Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **Woodstramp** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 1:22 pm

The 1/4" luan I bought for my TTT project was OK quality for it's intended purposes, but the stuff cannot handle water. (Delaminates). This is not a problem where I used it (covered on outside with metal and industrial epoxy paint), but I'd like to use some to build my outer door facing.

I would not use any leftover material that I have left from the batch I bought. I do recall buying some luan 15 years ago for an underlay for my kitchen linoleum.

One piece of that scrap layed in the rain for weeks. Used it for place to set drippy paint buckets, a morter board, then the roof of rabbit hutch. It never delammed or warped.

Anyone here had some "good" luan and do you know what brand and who sells it? Thanks.

by **CARS** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:07 pm

Did you read this? http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=31871

Been awhile since I read it, but it may list something in the replies.

by **doug hodder** » Tue Jul 26, 2011 3:13 pm

I can't recall ever seeing the word "good" associated with luan, lots of other adjectives however. Doug

by **Woodstramp** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:17 pm

Cars,

Thanks for that link. Will study it.

Snoop Doug,

This stuff I mentioned was like luan on steroids. It was more purple colored and apparently waterproof. Veneer side was not pretty, just smooth for painting.

by **asianflava** » Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:06 pm

There are brands to choose from? I think most of us just get what is available.

by **CliffinGA** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:56 am

Sometimes check at a "Lumber yard" and not a box store and you can get some better grade luan. I go to a yard in Suwanee, GA that specializes in plywoods and hardwoods and they will have different stuff in at different times.

Cliff

by **Woodstramp** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:13 pm

Thanks Cliff. Those kind of places are getting rare. We have one in town. I'll check those guys.

by **Jim.M** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:18 pm

i bought some 2.7mm from HD and did the boil test; no problems.

actually I only boiled for an hour; this was a month ago and the boiled test pieces are not delaminating.

by **jhanlon** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:55 pm

Jim.M wrote:i bought some 2.7mm from HD and did the boil test; no problems.

actually I only boiled for an hour; this was a month ago and the boiled test pieces are not delaminating.

Where in HD did you find the luan? In with the plywood/MDF sheets? My HD where I by all my stuff looked at me like I was from Pluto when I asked for Luan.

Could you post a brand name or SKU or something to help me. I am minimalising and need some thin in my life. :lol:

by **Jim.M** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:17 pm

this is the only thing on the sheet. next time I'm in HD I'll take a look at the card and see if there is an SKU on it.

My local HD also has 5mm that looks the same.

a bit thicker though.

almost twice as thick if I remember correctly.

by **Jim.M** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:24 pm

as far as location in the store... different places in different stores. sometimes it's in with the plywood (near the oak/birch veneer).

some places put it in the aisle with the 4x4 oak/birch plywood and mdf, next to the pine 2byX's.

If you're in the insulation or rebar aisle you've gone too far

I'm not sure how the word "lauan" is pronounced (even locally). Luckily I didn't need to ask anyone where it was.

by **Jim.M** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:36 pm

One more bit of trivia I picked up...

If you have a Lowe's nearby, you can build an order from Grainger Supply and McMaster-Carr online, carry the printout to the contractor desk, and they will match price on McMaster-Carr and might beat Grainger (they get volume pricing from Grainger).

Stuff gets shipped to Lowes, but no shipping charge. You have to pick up at the store.

So if your Grainger or McMaster-Carr shipping charge is bigger than local sales tax, you might save a few shekels having Lowe's order it for you.

Not such a big deal for me since mcmaster-carr ships out of SoCal which is only 1 day ship for the cheapest shipping option for me to Las Vegas.

those on the east coast who have been seduced by mcmaster-carr's web site might save some money though.

by **asianflava** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:15 am

^that's good to know!

by **Woodstramp** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 2:45 am

That is good to know. Thanks Jim.

by **Jim.M** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:13 am

Ask at the contractor's desk what other companies they deal with... I just know Grainger and McMaster-Carr since those carried what I was looking for (aluminum stock).

They have a whole shelf of order books they can probably price match or beat online prices with their wholesale price.

It might also help that my local Lowe's has some helpful and friendly people at the contractor's desk... could vary by location

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