Best ply on the high street?

[woodpig]

I often need ply for projects but the quality of the stuff offered in the DIY chains is dire and full size sheets aren't really an option for me. Anyone found anything half decent in manageable sizes? The 4' x 2' sheets are a handy size for me, if only you could get something like Birch Ply.

 

[Myfordman]

Any decent timber merchant will cut a full sheet in two for you, possibly without charge.
Stay away from the sheds would be my advice.

 

[woodpig]

£48.72 + vat for a full sheet of 12mm birch ply locally, quite pricey.

 

[pcb1962]

£48.72 + vat for a full sheet of 12mm birch ply locally, quite pricey.

That's 30 quid cheaper than my local
http://www.championtimber.com/sheet-mat ... ch-plywood

 

[Andy RV]

While that is quite expensive if you want better quality then you're going to have to pay for it!

 

[woodpig]

Yes I guess you're right Andy, but what I want is standard quality not sub-standard quality as sold by the sheds. :lol:

 

[OM99]

i got some chinese Hardwood ply from my local and got to admit quality is pretty good and half the price compared to birch ( also got a sheet of the soft wood chinese one and that is awfull but ok for what i used it for).

But it really depends what you intend to do with it really.

 

[custard]

What's the problem you're finding with shed ply, is it too many patches, voids, quality of surface veneer ply, lack of flatness?

Lack of flatness is something even the most expensive ply often suffers from, if that's the main problem then you either have to select your own sheets in person or switch to MDF. If it's voids then you won't find a huge improvement unless you go to top of the range marine ply, if it's too many patches then look for best Baltic birch ply with one or both faces designated "S" for show, alternatively look at hardwood face veneered Baltic ply.

Unfortunately there's not much avoiding the fact that with ply quality doesn't come cheap.

Good luck.

 

[woodpig]

Biggest problem I've had with DIY store ply is that the outer veneers often seem very thin and just peel off.

 

[custard]

Biggest problem I've had with DIY store ply is that the outer veneers often seem very thin and just peel off.

That is nasty. If you want something half decent you could go for a BB/CC grade like this,

http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/products/s ... 0-x-1220mm

One face will be heavily patched but the other face will be, if not drop dead gorgeous, then at least presentable.

Next step up in quality (and price) is something like this,

http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/products/s ... 0-x-1220mm

And higher up still is this,

http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/products/s ... 0-x-1220mm

 

[woodpig]

I've just bought a sheet of 9mm Birch Ply from my local timber yard for my next project. £50 inc vat and they cut it into two 6'x2' and a 4'x2' so I could get it into the car. Seems like nice stuff and only had one small patch on one side.