What is the absolute best wood for Teardrops?

[NathanL]

The problem is a lot of plywood sold at home centers as "exterior" are not really exterior rated, they are "exposure-1" which means outside but in a sheltered area not exposed to the elements like under a soffit etc...If you get true exterior plywood then it's rated for actual exposure to the elements.

[Lgboro]

Cedar, I left a couple of scrapes of 1/8" cedar strip Gorilla glued to 2 - 3/4" pieces of blue foam insulation outside in the rain, sun, dew etc. They were scrapes cut outs for my speakers (so they are interior) and have been left outside for months. The only damage visible is where a really stupid squirrel has chewed one of the pieces. A bonus is it is really light weight which is a plus. I wrapped my tear in aluminum so I can't say how it holds up on the exterior of a tear but cedar is used by many strip boat builders and a lot of outdoor furniture so I'm sure it would hold up well.

[Roly Nelson]

10 years ago, I built my little 1/2 Nelson Woody TD out of the cheapest 1/4 inch lauan plywood that Lowes sells. All of the framing, cabinet doors and drawers are constructed using 3/4 inch pine, also purchased from Lowes for about 12 bucks for a 1x12 board, 8 ft long. 3 coats of varnish originally brushed on, has been sanded and re-varnished every year, which totals 13 coats so far. If I were to build another, the choice of exterior plywood would have been for a higher quality, matching grained wood, just for asthestic purposes. After 10 years and 30,000 miles, it's still holding up very well. I intend to continue using it for another 30 years and plan to celebrate my 110th birthday in it.
Roly, the li'l ol' woody TD builder in So Calif........Me!

[Jiminsav]

Roly, you keep on trucking in them Teardrops..

so, i guess the answer is whatever you use, keep it painted or varnished..

[halfdome, Danny]

I put a sample of 3/4" Pacific Birch Light plywood & a sample of 1/2" Russian Birch (Baltic Birch) in a freezer bag full of water Sept, 18TH, 2012.
I've let it soak on the deck railing for awhile then put it out in the sun to dry for a day or so and then back in the bag of water.
So far no delamination of either sample.
Since all my plywood's are covered (glued) completely with plam and aluminum I feel safe that these two cabinet grade plywood's will stand the test of time & the elements.
It will be interesting to see what happens in freezing weather, if we get enough this winter. I've left enough room for it to freeze.
Come spring I'll remove them from the bag and let the elements at it to see if any dry rot happens.
Danny