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baltic birch blues
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2010 2:25 pmby dh
I went to Memphis to pick up some 1/8" B. B. ply before I went to work. At work I put my trailer inside the plant, where it stayed untill I got off at 11:45. When I got home and unloaded it the side lighting from the garage showed all kinds of high and low spots. Is this normal? How bad will it show with an epoxy finish?
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:04 pmby Miriam C.
Do you mean that the the plywood is uneven in thickness or do you mean it has rolls in it?
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2010 3:09 pmby jamwius
If you mean that the plywood got wavey, mine did too. I think when it gets into another environment it does that and is probably normal. Because it is 1/8" I just made sure I had a bunch of weight on it when I glued it down and it flattened it out. For weight some people get sandbags and pails with weight in it. I just put some plywood on it to protect it then placed rocks from my rock pile to flatten it out until the glued dried.
John
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:12 pmby dh
I don't think it is an uneven thickness, but looks like it has little "hills" on it. Reminds me of the rolling hills of Missouri
When the light is right on top of it, or it is outside, you can't tell, but when the light hits it from the side it is really noticable. You can barely feel it when you run your hand over it.
The luan I have on laying around looks better than the B.B.
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:22 pmby dh
One more question, the wall frames are made out of single pieces of 4x10x3/4 ply with the framework cut out, and will be skinned with the 5x5 Baltic Birch both sides.
Do I need to alternate grain patters when I lay them up? As in, frame grain runs front to back, so skin grain should run top to bottom?
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:41 pmby Gage
dh wrote:One more question, the wall frames are made out of single pieces of 4x10x3/4 ply with the framework cut out, and will be skinned with the 5x5 Baltic Birch both sides.
Do I need to alternate grain patters when I lay them up? As in, frame grain runs front to back, so skin grain should run top to bottom?
That's up to you. But if you glue it good, it shouldn't mater. Oh, by the way, where did you get your Baltic Birch?
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2010 6:51 pmby dh
Gage wrote:dh wrote:One more question, the wall frames are made out of single pieces of 4x10x3/4 ply with the framework cut out, and will be skinned with the 5x5 Baltic Birch both sides.
Do I need to alternate grain patters when I lay them up? As in, frame grain runs front to back, so skin grain should run top to bottom?
That's up to you. But if you glue it good, it shouldn't mater. Oh, by the way, where did you get your Baltic Birch?
I got the B.B. at Colco Fine Woods in Memphis, TN. I have never had any problems with getting anything of questionable quality from them.
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2010 7:32 pmby Gage
dh wrote:Gage wrote:dh wrote:One more question, the wall frames are made out of single pieces of 4x10x3/4 ply with the framework cut out, and will be skinned with the 5x5 Baltic Birch both sides.
Do I need to alternate grain patters when I lay them up? As in, frame grain runs front to back, so skin grain should run top to bottom?
That's up to you. But if you glue it good, it shouldn't mater. Oh, by the way, where did you get your Baltic Birch?
I got the B.B. at Colco Fine Woods in Memphis, TN. I have never had any problems with getting anything of questionable quality from them.
Have you talked to them about the problem. It may be something that they are not aware of. Just a thought. One time I had gotten some bad 1/8" birch from my supplier and he wasn't aware of the problem until I pointed it out. his distributor had slipped in some bad sheets. Needless to say, he doesn't use that distributor any more.
Posted:
Fri Apr 23, 2010 7:51 pmby dh
I'll see if I can get a picture of it tonight, I was just curious if this was normal for Baltic Birch. This is honestly the first time I have ever dealt with anything in 1/8". I have had it sitting in the garage since tuesday, sandwiched, luan on the bottom, 8 sheets of B.B. a sheet of 3/4" red oak, the wall frames, another sheet of luan and a few red oak boards, a cabinet face frame and some other pine boards on top of that. I'll see what it looks like when I get home from work.
Posted:
Sat Apr 24, 2010 12:40 pmby Classic Finn
Greetings from the Country of Finland "The Land of Quality Finnish Baltic Birch". All I can say is that the dealer may have slipped in some defective Baltic Birch. This is the only thing that comes to my mind.
Also you may ask as to where it was made? Because Baltic Birch is also made in other countries than in Finland. Where the quality can be and has been a noticeable difference.
At least here they must clearly state as to what grade it is and labled as to where it comes from. Chances are that if its made somewhere else than in Finland you can expect such cases as this and here this is not normal.
Ask the distributor where they order it from and where its been made. If its quality Baltic Birch this is not a normal occurence. And this reply is also from people here that are in the production of it.
Unless they are selling other cheap Plywood under the name of "Baltic Birch" ... You never know. But lets hope not.
Posted:
Sat Apr 24, 2010 1:41 pmby Classic Finn
Miriam C. wrote:Do you mean that the the plywood is uneven in thickness or do you mean it has rolls in it?
I am wondering the same actually or has it been stored in a damp place ?
Posted:
Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:26 pmby dh
I unsandwitched it, it looks a lot better. Thanks for all the replies.