Where do you buy your plywood and what grades for what purpose? (UK)

[GarryMartin]

This is a UK focussed question as I'm not ready to import from US suppliers just yet...  [wink]

I'm trying to understand the varying grades and cost of plywood as I plan out a few projects.

It seems that most places stock BB/BB Birch Plywood, but the costs vary considerably (2440 x 1220 x 12mm @ £25 to £45 + VAT depending on quantity for example), so would there be differences between the boards or are all BB/BB grades essentially the same and can therefore be compared purely on cost?

Am I correct in thinking that BB/BB is good for painted cabinets, but B/BB or B/B grades would be needed for other finishes?

And finally, do you use different grades for different elements in a design? Perhaps one grade for the carcase and another for drawer boxes to reduce the overall cost? What grades to you use for which parts of your projects?

If you have any favourite suppliers that would deliver to Worcester, then shout them out too with some example pricing.

 

[jonny round boy]

I've just been discussing this on another forum this morning.

I recently ordered some birch ply for a kitchen I'm building. I requested B/BB grade (B grade face, BB grade reverse), but I ended up getting sent BB grade (BB both faces). When I complained I was told if I'd wanted a clear face I should have ordered B grade (even though that IS what I requested!).

I bought it from my local timber merchant, and paid £41 ex VAT a sheet (for the 18mm. 12mm was £31, and 15mm £36.50). Another guy on the other forum said he paid £35 ex VAT for 18mm.

Grades are generally as follows, from best to worst:

S (or S+) grade - clear, white veneer with no knots, repairs or discolouration.
B grade - mainly clear, small stable knots up to 6-7mm allowed, no repairs, slight discolouration allowed.
BB grade - as B grade, but oval or butterfly repairs to larger knots.
CP grade - as BB grade but with major discolouration/staining allowed.
C grade - large nots, splits etc. allowed. Faces not sanded.

I've been led to believe that S grade is VERY expensive. B grade to both sides is very rare, usually it will be B/BB. BB is the most common.

It's probably worth noting that there can be small variations in the rules for grading depending on where the ply is manufactured.

I didn't think it was available over here, but just this morning I found out that pre-finished (lacquered) birch ply is available from some places, though I dread to think what price that will be.

There's some good info in this PDF about grades, and other forms of birch ply that are available.

One other thing in there that I'd not heard of previously is 'drawerside ply', which is birch plywood but with all plies laid in the same direction. As the name implies, it's intended for use for drawer boxes. I've asked for a price on it, and if it's not too expensive I might use that instead of the standard birch ply I was intending to use for the drawers on this kitchen.

Hope that helps,

Jonathan

 

[GarryMartin]

Awesome reply. Thanks Jonathan.

From my research this afternoon, it looks like we've been reading the same documents - I have that DHH document and another from Lathams that is very good.  [smile]

Drawerside ply seems to be a little more difficult to source, and from what I understand it's primary purpose is to provide less of a colour variation between the plies (as they are unidirectional). I guess if you don't mind the colour variation, it doesn't matter if you use normal Birch ply?

Your pricing seems pretty good for B/BB but about par for BB/BB for pricing that is visible on the Internet and for small orders.

What was the other forum discussing it?

[EDIT] Just found a great web page that also has samples of the different grades at http://www.winwood-products.com/eng/timber-products/poplar_plywoods.htm and http://www.winwood-products.com/eng/timber-products/plywood/beech-plywood.htm

 

[jmbfestool]

I love Birch plywood! 

I try and use Birch plywood for everything now!  Lowest I will go to now is Far eastern Malaysian plywood  anything lower is Crap now.   

Most plywood from timber/building merchant are crap! They fall apart delaminate! Rubbish!   

I pay £28+vat for the Malaysian BB/CC 18 mm but my mate found birch plywood 18mm bb/cc for same price  so ill be swapping over to that    when I need more plywood. 

Then I pay £37+vat for BB grade for cabinets etc. 

The cheaper birch plywood although has a decent face is made up of far less layers than the more expensive birch plywood.

Hence why you get such a price difference but with the same BB rating.

JMB