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Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 1:00 pm
by kokomoto
BB is mostly from Russia and Finland. Apparently, Ukraine is no longer run by neo-nazi’s and Russia is bad again. It’s hard to keep up.

I don’t know the what the true cause of the shortage is, but a couple of vendors mentioned geopolitics involving Russia. Another mentioned a slim harvest due to weather in the Baltic region a year or two ago as a potential factor.

In the meantime, I’m finding some BB on FB market place, just haven’t found 1/8” (3mm) in 4x8 yet.

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 2:21 pm
by friz
Okoume was a joy to work with in building my CLC.

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Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 2:41 pm
by tony.latham
friz wrote:Okoume was a joy to work with in building my CLC.

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Was it 1/4"? Do they make it in 1/8"?

Tony

P.s.
Might be appropriate to consider square drops, or foamies. :thinking:
Well... not me. :frightened:

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 3:02 pm
by friz
tony.latham wrote:
friz wrote:Okoume was a joy to work with in building my CLC.

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Was it 1/4"? Do they make it in 1/8"?

Tony

P.s.
Might be appropriate to consider square drops, or foamies. :thinking:
Well... not me. :frightened:
The shell was 4mm. Roughly 1.6 inch. 6mm will get you close to 1/4 inch.

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Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 3:40 pm
by Tom&Shelly
tony.latham wrote:P.s.
Might be appropriate to consider square drops, or foamies. :thinking:
Well... not me. :frightened:


Sorry! Didn't mean to steer this into a religious argument! :oops: :shock:

Tom

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 4:35 pm
by friz
Tom&Shelly wrote:
tony.latham wrote:P.s.
Might be appropriate to consider square drops, or foamies. :thinking:
Well... not me. :frightened:


Sorry! Didn't mean to steer this into a religious argument! :oops: :shock:

Tom
It can get as bad sometimes. Some people are dead set on the way things ought to be. Teardrop people, model airplane people, car people........I seem to get under the skin of all of them.

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Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 7:09 pm
by tony.latham
I seem to get under the skin of all of them.



Friz:

The only time you get under my skin is when you post the photo of the bottle opener you have on your frame. :shock: I still can't find one that'll fit my 2" tubing.


And someone wanting to go with a squaredrop or a foamie, I'm fine with whomever. Just not my cup of tea. If I have to build one using luan, I'll do it. :frightened:

Tony

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 8:23 pm
by friz
tony.latham wrote:
I seem to get under the skin of all of them.



Friz:

The only time you get under my skin is when you post the photo of the bottle opener you have on your frame. :shock: I still can't find one that'll fit my 2" tubing.


And someone wanting to go with a squaredrop or a foamie, I'm fine with whomever. Just not my cup of tea. If I have to build one using luan, I'll do it. :frightened:

Tony
One thing is for certain. If Baltic birch disappears from the planet, people will still be building campers. Aaaaaand my camper still has something that Tony's doesn't.

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Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Sun Oct 16, 2022 8:56 pm
by tony.latham
Aaaaaand my camper still has something that Tony's doesn't.


Fur damn sure! :frightened: ARRRGH!!!!

Tony

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 6:03 am
by Tom&Shelly
kokomoto wrote:BB is mostly from Russia and Finland. Apparently, Ukraine is no longer run by neo-nazi’s and Russia is bad again. It’s hard to keep up.

I don’t know the what the true cause of the shortage is, but a couple of vendors mentioned geopolitics involving Russia. Another mentioned a slim harvest due to weather in the Baltic region a year or two ago as a potential factor.

In the meantime, I’m finding some BB on FB market place, just haven’t found 1/8” (3mm) in 4x8 yet.


FWIW, the 1/8" BB I used was 5' x 5'. Not sure I could have gotten it in 4' x 8' five years ago.

Maybe now, Finland will sell us plywood at the "NATO rate"? :worship: :lol:

Tom

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 10:01 am
by rjgimp
friz wrote:I seem to get under the skin of all of them...
...Aaaaaand my camper still has something that Tony's doesn't.


Attaboy! Keep on keeping on. :thumbsup:

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 10:08 am
by kokomoto
Some background for those interested .....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/20 ... nam-china/

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 10:49 am
by Tom&Shelly
kokomoto wrote:Some background for those interested .....

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/20 ... nam-china/


Interesting.

And it begs the question: Why can't/don't North American lumber companies come up with a native high-quality plywood like BB?

Tom

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2022 2:57 pm
by twisted lines
Square Foamie! :thumbsup:
Didn't ask how much but 5X5 BB can do;
That's a lot of joint's and a little easier for height.
I am most afraid of buying another set of roller dies :frightened:

Re: Baltic Birch Alternative

PostPosted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:14 am
by kokomoto
twisted lines wrote:Square Foamie! :thumbsup:
Didn't ask how much but 5X5 BB can do;
That's a lot of joint's and a little easier for height.
I am most afraid of buying another set of roller dies :frightened:


My first build was a 5x10. I used 1/8" 5x5 sheets for the for the roof and ceiling. The seams were easy to deal with. Cant recall if I used 4x8 for the walls or 5x5. I'd prefer 4x8 sheets for my current build, but I'd take 5x5 if necessary. I need to check my 3/4 plywood skeleton if I end up with 5x5 for reinforcement at the seam.

In any case, I contacted a fellow TD builder here in TN to see if he knows of a 1/8" BB source. He is optimistic about obtaining some in the near future. He seemed to think it's currently not banned/sanctioned, but has a hefty tariff. :thinking: I'm waiting for him to get back to me on that. In the meantime, anyone who thinks they might want to build a teardrop might want to scoop up any 1/8" BB they can find.