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Post by vikx on Jan 19, 2014 22:38:26 GMT -8
Well, I have had nothing but trouble with plywood panels and veneer in the last few months. Mobile has mentioned 1/8 panels being difficult to find. I was thinking the 1/8 doorskins I bought were pretty nice. The 1/8 bendy plywood at $40 per 4 x 8 sheet have ripples, splits and flaws; not to mention the fact the didn't "bend" very well. The bendy ply is poplar with a pretty grain but hard to use with visible flaws. Sooooo.... the 3 x 7 birch 1/8 doorskins have also have little ripples and splits. Not horrible, but at over $20 a sheet, not good. I discovered today that the 4 x 8 sheets they sold me are NOT BIRCH. Some sort of light mahogany and grainy. (dim and hard to see in the warehouse) Of course this is Sunday, so no way to complain and/or replace the panels. The discovery was made with the first coat of shellac. This panel can go behind the bed but not all of them can. I mean, they have to go up and over to form the ceiling.... The veneer we bought has rippled on the closet. We certainly tried to do everything correctly. I'm beginning to suspect that poor quality may have caused some of our problems. The wall panels I recently installed have faint "blue streaks". It is hard to see them, and the window removed some of it but the plywood is bad quality. Granted, I didn't research the place of origin but these particular panels were the best I could find. I'm very concerned over the above. If decent 1/8 plywood is unavailable, it is going to be impossible to do a nice ceiling in a canned ham. The wall panels are a little easier being 3/16 but still have marks, dings and streaks. I'm posting this to start a discussion on where to find good plywood, if it exists.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 20, 2014 15:19:29 GMT -8
So far I have had no problems with Ganahl Lumber here in my state. (Ca). If they can get good 4x8 birch panels then I'm sure someone in your neck of the woods can also. It's just that they have to buy a "unit" and if you are the only one in your state that want's Birch Paneling then they are going to lose big time on the order.
Age is what causes the things you have described above. Age combined with the changing humidity and temperatures over the life time of the product. So be advised that this stuff has a shelf life. I have never seen birch last more than about 6 months before it begins to check and split. Once installed it should get at least two coats of shellac on it immediately. That will at least seal it until you are ready to finish.
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Post by bigbill on Jan 20, 2014 16:23:56 GMT -8
Mobiltec I have came up with a fantastic idea, I think I'm going to forget birch and all other types of plywood, this way I can eliminate cracking, flexing, steaming, streaking, shellac mixing, Vapor barrier problems, Fasteners, Trim, and all other common problems. Well are you ready for this, are you sure, OK you ask for it rubber sheets off of a baby bed stapled up. I think this hobby is getting to me, or may be it is the thought we are expecting more SNOW tonight.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 20, 2014 17:30:24 GMT -8
Bill put the rubber sheets down and step away from the trailer....
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Post by bigbill on Jan 20, 2014 17:50:18 GMT -8
You don't understand then I would have a rubber room for when these trailers drive me there. I don' think it is the trailers i think it is the snow, This afternoon I actually had a semi clear driveway that even had some dry areas and now it is supposed to snow again and if I understood right this will set a new record for total winter accumulation and we still have almost three months of winter left. My daughter just came in and said the drive and walk were iced over so if I went out to wear my ice grippers. I think I am going to hibernate till spring, the only problem is the boss just said if am going to have the trailer done by spring I have to go out to the shop and work on it. I think she heard me turn down a paying job because my unit is in the shop taking up space. Life is tough what can I say. I'm retired and not supposed to have to work right.
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jannica
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Post by jannica on Jan 20, 2014 18:57:02 GMT -8
I feel your pain about the blue streaks! As I said in my other post, I found the same thing on one of my birch panels. I don't see it on the others though so hopefully they'll turn out ok.
I can't see what's wrong with your second and fourth pictures, from what I can see, they look really good.
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Post by vikx on Jan 20, 2014 20:54:44 GMT -8
Pix 1 and 3 are the flaws before the final coat of shellac. #2 and 4 are the finished panels. If you look closely, you can see the covered flaws and the mahogany grain is somewhat obscured.
Went to the lumber yard today and returned the mahogany. They had sold me birch for 30 bucks a sheet but I ended up with mahogany. ($19)grrr. Anyway, I found 5 more sheets of birch that weren't bad; no splits or bubbles.
Thanks for the shelf life tip, Larry. Never thought of that. I will also be looking VERY closely at every panel from now on.
Oh, and blue green streaks are caused from thin veneer; glue is bleeding thru. One of the guys at the yard told me they have several nice doors with cheap/thin veneer that are not taking the stain correctly. They are blotchy with anything but a clear coat. Paint quality only now...
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Jan 21, 2014 8:30:36 GMT -8
When I go to my lumber yard I end up sorting through 50 sheets or more to get the 10 that I need. Anything from the top 3 to 5 sheets are very seldom picked.
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azshastanut
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Post by azshastanut on Jan 21, 2014 18:03:44 GMT -8
Check out Hood Distribution. They have 1/8 inch Birch plywood and have 14 warehouses. If you are fortunate enough to live in a city where there is a warehouse, you are fortunate indeed. I think it sells for $18.50 a 4X8 sheet here in Tucson. Check out their web site. Unfortunately they do not have Ash. The Birch is U.S. made. They also have imported Birch and Ash.
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Post by vikx on Jan 21, 2014 23:10:59 GMT -8
USA all the way! Except hard to find... Thanks AZ.
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pennyg
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Post by pennyg on Feb 16, 2014 16:07:17 GMT -8
IF and When I find 1/8 birch plywood, approximately how many panels would it take to replace the interior of a airflyte?
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 16, 2014 18:57:29 GMT -8
It really depends on how you cut it up and how many mistakes you make. But 12 should do it. I would get 14 though if it's hard for you to get ahold of or a long ways away. You will want to do the door also. You can go out there to the trailer and count the panels you will need so do that before you listen to me.
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pennyg
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Post by pennyg on Feb 17, 2014 7:27:30 GMT -8
Thanks! I just wanted to get a ballpark figure. I'd go out and take a look myself, but my trailer is all tarped up for this lovely Wisconsin winter we have been having.
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HOTRODPRIMER
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Post by HOTRODPRIMER on Mar 8, 2014 8:27:20 GMT -8
While I was out this morning I decided to stop by the 2 big box stores and check out the 1/8" plywood,,guess what,they don't have it! Damn
These two giant's have put all the mom & pop lumber companys that I grew up with out of business here so where does someone in South Carolina go to find it?
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Mar 8, 2014 8:38:58 GMT -8
While I was out this morning I decided to stop by the 2 big box stores and check out the 1/8" plywood,,guess what,they don't have it! Damn These two giant's have put all the mom & pop lumber companys that I grew up with out of business here so where does someone in South Carolina go to find it? Same problem here. I went with 1/4" birch and it's a pain. I'm only replacing what I absolutely have to, especially if there's a bend. The back panel was a pain in the back end, literally. Kerfing is a must! Trust me, it will crack otherwise. And I hope I've figured out a way to make up for the 1/8" difference, although I'm not totally satisfied with my solution, everything does seem to fit back together. I'll give an update later when I get the bottom skin back on (this could be a while). The top skin and window fit perfectly so far. If I ever have to redo it, I'll go with 1/8" something, ANYTHING! CHECK HERE, resource by a member: www.hooddistribution.com/locations/greenville.phpCall them first.
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