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Post by danrhodes on Jan 15, 2022 21:37:50 GMT -8
Like Larry, I noticed my Indonesian panels unlaminated at the seams when shellaced. It wasn't great but was manageable. On the topic of crap in the laminations, I both bought some home depot plywood that I could rip apart with my bare hands and I have a sweatshirt that I found had the entire lower hem filled with the sweepings from the sweatshop floor including both fabric and long black hairs. You really can't trust any product these days so your best best is to buy one panel, test it with shellac and if it's good, buy the remainder right away.
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Post by vikx on Jan 15, 2022 23:15:22 GMT -8
I haven't found garbage (yet) but some of the blue glue showed thru after shellacking... Luckily, a person doesn't need a perfect panel every time. A lot is hidden with cabinetry and the like.
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