nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Oct 1, 2014 5:34:16 GMT -8
Finding 1/8 anything larger than 5x5 isn't happening here.
Any opinions on Luaun?
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Oct 1, 2014 5:46:36 GMT -8
I used one panel of 1/4" utility plywood from Lowe's for my front bottom panel, the one behind the sink, icebox and stove. It doesn't show. It's actually a little less than 1/4" in mm's. That was as thin as I could find. It bent so nicely with no kerfing and has a nice smooth clean look back there. If you use it where it will show, it will not finish in the same way as your birch.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Oct 1, 2014 6:03:18 GMT -8
If you use it where it will show, it will not finish in the same way as your birch. That's my concern. i can get the 1/4 inch birch at Lowes but even with Kelfing I've heard it doesn't bend well. I may just leave the back panel which is actually Ashe alone and cover the small imperfections with a strip. It's amazing that my area doesn't have a single piece of 1/8 inch...anything. I've called every small lumberyard for 30 miles. next time I go out west I'll stock up.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Oct 1, 2014 6:25:18 GMT -8
None here, either. We're already talking about a trip to Houston. One upscale building material company found it here from a supplier about 60 miles away. They wouldn't tell me who it was. The panels were $65 and only shipped with $300+ minimum order. So, I used 1/4" at $25 which increased to $29 when I had to buy more. The bend on the back panel is only at the top and bottom. If you kerf it BEFORE you try to install it (uhmm.. don't ask) it's not bad. But, you'll have the ash meeting it below the shelf on the top half of the window. I originally replaced that piece, too, before I decided to replace the entire ceiling. If I could turn back time, I would have kept my ash ceiling until I could find 1/8". But the back panel in mine was rotted through to the insulation at the window and was a must replace.
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Oct 1, 2014 8:54:41 GMT -8
I keep harping on this........go to a REAL lumber yard! One that advertises as selling HARDWOODS. They are the place that custom cabinet makers buy their supplies. They will have a good supply of many different kinds of plywood, and paneling. Any larger metro area in the country will have a good "hardwoods lumber yard". They also do custom milling for trim wood, not that you need it, but it's one way to tell that your in the right place. Your not going to find this stuff at 4PM on a Sunday afternoon.
If the trailer is being rebuilt "correctly" from the outside, 1/4" paneling will bend with a just little help from a 2 by 4 placed across the trailer and some ratchet straps on the outside until it's all securely attached.
One more thing..............DO NOT BUY what "they call imported" which is cheaper in cost.........ONLY BUY.........what they call DOMESTIC. The better stuff usually comes from Canada. Yes, it will cost $5 or even $10 a sheet more, but it's well worth the price difference when you start to bend, cut, and finish it. You will find it more consistent, and "without internal voids" which make the bending more difficult. Trust the old guy on this, it's well worth the additional cost for only the 10 sheets required to do a small camper.
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Post by danrhodes on Oct 1, 2014 9:15:07 GMT -8
I was surprised, while buying plywood for my bathroom remodel flooring, to see both 1/4 and 1/8" birch ply at my local independent lumberyard. We have a big airstream rebuilder in town, so maybe they stock it for them, but still nice to know it's there for when I dig into my project.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Oct 1, 2014 9:22:41 GMT -8
I keep harping on this........go to a REAL lumber yard! One that advertises as selling HARDWOODS. They are the place that custom cabinet makers buy their supplies. They will have a good supply of many different kinds of plywood, and paneling. Any larger metro area in the country will have a good "hardwoods lumber yard". They also do custom milling for trim wood, not that you need it, but it's one way to tell that your in the right place. Your not going to find this stuff at 4PM on a Sunday afternoon.
If the trailer is being rebuilt "correctly" from the outside, 1/4" paneling will bend with a just little help from a 2 by 4 placed across the trailer and some ratchet straps on the outside until it's all securely attached.
