This is the the second time I've bought 13 ply birch plywood that is NOT
square, NOT straight, and over-sized.
It used to be a given that you could count on plywood having perfectly
straight edges, perfectly square ends and corners, and being exactly 48x96.
I bought 5 sheets and not a single one is true. They are out of square by
1/32" to 1/8" on every side, and are all over-sized by at least 1/8".
I used to be able to use a factory edge as a straight cutting edge.
Not with this crap. Every long edge is bowed slightly in or out.
Don't even get me started on the paper thin finish plies that are
flaking off like acrylic paint.
"Made in China" saved me money, but has cost me 5x as much in time, so far.
Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need to look
for who still make/source perfect plywood?
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
mike@mikedrumsDOT.com
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
In article <2YL0m.53790$FI5.5378@newsfe12.iad>, notbob <notbob@nothome.com> wrote:
>On 2009-06-25, Doug Miller <spambait@milmac.com> wrote:
>
>> next-door neighbor. And I have never, even once, been disappointed in the
>> quality of any Canadian-made product.
>
>This no doubt due the fact both US and Canada have the same major lumber
>companies in common.
I didn't mean just lumber. That's why I said "any Canadian-made product". :-)
In article <h1una4$305$1@news.eternal-september.org>, -MIKE- <mike@mikedrumsDOT.com> wrote:
>Doug Miller wrote:
>> In article <h1uiho$eb6$1@news.eternal-september.org>, -MIKE-
> <mike@mikedrumsDOT.com> wrote:
>>> This is the the second time I've bought 13 ply birch plywood that is NOT
>>> square, NOT straight, and over-sized.
>> [...]
>>> "Made in China" saved me money, but has cost me 5x as much in time, so far.
>>> Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need to look
>>> for who still make/source perfect plywood?
>>
>> Buy your plywood at a real lumber yard, not at home centers, and it's
> unlikely
>> you'll have this problem. In particular, grab the Yellow Pages, look under
>> "Lumber", and search out the dealers that sell hardwoods. Those are the ones
>> who will also sell decent plywood.
>>
>
>That's the deal, though. Both places are hardwood/plywood specialists.
>Nashville Plywood and Summers Lumber.
Ouch! Sounds like they're both locally-owned businesses, eh? Complain directly
to the owner. I guess I just assumed that it must have come from the Borg,
since that's the only place around here (Indianapolis) where I see crappy
plywood. The independent dealers in this area all sell the good stuff.
>
>I would never buy from Lowes or Home Depot, so I expected quality higher
>than mediocre.
I would too. Do you have any alternatives?
>
>
>> BTW, while you certainly want to avoid anything made in China, don't think
>> that you have to restrict your purchases to US-made plywood only. I've bought
>> plenty of plywood that was made in Canada and it all seems first-rate. I try
>> to buy American when I can, but when I can't, I look next for Canadian
>> products -- I figure if you can't do business at home, do business with your
>> next-door neighbor. And I have never, even once, been disappointed in the
>> quality of any Canadian-made product.
>
>Yes, I say US, but imply North America. :-)
FWIW, I've not seen quality problems with Mexican-made products, either, but
that's mostly auto parts. I doubt Mexico exports much plywood...
>Apparently Russia is exporting some pretty suspect stuff, too.
Imagine my surprise.
-MIKE- wrote:
> This is the the second time I've bought 13 ply birch plywood that is
> NOT square, NOT straight, and over-sized.
>
> It used to be a given that you could count on plywood having perfectly
> straight edges, perfectly square ends and corners, and being exactly
> 48x96.
> I bought 5 sheets and not a single one is true. They are out of
> square by 1/32" to 1/8" on every side, and are all over-sized by at
> least 1/8".
> I used to be able to use a factory edge as a straight cutting edge.
> Not with this crap. Every long edge is bowed slightly in or out.
>
> Don't even get me started on the paper thin finish plies that are
> flaking off like acrylic paint.
>
> "Made in China" saved me money, but has cost me 5x as much in time,
> so far. Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need
> to look for who still make/source perfect plywood?
If you buy your plywood from HD, you get "one free cut" which can be used to
square it up - at least partly - so it's not as bad as it seems.
"spaco" <spaco@baldwin-telecom.net> wrote in message
news:8omdnY01l53pT97XnZ2dnUVZ_hFi4p2d@bright.net...
> What are you complaining about?
> I just paid the big bucks for a sheet of 3/4" MDF, ripped it to length
> for a workbench top that needed to be exactly 96" long and THEN found that
> it was 1/8" short.
>
> At least your stuff was long enough!
>
> Pete Stanaitis
Must've been cold out.
On Jun 24, 9:19=A0pm, "Lew Hodgett" <sails....@verizon.net> wrote:
> "-MIKE-" wrote:
> > Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need to
> > look
> > for who still make/source perfect plywood?
>
> Lots of them, if lowest price isn't the issue.
>
> Simply get a bid that excludes "Made in China" material.
>
> Lew
Some 20 years ago I needed a couple of lifts of walnut veneer on
particle board for a loudspeaker project..
