by Tom Kurth » Thu Oct 03, 2013 7:11 pm
The footballs are typical of Baltic birch ply (now often labeled Russian birch). In its 5' x 5' form, its a staple for cabinet building (around here, anyway) for interior box walls and medium quality drawer boxes. What makes it special is that it always has even thickness plies and no voids. And because it has relatively thin plies, it is better than most plywoods for accepting both screw and staples. Some I see has occasional footballs, some has none. I've never run into any that's 'full of footballs.' Not to doubt you; perhaps there are different grades that I am unaware of, or what you have seen is leftovers that have been picked through. What are you planning to use it for? Perhaps a finish grade interior plywood might suit better. If you want to finish out with paint some variety of luaun, well-sanded might do the trick.
Best,
Tom