Tt

Too_Many_Tools

06/05/2008 11:24 PM

Why are plywood plugs oval shaped?

Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.

Anyone know why?

Thanks

TMT


This topic has 24 replies

FB

Frank Boettcher

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 1:46 PM

On Tue, 6 May 2008 23:24:00 -0700 (PDT), Too_Many_Tools
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
>wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>
>Anyone know why?
>
>Thanks
>
>TMT


Cause it's in the standard. "Boat" veneer patches are described and
have a maximum dimension, length, width and end radius in the standard
for manufacturing plywood.

Please don't ask me how the standard became the standard.

Frank

RC

Robatoy

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 1:19 PM

On May 7, 3:34=A0pm, Cam in Toronto <[email protected]> wrote:
> On May 7, 2:24=A0am, Too_Many_Tools <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
> > wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>
> > Anyone know why?
>
> > Thanks
>
> > TMT
>
> So that it fits in the oval hole.
>
> Cam

Bananas are bent so they fit in the peel for the exact same reason.

Pp

Puckdropper

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 7:42 AM

Too_Many_Tools <[email protected]> wrote in news:a6c0ec25-e3da-
[email protected]:

> Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
> wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>
> Anyone know why?
>
> Thanks
>
> TMT
>

If you're talking about the "footballs" they use in plywood repairs, my
guess would be physics. A circular plug would be able to spin, while a
oval shaped one would not. This eliminates one more dimension the plug
is able to move, hopefully producing a slightly stronger joint.

It could also be that most repairs they need to make tend to be longer
than they are wide. By using an oval shaped plug, they can give you more
of the good grain and less plug.

Puckdropper
--
You can only do so much with caulk, cardboard, and duct tape.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

c

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 8:30 PM


>
>Cause it's in the standard. "Boat" veneer patches are described and
>have a maximum dimension, length, width and end radius in the standard
>for manufacturing plywood.
>
>Please don't ask me how the standard became the standard.
>
>Frank

Now I'm curious how the standard became the standard.
You insiduous bastard!!

P

CE

"C & E"

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 10:01 PM


"Lobby Dosser" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:BCqUj.1325$Kf.308@trndny07...
> Frank Boettcher <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 6 May 2008 23:24:00 -0700 (PDT), Too_Many_Tools
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
>>>wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>>>
>>>Anyone know why?
>>>
>>>Thanks
>>>
>>>TMT
>>
>>
>> Cause it's in the standard. "Boat" veneer patches are described and
>> have a maximum dimension, length, width and end radius in the standard
>> for manufacturing plywood.
>>
>> Please don't ask me how the standard became the standard.
>
> When the Romans invaded Spain, the Spanish were making plywood from
> Spanish Cedar. All of the plugs were oval because the Moors had not yet
> invaded Spain and given the circle to the Spanish. The Romans took the
> oval plug home and it became the Roman Army Standard for plywood plugs.
> And, just as with the guage of railroads, the Roman Army standard is in
> effect to this day.


Now, *that* was good!

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 8:27 PM

RE: Subject

Everybody/everything gotta be someplace so they fit in.

Lew

ca

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 8:26 PM

On Wed, 7 May 2008 19:23:02 -0400, "Lee Michaels"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote
>On May 7, 3:34 pm, Cam in Toronto <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On May 7, 2:24 am, Too_Many_Tools <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> > Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
>> > wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>>
>> > Anyone know why?
>>
>> So that it fits in the oval hole.
>>
>Bananas are bent so they fit in the peel for the exact same reason.
>
>
>They created straight bananas. No bend, no curves. They fit into shipping
>crates better and they could pack more of them into each box. That didn't
>last long. Nobody bought the bananas. People are funny that way. They want
>a curved banana, not a straight one.
>
>
A real bugger getting straight bananas to grow in bunches. The bunches
look like big pine comes.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

PB

Pat Barber

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 6:36 PM

Because some bubba working in a plywood factory liked
that shape over anything else ??? He did it and then
everybody else followed.

I bet nobody remembers why .....

Too_Many_Tools wrote:

> Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
> wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>
> Anyone know why?
>
> Thanks
>
> TMT

LD

Lobby Dosser

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 11:07 PM

Frank Boettcher <[email protected]> wrote:

> On Tue, 6 May 2008 23:24:00 -0700 (PDT), Too_Many_Tools
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
>>wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>>
>>Anyone know why?
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>TMT
>
>
> Cause it's in the standard. "Boat" veneer patches are described and
> have a maximum dimension, length, width and end radius in the standard
> for manufacturing plywood.
>
> Please don't ask me how the standard became the standard.

When the Romans invaded Spain, the Spanish were making plywood from
Spanish Cedar. All of the plugs were oval because the Moors had not yet
invaded Spain and given the circle to the Spanish. The Romans took the
oval plug home and it became the Roman Army Standard for plywood plugs.
And, just as with the guage of railroads, the Roman Army standard is in
effect to this day.

