Thread: baltic birch (etc) ply

Short answer: you can't.

However, if you want to use some ply made with exotic veneers, well then you can always try Brims Ply.

I don't have their URL to hand, search the board or Google them.

It will cost you though and believe me, you won't be using it for jigs.

Ther's always C D bond stuff for that which is reasonably cheap and made from Radiata.

You probably got the manager's idiot son. Mr Ply & Wood advertise Birch Ply - Aircraft Grade only & it comes in 1.5m x1.5m panels. There is also a direct importer/distributor up Brookvale way - try Google.com.au or the online Yellow Pages.

Mr Ply & Wood also sell marine ply AA grade ($$$) and S1S grade/non marine, all made from Hoop Pine, and Hardwood veneer ply, all with an A bond. Take a look at their web site for the product codes for the hardwood ply & both types of Hoop Pine ply. I believe that 'TechniPly' is a special grade of exact thickness ply but have never been able to get a straight answer out of Mr. Ply.

Brims Ply also MAKE & sell marine ply (Hoop Pine, A bond) as well as a number of fancy plys for cabinetry, but they are 'C' bond - you cant leave them in continually damp/wet conditions, but the occasional bit of moisture won't hurt them - say a bathroom cabinet. Brims MAKE all the ply they sell IIRC, so there is a certain consistancy in their product - its not just lowest bidder like Bunnies.

From recent reading, I think the birch ply still cost the Yanks the odd limb, but they at least have the choice to buy several grades of the stuff, as well as fancy veneer ply, but some of their stuff is cr*p grade even paying top dollar. Also remember that a lot of the guys recommending the stuff are not paying for it out of their own pocket, but are getting it as part of the production allowance for the magazine, and there may be a bit of 'product placement' involved - one brand 'Apple Ply' gets a lot of column inches as its a US product.

Birch ply is available from time to time, high quality, sold as "aviation" ply.

Try Marine Timbers (Boatcraft Pacific) in Melbourne the cost of shipping interstate is about the same as delivery next door (I can't figure it out either). http://www.marinetimbers.com.au/ see link to specialty plywoods.

Sharpe plywood in Brisbane had some a while ago, and Mr Ply&Wood call it "Aircraft Plywood" they don't have a price on their website, referring to "your local store."

Last time I priced it, it wasn't cheap, but not like gold.

Cheers,

P

O.K, you can get it but it's known as aircraft ply. Presumably because it's good enough to use in a wooden airaplane (do they still exist?).

Good for jigs?

Probably, if you are rich.

Lots of home built aircraft exist (shudder!) and lots of ply and clear timbers used in their construction as well as in modelling.

Now I'm going to have to find out how much! More than Radiata!

Very good for jigs. Probably as good as MDF.

Cheers,

P

Biting Midge
During WW2 the Mosquito , a two engine fighter bomber was made in Canada out of plywood. Hundreds of them were flown across the Atlantic to join in the war. It was one of the best fighter/bombers during the latter part of the war
It probably was birch ply.
paul

thanx gents, will start searching on Saturday!

As a footnote, Mosquitos were also made by deHavillands at Bankstown (Sydney, Australia) and the aircraft was built in female moulds with the construction being a ply and balsa sandwich. The main components were made in halves (like plastic aircraft model kits) and the internal components fitted and then the halves joined. This has made the few remaining aircraft very hard to keep in the air and restoration of basket cases almost impossible. Well .... an Australian restorer is alledgedly making new concrete moulds to create new wings and fuselages ..... and I shie away from rocking chairs!
Fletty

Check this item on ebay :

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....962479628&rd=1

Thanx Justin,trying to contact them now,
How do you guys find this stuff?
Fletty

Fletty,

Birch plywood is generally graded by standards set by Germanischer Lloyd. The grades are GLI GLII GLIII & GLIV. GLI is aircraft grade although GLII can sometimes be used. GLIII allows some small manufactureing defects amd more knots. GLIV isn't actually manufactured but results from downgrading of GLIII sheets during inspection. GLIII & GLIV are still pretty nice plywoods for most applications and a fair whack cheaper. If you ask for aircraft grade material you often pay extra for the certification paperwork that must accompany it(this doesn't just apply to plywood!). In Melbourne - Marine Timbers stock birch plywood Australian wood Panels also list GLIII in the thinner sizes

Regarding the Mosquito they were actually male moulds, initially of mahogany - later cast smooth finish concrete. The new fuslage moulds have been constucted by a gentleman in New Zealand from timber. Unfortunatly, worldwide there are no Mosquitos currently airworthy, however there are a several projects around the world underway to redress this!

At The RAAF Museum here in Melbourne, we are curently restoring Mosquito A52-600 to static condition. Management of this project is my current major responsibility.

Brett