One more thing..............DO NOT BUY what "they call imported" which is cheaper in cost.........ONLY BUY.........what they call DOMESTIC. The better stuff usually comes from Canada. Yes, it will cost $5 or even $10 a sheet more, but it's well worth the price difference when you start to bend, cut, and finish it. You will find it more consistent, and "without internal voids" which make the bending more difficult. Trust the old guy on this, it's well worth the additional cost for only the 10 sheets required to do a small camper. Great advice. Unfortunately it's not working in my area. I've been to every lumberyard for 20 miles. I've called lumberyards 50 miles away. Hardwood lumber yards. For the trade only lumberyards. Lumberyards that mill their own wood. On every call I ask if they have any idea where I might find it. Nothing. They all have quarter inch paneling but one eighth is only available in a 5' x 5' sheet. You've given me an idea. I could call a cabinetmaker and ask them where they get their wood from. If they are working with 1/8 inch, they have to be getting it from somewhere. as susieQ has said, I may find that they only sell it in very large lots. But at this point I'd even consider that. Ahh, the wide open west, where the deer and the antelope roam, where 1/8 inch Birch is falling off the trucks and nobody wants it!
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Post by danrhodes on Oct 1, 2014 9:47:42 GMT -8
Ahh, the wide open west, where the deer and the antelope roam, where 1/8 inch Birch is falling off the trucks and nobody wants it! ...where a tract house costs a million bucks, income tax is 9% and property tax is 1% of that million, 49th place in education and you need to bring your own shopping bag to the store. I'd rather just order my wood online ;-)
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Oct 1, 2014 10:45:51 GMT -8
Ahh, the wide open west, where the deer and the antelope roam, where 1/8 inch Birch is falling off the trucks and nobody wants it! ...where a tract house costs a million bucks, income tax is 9% and property tax is 1% of that million, 49th place in education and you need to bring your own shopping bag to the store. I'd rather just order my wood online ;-) Funny answer. I just spoke with someone at an old-time lumberyard and he said the same thing. He said, "Son, in a place where people buy $100,000 campers and million-dollar homes, nobody uses 1/8 inch birch anymore!" Another call got me this answer: "1/8 inch birch? I had that junk sitting on the shelf forever, couldn't sell it. Then some man comes in, says he can't find it anywhere, and he buys me out. I'll never stock the stuff again!" i called a really, really distant hardwood lumberyard. He laughed at me. Then said, "custom cabinets are a high end item, nobody uses cheap 1/8 panels on a kitchen that costs 100k!" The best I found was a lumberyard that has 5x5 sheets of 1/8th inch birch. Why 5x5? You got me stumped! i'm going to try John suggestion next, and call a custom cabinet maker and see if there is a supplier in the area.
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Oct 1, 2014 11:20:46 GMT -8
I hope "All of you" don't move out here looking for 1/8" paneling, and drive up our "over priced" home prices even further!
LOL
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Oct 1, 2014 13:48:08 GMT -8
The rich folk around here may laugh when I ask about 1/8 inch panels but, when they have no place for their hundred thousand dollar 50 foot rig at the campground, I can fit in a tent site!
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soup
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Post by soup on Oct 1, 2014 14:22:31 GMT -8
I sourced mine at a local cabinet maker. He ordered it and it was there in 3 days. Base price $35 a 4x8 sheet.
Then... I also dropped a color sample and let him stain/shellac to match. He is also going to cut the different things needed down to finish cut sizes so I won't damage it when cutting. Price reasonable. Yellow pages under cabinet makers. The 1/8 inch is usually used to veneer cabinet faces.
Luaun from Lowes and such is too brittle to make bends and make sure if you use it to buy all you need at once3. They change suppliers and lots more than the hours change in a day and you'll never get it to match going back a few days later for more. Good Luck! Soup
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Oct 1, 2014 21:24:45 GMT -8
i called a really, really distant hardwood lumberyard. He laughed at me. Then said, "custom cabinets are a high end item, nobody uses cheap 1/8 panels on a kitchen that costs 100k!"
I got that same response from someone I was sent to because he was custom builder/restorer who could "get any wood you need."
And John, we don't all live near metro areas.
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kirkadie
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Post by kirkadie on Oct 2, 2014 5:10:29 GMT -8
Susie, Don't know how far away you are from Austin, but befor ou go to Houston check out this place; www.finelumber.com/product_catalog.phpThey have 1/8 birch both "bendng" and cabinet grade. Used to be my go to store before I moved up north.
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Oct 2, 2014 5:14:52 GMT -8
Susie, Don't know how far away you are from Austin, but befor ou go to Houston check out this place; www.finelumber.com/product_catalog.phpThey have 1/8 birch both "bendng" and cabinet grade. Used to be my go to store before I moved up north. What is the actual difference between bending and cabinet grade 1/8 inch birch? Both should bend, right?
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