LD

Lobby Dosser

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

11/05/2008 5:45 AM

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada wrote:

> On Sat, 10 May 2008 12:11:14 -0400, "J. Clarke"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>John wrote:
>>> On Wed, 07 May 2008 23:07:13 GMT, Lobby Dosser
>>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> When the Romans invaded Spain, the Spanish were making plywood from
>>>> Spanish Cedar. All of the plugs were oval because the Moors had not
>>>> yet invaded Spain and given the circle to the Spanish. The Romans
>>>> took the oval plug home and it became the Roman Army Standard for
>>>> plywood plugs. And, just as with the guage of railroads, the Roman
>>>> Army standard is in effect to this day.
>>>
>>> Of course! I knew there had to be a simple and plausible
>>> explanation.
>>
>>It's not as unlikely as it sounds. The Romans did know how to make
>>plywood--they used it for their shields.
>>
>>--
> And therefor the oval shaped plugs - to patch the speer and lance
> holes.
> ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
>

Nah, they got those from Spain. There's no word in Latin for o"oval
plywood plug" but,

There's a word in Spanish ...

LD

Lobby Dosser

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

10/05/2008 10:29 PM

"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote:

> John wrote:
>> On Wed, 07 May 2008 23:07:13 GMT, Lobby Dosser
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> When the Romans invaded Spain, the Spanish were making plywood from
>>> Spanish Cedar. All of the plugs were oval because the Moors had not
>>> yet invaded Spain and given the circle to the Spanish. The Romans
>>> took the oval plug home and it became the Roman Army Standard for
>>> plywood plugs. And, just as with the guage of railroads, the Roman
>>> Army standard is in effect to this day.
>>
>> Of course! I knew there had to be a simple and plausible
>> explanation.
>
> It's not as unlikely as it sounds. The Romans did know how to make
> plywood--they used it for their shields.
>

Leather covered, IIRC. Then there is the composite bow ...

And the railroad gauge story is not entirely implausible. The current
standard gauge being the width of two horse's backsides. :)

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 8:00 AM


"Too_Many_Tools" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
> wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>
> Anyone know why?
>
> Thanks
>
> TMT


There is less waste. You have less waste from the material it comes from
than if it was a circle. If they were square there would be even less
waste.
Additionally they can cover a wider area, perhaps 3 small defects in a line
more easily than a circle with out having to be made too large.

RC

Robatoy

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 10:47 AM

On May 7, 9:00=A0am, "Leon" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Too_Many_Tools" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
> > wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>
> > Anyone know why?
>
> > Thanks
>
> > TMT
>
> There is less waste. =A0You have less waste from the material it comes fro=
m
> than if it was a circle. =A0If they were square there would be even less
> waste.
> Additionally they can cover a wider area, perhaps 3 small defects in a lin=
e
> more easily than a circle with out having to be made too large.

I seem to recall someone telling me it was all about grain
orientation.
The 'less waste' angle seems plausible as well.

Jf

JKevorkian

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

08/05/2008 3:57 AM

On Wed, 07 May 2008 23:07:13 GMT, Lobby Dosser <[email protected]>
wrote:

>When the Romans invaded Spain, the Spanish were making plywood from
>Spanish Cedar. All of the plugs were oval because the Moors had not yet
>invaded Spain and given the circle to the Spanish. The Romans took the
>oval plug home and it became the Roman Army Standard for plywood plugs.
>And, just as with the guage of railroads, the Roman Army standard is in
>effect to this day.

Thank you, Cliff, for that insightful explanation.
So, Norm, how's Vera been treating you?

Ci

Cam in Toronto

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 12:34 PM

On May 7, 2:24=A0am, Too_Many_Tools <[email protected]> wrote:
> Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
> wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>
> Anyone know why?
>
> Thanks
>
> TMT

So that it fits in the oval hole.

Cam

MM

"Mike Marlow"

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

08/05/2008 1:15 AM


<clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 07 May 2008 20:26:58 -0400, clare at snyder dot ontario dot
> canada wrote:

>>A real bugger getting straight bananas to grow in bunches. The bunches
>>look like big pine comes.

> That's CONES, sorry.

Too late.

--

-Mike-
[email protected]

LM

"Lee Michaels"

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 7:23 PM


"Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote
On May 7, 3:34 pm, Cam in Toronto <[email protected]> wrote:
> On May 7, 2:24 am, Too_Many_Tools <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
> > wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>
> > Anyone know why?
>
> So that it fits in the oval hole.
>
Bananas are bent so they fit in the peel for the exact same reason.


They created straight bananas. No bend, no curves. They fit into shipping
crates better and they could pack more of them into each box. That didn't
last long. Nobody bought the bananas. People are funny that way. They want
a curved banana, not a straight one.


JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 7:40 PM

Lee Michaels wrote:
> "Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote
> On May 7, 3:34 pm, Cam in Toronto <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On May 7, 2:24 am, Too_Many_Tools <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
>>> wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>>
>>> Anyone know why?
>>
>> So that it fits in the oval hole.
>>
> Bananas are bent so they fit in the peel for the exact same reason.
>
>
> They created straight bananas. No bend, no curves. They fit into
> shipping crates better and they could pack more of them into each
> box. That didn't last long. Nobody bought the bananas. People are
> funny that way. They want a curved banana, not a straight one.

There are certain uses to which a curved banana is better suited.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

10/05/2008 12:11 PM

John wrote:
> On Wed, 07 May 2008 23:07:13 GMT, Lobby Dosser
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>> When the Romans invaded Spain, the Spanish were making plywood from
>> Spanish Cedar. All of the plugs were oval because the Moors had not
>> yet invaded Spain and given the circle to the Spanish. The Romans
>> took the oval plug home and it became the Roman Army Standard for
>> plywood plugs. And, just as with the guage of railroads, the Roman
>> Army standard is in effect to this day.
>
> Of course! I knew there had to be a simple and plausible
> explanation.

It's not as unlikely as it sounds. The Romans did know how to make
plywood--they used it for their shields.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Jf

John

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

10/05/2008 10:37 AM

On Wed, 07 May 2008 23:07:13 GMT, Lobby Dosser
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>When the Romans invaded Spain, the Spanish were making plywood from
>Spanish Cedar. All of the plugs were oval because the Moors had not yet
>invaded Spain and given the circle to the Spanish. The Romans took the
>oval plug home and it became the Roman Army Standard for plywood plugs.
>And, just as with the guage of railroads, the Roman Army standard is in
>effect to this day.

Of course! I knew there had to be a simple and plausible explanation.

Reply-to address is real
John

ca

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

10/05/2008 8:36 PM

On Sat, 10 May 2008 12:11:14 -0400, "J. Clarke"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>John wrote:
>> On Wed, 07 May 2008 23:07:13 GMT, Lobby Dosser
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> When the Romans invaded Spain, the Spanish were making plywood from
>>> Spanish Cedar. All of the plugs were oval because the Moors had not
>>> yet invaded Spain and given the circle to the Spanish. The Romans
>>> took the oval plug home and it became the Roman Army Standard for
>>> plywood plugs. And, just as with the guage of railroads, the Roman
>>> Army standard is in effect to this day.
>>
>> Of course! I knew there had to be a simple and plausible
>> explanation.
>
>It's not as unlikely as it sounds. The Romans did know how to make
>plywood--they used it for their shields.
>
>--
And therefor the oval shaped plugs - to patch the speer and lance
holes.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

ca

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 8:59 PM

On Wed, 07 May 2008 20:26:58 -0400, clare at snyder dot ontario dot
canada wrote:

>On Wed, 7 May 2008 19:23:02 -0400, "Lee Michaels"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Robatoy" <[email protected]> wrote
>>On May 7, 3:34 pm, Cam in Toronto <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> On May 7, 2:24 am, Too_Many_Tools <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
>>> > wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>>>
>>> > Anyone know why?
>>>
>>> So that it fits in the oval hole.
>>>
>>Bananas are bent so they fit in the peel for the exact same reason.
>>
>>
>>They created straight bananas. No bend, no curves. They fit into shipping
>>crates better and they could pack more of them into each box. That didn't
>>last long. Nobody bought the bananas. People are funny that way. They want
>>a curved banana, not a straight one.
>>
>>
>A real bugger getting straight bananas to grow in bunches. The bunches
>look like big pine comes.
>** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
That's CONES, sorry.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

LD

Lobby Dosser

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 11:09 PM

Robatoy <[email protected]> wrote:

> On May 7, 3:34 pm, Cam in Toronto <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On May 7, 2:24 am, Too_Many_Tools <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> > Recently when I was working with plywood I again found myself
>> > wondering why plywood plugs are oval rather than circular.
>>
>> > Anyone know why?
>>
>> > Thanks
>>
>> > TMT
>>
>> So that it fits in the oval hole.
>>
>> Cam
>
> Bananas are bent so they fit in the peel for the exact same reason.

Bananas are bent because someone forgot to finish the back side and they
warp.

BA

B A R R Y

in reply to Too_Many_Tools on 06/05/2008 11:24 PM

07/05/2008 7:29 AM

Puckdropper wrote:
>
> If you're talking about the "footballs" they use in plywood repairs, my
> guess would be physics. A circular plug would be able to spin, while a
> oval shaped one would not. This eliminates one more dimension the plug
> is able to move, hopefully producing a slightly stronger joint.

I don't know about that one... <G>


You’ve reached the end of replies