Pre-internet, on the phone for a couple of days----> best price Sault
St Marie Michigan. Including freight, brokerage, exchange, it was the
best deal by 15%. The stuff shows up with Made In Canada stamped all
over it. A genuine WTF moment.
On Jun 24, 9:19=A0pm, "Lew Hodgett" <sails....@verizon.net> wrote:
> "-MIKE-" wrote:
> > Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need to
> > look
> > for who still make/source perfect plywood?
>
> Lots of them, if lowest price isn't the issue.
>
> Simply get a bid that excludes "Made in China" material.
>
> Lew
You're not kidding. The only game in my town that I've found so far
wants $90+ for a sheet of US birch plywood.
-Nathan
What are you complaining about?
I just paid the big bucks for a sheet of 3/4" MDF, ripped it to
length for a workbench top that needed to be exactly 96" long and THEN
found that it was 1/8" short.
At least your stuff was long enough!
Pete Stanaitis
-------------------
-MIKE- wrote:
> This is the the second time I've bought 13 ply birch plywood that is NOT
> square, NOT straight, and over-sized.
>
> It used to be a given that you could count on plywood having perfectly
> straight edges, perfectly square ends and corners, and being exactly 48x96.
>
> I bought 5 sheets and not a single one is true. They are out of square by
> 1/32" to 1/8" on every side, and are all over-sized by at least 1/8".
>
> I used to be able to use a factory edge as a straight cutting edge.
> Not with this crap. Every long edge is bowed slightly in or out.
>
> Don't even get me started on the paper thin finish plies that are
> flaking off like acrylic paint.
>
> "Made in China" saved me money, but has cost me 5x as much in time, so far.
> Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need to look
> for who still make/source perfect plywood?
>
>
In article <h1uiho$eb6$1@news.eternal-september.org>, -MIKE- <mike@mikedrumsDOT.com> wrote:
>This is the the second time I've bought 13 ply birch plywood that is NOT
>square, NOT straight, and over-sized.
[...]
>"Made in China" saved me money, but has cost me 5x as much in time, so far.
>Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need to look
>for who still make/source perfect plywood?
Buy your plywood at a real lumber yard, not at home centers, and it's unlikely
you'll have this problem. In particular, grab the Yellow Pages, look under
"Lumber", and search out the dealers that sell hardwoods. Those are the ones
who will also sell decent plywood.
BTW, while you certainly want to avoid anything made in China, don't think
that you have to restrict your purchases to US-made plywood only. I've bought
plenty of plywood that was made in Canada and it all seems first-rate. I try
to buy American when I can, but when I can't, I look next for Canadian
products -- I figure if you can't do business at home, do business with your
next-door neighbor. And I have never, even once, been disappointed in the
quality of any Canadian-made product.
Just put edge banding on both ends. Problem solved.
spaco wrote:
> What are you complaining about?
> I just paid the big bucks for a sheet of 3/4" MDF, ripped it to length
> for a workbench top that needed to be exactly 96" long and THEN found
> that it was 1/8" short.
>
> At least your stuff was long enough!
>
> Pete Stanaitis
> -------------------
> -MIKE- wrote:
>> This is the the second time I've bought 13 ply birch plywood that is NOT
>> square, NOT straight, and over-sized.
>>
>> It used to be a given that you could count on plywood having perfectly
>> straight edges, perfectly square ends and corners, and being exactly
>> 48x96.
>>
>> I bought 5 sheets and not a single one is true. They are out of square by
>> 1/32" to 1/8" on every side, and are all over-sized by at least 1/8".
>>
>> I used to be able to use a factory edge as a straight cutting edge.
>> Not with this crap. Every long edge is bowed slightly in or out.
>>
>> Don't even get me started on the paper thin finish plies that are
>> flaking off like acrylic paint.
>>
>> "Made in China" saved me money, but has cost me 5x as much in time, so
>> far.
>> Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need to look
>> for who still make/source perfect plywood?
>>
>>
In article <8omdnY01l53pT97XnZ2dnUVZ_hFi4p2d@bright.net>, spaco <spaco@baldwin-telecom.net> wrote:
>What are you complaining about?
> I just paid the big bucks for a sheet of 3/4" MDF, ripped it to
>length for a workbench top that needed to be exactly 96" long and THEN
>found that it was 1/8" short.
That sucks. A sheet of MDF is supposed to be 49x97.
"-MIKE-" <mike@mikedrumsDOT.com> wrote in message
news:h1uiho$eb6$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> This is the the second time I've bought 13 ply birch plywood that is NOT
> square, NOT straight, and over-sized.
>
> It used to be a given that you could count on plywood having perfectly
> straight edges, perfectly square ends and corners, and being exactly
> 48x96.
>
> I bought 5 sheets and not a single one is true. They are out of square by
> 1/32" to 1/8" on every side, and are all over-sized by at least 1/8".
>
> I used to be able to use a factory edge as a straight cutting edge.
> Not with this crap. Every long edge is bowed slightly in or out.
