I am trying to choose between Luan plywood vs. 1/4" birch plywood that
I plan to use as walls for a temporary structure.
Other than price, I am trying to understand pros/cons of each:
So is there any significant difference in:
- Strength/durability
- Stiffness
- Weatherability
- Weight
- Smoothness of the surface and lack of defects
If so what are they?
Note: I am assuming some type of "standard" grade for each material.
"BillyBob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> When you say birch, do you mean Baltic Birch? I'm looking at the Luan and
> Baltic birch I bought. There is a huge difference in stiffness between the
> two. I think of the luan as a cosmetic material and the BB as having some
> structural strength. What do you mean by walls for a temporary structure?
>
> Bob
>
>
He is probably talking about a regular Birch veneer plywood similar to Luan.
"blueman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> So is there any significant difference in:
> - Strength/durability
None that you would probably notice.
> - Stiffness
No
> - Weatherability
No
> - Weight
No
> - Smoothness of the surface and lack of defects
Birch will have a smoother sruface. Defects? Theat depends on the quality
of the wood you are buying, otherwise one typically does not have any more
defects than the other. The Luan is probably more like to splinter along
the edges.
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> He is probably talking about a regular Birch veneer plywood similar to
Luan.
>
>
In that case, doesn't matter what type of wood is on the veneer.
Bob
> Other than price, I am trying to understand pros/cons of each:
>
> So is there any significant difference in:
> - Strength/durability
> - Stiffness
> - Weight
These three are largely a function of thickness. If you did not know
already, plywood is seldom actually the stated nominal thickness. IME garden
variety luan is pretty close to 3/16" these days. I don't know about the
birch. You will have to compare the thicknesses to get a real answer,
although I would give a small edge to birch.
> - Weatherability
Both poor. The stuff is not made to be rained on. it will delaminate over
time.
> - Smoothness of the surface and lack of defects
Luan will be nicer.
> Note: I am assuming some type of "standard" grade for each material.
I'm not sure that there is a standard other than pricing pressures of the
market ensuring the lowest possible quality that the public will tollerate
being sold at the major retail outlets.
What's your application and how temporary is temporary?
-Steve
blueman wrote:
>
> I am trying to choose between Luan plywood vs. 1/4" birch plywood that
> I plan to use as walls for a temporary structure.
>
> Other than price, I am trying to understand pros/cons of each:
>
> So is there any significant difference in:
> - Strength/durability
> - Stiffness
> - Weatherability
> - Weight
> - Smoothness of the surface and lack of defects
>
> If so what are they?
>
> Note: I am assuming some type of "standard" grade for each material.
What are you making? A room divider?
"blueman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I am trying to choose between Luan plywood vs. 1/4" birch plywood that
> I plan to use as walls for a temporary structure.
When you say birch, do you mean Baltic Birch? I'm looking at the Luan and
Baltic birch I bought. There is a huge difference in stiffness between the
two. I think of the luan as a cosmetic material and the BB as having some
structural strength. What do you mean by walls for a temporary structure?
Bob