Baltic Birch with Interior Glue?

[jimqpublic]

I am actually getting serious about building a teardrop after dreaming for 10+ years.

Because my planned size is 5'x9'x5' high, the standard 4x8 sheet of plywood doesn't really work. 60" square Baltic Birch makes more dimensional sense.

Baltic Birch at a local yard is 1/4" for $17 and 1/2" for $29. Grade is B/BB but with interior type II glues.

My plan is to protect the wood from moisture through good construction techniques. In this case is the type II glue good enough?

By the way, I also found a local source for 6 mm (1/4") marine Okume in 5'x10' sheets, but the price is $140 per sheet!

[jimqpublic]

Here's what the Titebond Website says about Type I and II glues- even Type II sounds pretty good!

[i]What is the difference between the ANSI/HPVA Type I and Type II
water-resistance specification?
Both of these tests are conducted using 6â€

[dh]

Are you building a woody, painting it, skinning with aluminum? The final finish comes into play with sealing out water. Personally, I'm sealing my Baltic Birtch with epoxy.

[jimqpublic]

Undecided- considering two possible sandwich options:

Plywood inside, foam, glass/epoxy/paint outside.
-or-
Plywood inside, foam, plywood/glass/varnish outside.

Roof will probably be plywood inside, foam & spars, plywood sealed with epoxy, PVC fabric.

[dh]

So it sounds like you'll be fiberglassing the exterior for sure. You list glass and epoxy seperately, and I'm scratching my head wondering why. If going to the trouble to fiberglass, lay it on with epoxy resign and be done, then either paint or varnish over that.

[madjack]

So it sounds like you'll be fiberglassing the exterior for sure. You list glass and epoxy seperately, and I'm scratching my head wondering why. If going to the trouble to fiberglass, lay it on with epoxy resign and be done, then either paint or varnish over that.

....yeah, that...................

[jimqpublic]

Sometimes I speak a different language. What I meant was: 6 oz. glass cloth + epoxy resin = FRP = Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic = "Fiberglass"

If I omit the outer plywood I would probably go with a heavier cloth.

Like I said, after reading the modern glue spec's it seems like Type II is fine since the goal is to keep water out of the wood anyhow.