Bowed Plywood

[Sierrajack]

I bought 1/2" ply for the sides of my TD. I thought I carefully selected the best I could find however, when I got the ply home, laid the sheets on their sides they bowed out and now I'm reluctant to use them. I can't get exactly what I want and am hoping that they will straighten out when I start putting in the framing, cabinets and roof spars. Any suggestions or am I just being paranoid?

[Keith B]

hey there... I had the exact same problem, however, per advise on this forum and after I got the front and rear bulk-heads in I was able to flatten them out, and I also left clamps on everything for a couple weeks and it seems fine now. Mine were bowed out about a 1/4" each side...Good luck.

[Ira]

Danger, Will Robinson...Danger.

The bow ain't gonna matter much in the cabin area where spars will fix it, but there ain't no spars in your galley.

I have one wall that's off there, no way to really fix unless you're a professional wood bender, and this bow is NOT a good thing.

It's just bowed out in like one spot on one wall.

[doug hodder]

Jack...what type of ply did you get..a lot of the construction grade stuff can be pretty green (high moisture content) when you get it and as soon as it's out of the bundle, it starts to dry out pretty fast...I bought ACX for my exterior walls and it did it's thing also...but as mentioned, the struts and cabinetry will take a lot of it out...Doug

[Miriam C.]

Perhaps you can lay it on the floor of the trailer with some water bottles on it. I have cases and cases of em and they are great weights.

[critter]

Hey All,
I say start with the best plywood you can.Probbaly would have saved me 5 days sanding but no i had to be cheap....and stupid!

[Sierrajack]

Thanks everyone!!!!
I bought the best I could but there's no way to guees how much wateer is in the wood unless you buy a meter. I'm just going to lay it out and stack weight on it for awhile. Next time it's 3/4" baltic - for sure!! Too bad we don't have any real good selection here in this town - Mister Menard has a monoploy on the business!!!

[halfdome, Danny]

Sierrajack, whenever I store plywood or particle board I lay a sheet of cardboard or a sacrificial sheet on top as any sheet wood will pick up the moisture that you have unknowing subjected it to from where you bought it. I never store it on edge but lay it flat. Danny