>
> Don't even get me started on the paper thin finish plies that are
> flaking off like acrylic paint.
>
> "Made in China" saved me money, but has cost me 5x as much in time, so
> far.
> Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need to look
> for who still make/source perfect plywood?
>
>
> --
>
> -MIKE-
>
> "Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
> --Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
> --
> http://mikedrums.com
> mike@mikedrumsDOT.com
> ---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
For what it's worth the Lowe's in Hopkinsville just north of you sells
American made plywood, the Lowe's in Clarksville 30 miles south sells
Chinaply. Local real lumber yard sells only Chinaply. Check with different
Lowe's in the area you might find one that has Made in the USA or Canadaply
one it. Or make the 90 mile trip to Hopkinsville, it's worth it for the
real stuff.
Doug Miller wrote:
> In article <h1uiho$eb6$1@news.eternal-september.org>, -MIKE- <mike@mikedrumsDOT.com> wrote:
>> This is the the second time I've bought 13 ply birch plywood that is NOT
>> square, NOT straight, and over-sized.
> [...]
>> "Made in China" saved me money, but has cost me 5x as much in time, so far.
>> Are there any US wholesale suppliers/distributors that I need to look
>> for who still make/source perfect plywood?
>
> Buy your plywood at a real lumber yard, not at home centers, and it's unlikely
> you'll have this problem. In particular, grab the Yellow Pages, look under
> "Lumber", and search out the dealers that sell hardwoods. Those are the ones
> who will also sell decent plywood.
>
That's the deal, though. Both places are hardwood/plywood specialists.
Nashville Plywood and Summers Lumber.
I would never buy from Lowes or Home Depot, so I expected quality higher
than mediocre.
> BTW, while you certainly want to avoid anything made in China, don't think
> that you have to restrict your purchases to US-made plywood only. I've bought
> plenty of plywood that was made in Canada and it all seems first-rate. I try
> to buy American when I can, but when I can't, I look next for Canadian
> products -- I figure if you can't do business at home, do business with your
> next-door neighbor. And I have never, even once, been disappointed in the
> quality of any Canadian-made product.
Yes, I say US, but imply North America. :-)
Apparently Russia is exporting some pretty suspect stuff, too.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
mike@mikedrumsDOT.com
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
HeyBub wrote:
> If you buy your plywood from HD, you get "one free cut" which can be used to
> square it up - at least partly - so it's not as bad as it seems.
>
I hear you, but in my experience, their sheet rip saws are as
hit-and-miss as the plywood we're discussing.
I really doubt anyone is checking the adjustments on those things and as
many times as they get hit with carts and forklifts, you simply can't
take for granted that they will cut square.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
mike@mikedrumsDOT.com
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
spaco wrote:
> What are you complaining about?
> I just paid the big bucks for a sheet of 3/4" MDF, ripped it to length
> for a workbench top that needed to be exactly 96" long and THEN found
> that it was 1/8" short.
>
> At least your stuff was long enough!
>
> Pete Stanaitis
> -------------------
What, you didn't account for shrinkage? :-)
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
mike@mikedrumsDOT.com
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
-MIKE- wrote:
> Doug Miller wrote:
>> Buy your plywood at a real lumber yard, not at home centers, and it's
>> unlikely you'll have this problem. In particular, grab the Yellow
>> Pages, look under "Lumber", and search out the dealers that sell
>> hardwoods. Those are the ones who will also sell decent plywood.
>>
>
> That's the deal, though. Both places are hardwood/plywood specialists.
> Nashville Plywood and Summers Lumber.
>
> I would never buy from Lowes or Home Depot, so I expected quality higher
> than mediocre.
All best are off in the 21st century, dudes.
I buy LOTS of sheetgoods and I'm here to tell you that NONE of the above
is true in this day and age. :(
Plywood, in general, varies so much from shipment to shipment that, at
any given time, you may actually find better hardwood plywood at the
Borg, than at the best lumber yard/hardwood dealer in town.
As we speak, I've got $120/sheet A1, rift cut, oak plywood, from one of
the best dealers in town; and $49/sheet oak veneer plywood from the
BORG, sitting in the shop, and the latter, even though it is being used
as an assembly surface and ripped for tack strips, is MUCH better
quality plywood, although it is an inferior veneer grade.
I see this constantly, and it is a constant source of frustration
because, as with hamburgers or anything else, you don't necessarily get
what you pay for any more.
AAMOF, the absolute straightest, squarest, best plywood I've bought in
bulk lately is known in the industry as "China Birch" ... supposedly
paint grade, it can be stained nicely with judicious cutting ... but
that was last week.
Only one thing is predictable ... you will pay more at a good lumber
yard, even if the plywood is crappy, so it definitely pays to simply
look around and not buy sight unseen.
Another thing to consider if you're required to build "green". One of
the few manufacturers of "urea formaldehyde free" plywood is Columbia
Forest Products ... and guess who supplies Home Depot. These guys do
make some much higher veneer grade sheetgoods that HD never sees, but
the process is basically the same.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/22/08
KarlC@ (the obvious)