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Where to get good plywood?

Started by catalina, November 14, 2017, 01:25:31 PM

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catalina

Folks, I live right outside Morgantown,  WV-about an hour and 20 minutes south of Pittsburgh, PA. We have 2 Lowes, an 84 lumber and they look at me like a lost puppy when I ask them do you carry Baltic Birch plywood sheets (not panels) or do you carry anything other than single sided oak or maple veneered plywood sheets-They say no and move on. Where can I get decent plywood to do case work??? Baird's in Ohio to ship 2, 3/4 5'x5' panels of baltic birch is 239$ for shipping and $120 for the plywood!! Suggestions? Seems like most of the places on line wont ship unless you buy a whole bundle of it. Gene

woodworker9

I am lucky here in Chicagoland.  We've got a couple of suppliers who stock cabinet grade plywood in several grades.  I can get A, B, or C grade veneer or mdf core in a whole list of species, and special order is not a problem for funky species, too.

I have no idea if they ship, as I pick this stuff up monthly. My account is at Owl Hardwoods in Des Plaines, Illinois.  Look them up, and give them a call.  Depending on what you need, it may pay to just have what you need shipped to you.

I wouldn't buy any of that potato-chip crap from the home centers for anything other rough construction projects.  It's all very poorly made with voids inside, and when you cut one of them, they warp like a potato chip.  I learned the hard way 25 years ago to pay the extra money for quality.

For special commissions, where I need a specific species with flare, I have often made my own plywood with a vacuum bag by veneering both sides of baltic birch or apple ply with my own shop made veneers.
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Don P

Go to their millwork desk and ask if they can special order it. Most have a stack of catalogs on the desk they can order from. Diamond Hill Ply services our local stores.

Larry

In my area, any of the locally owned lumber yards either carry Baltic Birch in stock or can order it.  You should know the grades but most only handle B/BB which is the top grade and most expensive.  Don't even think of anything called China Birch as it is terrible.  Prices vary a lot so take some time to comparison shop.

Plywood in the box stores is all over the map, mostly poor.  I haven't seen anything worth buying in Lowes for years.  I have bought some good stuff at Home Depot but quality varies a lot over a year.

A good thing about having ones own sawmill is I can use a solid wood in a lot of places where the commercial builders use plywood.
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Dan_Shade

Is there a local woodcraft store? If not, there is one in Parkersburg.

That may be an avenue.
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There's a fine line between turning firewood into beautiful things and beautiful things into firewood.

catalina

Thanks guys, from what Im seeing and hearing looks like my best option is to travel a couple hours, buy in bulk and have way more than I need setting in my shop, lol. The shipping costs are the killer!

west penn

 my son gets most of his veneer plywood here in meadville at home depot.  If they dont have it he goes to DSI in pittsburg. a little higher price but he says better quality

Crusarius

Do you have any cabinet shops or anything like that nearby? If so find out where they order from and see about ordering from them. That way they will deliver on the way to the other place and may not charge shipping. Or even buy from the cabinet shop.

sawguy21

I tried to but some utility grade plywood for shelving from a building supply store, all they carried was good one side and sheathing which absolute junk. Much of the construction grade 2x6 was little better than firewood. Windsor Plywood is the only place I know of locally to get the quality you are looking for but there better be lots of room on the credit card.
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catalina

If I don't find something sooner-over the Christmas holiday we will be traveling to my inlaws about an hr and 15 minutes outside baltimore. I think I found a place in Baltimore  called Cheasapeake Plywood that seems to have a good selection. Anyone now anything about them?

HP

You might want to check with O.C.Cluss lumber in Uniontown, Pa.

Bert

You might also try home warehouse in uniontown or Holt & Bugbee in Mt Braddock. Also close to you.
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