Where to buy Nice plywood?

[Bob D.]

You might try Russell Plywood in New Castle, DE or the main office in Reading, PA.
https://www.russellplywood.com/

 

[mrFinpgh]

Slight hijacking of the thread ...

I just bought two 4x8' sheets of 3/4" Maple plywood at $123 per sheet from my local (rural) lumber yard. It was advertised as rotary cut and prefinished on both sides. The prefinish is very nice, but I was surprised (perhaps my naivety) that each side of each sheet had three to four pieces of veneer when I thought I was paying for a single piece.

I sawed (Festool TS55) each sheet into four 2x4' pieces for one of my built-in shelf projects (this first one being four adjacent 22 x 47-1/2" bookshelves about 11-1/2" deep, hopefully with all the shelves adjustable)  and then stacked the eight pieces against a table in no particular order. Again a big surprise: the pieces are warped, certainly 1/8" and possibly 1/4".

I can get rid of some of the warping by using those pieces in adjacent boxes tied together, and/or making one or more of the shelves fixed. And I can get rid of some of the veneer joints the same way, or by using those pieces on the inside of the boxes. And some will be shelves and for the most part not show. But did I get taken, or is this just the way the plywood world is?

Thanks, Dick

I think that's about par for the course with most veneer core plywoods.  1/4" over 4' is a bit much, but I've definitely had similar experiences with $140 walnut ply.  The slip joint layup is pretty standard from what I've seen.

If you dado a couple shelves in place, that can help keep it all straight.  Unless you make your dadoes too deep.  [blink]

 

[dicktill]

Slight hijacking of the thread ...

I just bought two 4x8' sheets of 3/4" Maple plywood at $123 per sheet from my local (rural) lumber yard. It was advertised as rotary cut and prefinished on both sides. The prefinish is very nice, but I was surprised (perhaps my naivety) that each side of each sheet had three to four pieces of veneer when I thought I was paying for a single piece.

I sawed (Festool TS55) each sheet into four 2x4' pieces for one of my built-in shelf projects (this first one being four adjacent 22 x 47-1/2" bookshelves about 11-1/2" deep, hopefully with all the shelves adjustable)  and then stacked the eight pieces against a table in no particular order. Again a big surprise: the pieces are warped, certainly 1/8" and possibly 1/4".

I can get rid of some of the warping by using those pieces in adjacent boxes tied together, and/or making one or more of the shelves fixed. And I can get rid of some of the veneer joints the same way, or by using those pieces on the inside of the boxes. And some will be shelves and for the most part not show. But did I get taken, or is this just the way the plywood world is?

Thanks, Dick

I think that's about par for the course with most veneer core plywoods.  1/4" over 4' is a bit much, but I've definitely had similar experiences with $140 walnut ply.  The slip joint layup is pretty standard from what I've seen.

If you dado a couple shelves in place, that can help keep it all straight.  Unless you make your dadoes too deep.  [blink]

Thanks for the info. I have been able to get some better plywood that is true rotary cut with thicker veneer and flatter. Haven't cut it yet ...  Unfortunately it is only available in 3/4", so the backs will be thick and I'll be able to Domino at least five pieces together (still debating adjustable shelves).