Types of ply wood for stand

[JoelB]

I want to clad my DIY stand in plywood. It will act as structural bracing so I need it to:

1. Be strong,
2. Have a presentable face for staining.

Thick particleboard would have been OK except that it would fall apart when it gets wet, and it is hard to paint/make look good.

Marine ply is strong and water resistant, excellent, but an 8 x 4 sheet costs as much as a glass tank



So what about FORMPLY. The stuff used in construction for concrete forms. It is laminated to reduce the concrete leeching its moisture. I have been advised it is slightly water resistant and slightly stronger than regular ply.

Any comments on this?

 

[CHOMPERS]

Take a walk through your local lumber yard and have a look at the different types of plywood. There are so many different options that it is actually mind boggling. For the back and top of the stand, you can use the cheapest plywood you can find. For the front and sides, you can get it laminated with quality surfaces such as poplar and oak. It will cost more but you pay for quality only once. For bad quality, you will pay forever.

 

[Veacane]

Ask for project quality at home depot, it's stong and has few knot holes or other imperfections.

 

[Issack]

Just go to lowes or home depot and get some maple or birch a/c grade ply.. it's straight and smooth and very strong.. Only like 50 bucks a sheet.. All the other form treated lumber ply is warped garbage..

I'm a cabinet and furniture maker.. I've worked with ply for years now.. Maple or birch ply is a for sure thing.

 

[Buckdog]

Also look for "Araucoply". It has a nice sanded finish and is great for staining. Most of it is made in Chile and imported to the U.S. (Lowes) so you may have it in Australia.

 

[terd ferguson]

Just go to lowes or home depot and get some maple or birch a/c grade ply.. it's straight and smooth and very strong.. Only like 50 bucks a sheet.. All the other form treated lumber ply is warped garbage..

I'm a cabinet and furniture maker.. I've worked with ply for years now.. Maple or birch ply is a for sure thing.

This is excellent advice. Maple or birch will look great and are a little cheaper than oak. Oak is also a good choice, although a little more expensive. If the stand is large (bigger than 100g), I'd go with 3/4" for structural bracing.

I don't know how available these materials are for you in Australia, but they're readily available here in the U.S.A.. Post some pics of your stand.

 

[JoelB]

I don't know how available these materials are for you in Australia, but they're readily available here in the U.S.A..

Maple, birch and oak are as far as I know, North American timbers. However, and correct me if I'm wrong, I think maple and birch are softwoods and oak is a hardwood.

If the stand is large (bigger than 100g), I'd go with 3/4" for structural bracing.

Yes, it is 130g. I believe this style of construction is insufficient without cross-bracing, and I figured I could save some time (but not compromise safety!) by making the shell structural.

Post some pics of your stand.

As I think I mentioned elsewhere, I am building it into a wall. There will be no back, as such.

 

[Issack]

It does not matter that maple and birch are soft woods.Yes they are but that is just the thin layer of veneer over the core of the lams.. All ac ply is the same strength. It's the inner core that matters..

Oak is a strong hard wood but when it comes to plywood we are talking about a 1/32 layer over the core. it makes no difference at all what veneer is on the ply.. it's all the same strength.. That's the truth and there is now way anyone can say it's wrong..

All a/c grade ply has the same strenth properties.. I'm a wood worker and I know all about wood believe me..

 

[Issack]

With that stand you just built. you could cover it with 1/4 ply and be fine trust me. you have a beefy solid stand.