Plywood Questions

[EagerBeaver71]

I just got a quote for a sheet of Crown Cut American Oak plywood. One the quote it has DBG:

AME OAK CRN DGB BIRPLY 2400X1200 19MM

Anyone got a clue what the abbreviation is?.

[elanjacobs]

Down Grade Back, it's generally the standard for veneered boards. Means the veneer on the back face is the same species as the good face, but lower grade. Nearly all the Am Oak DGB stuff we bought at my old work had quarter sawn veneers on the back with insane medullary rays...apparently that's worse than the boring crown stuff :doh: :shrug:

The other options are Good Both Faces (or something to that effect) and Back At Manufacturer's Option (they put whatever they want on the back, odd species, leftovers, etc.)

[EagerBeaver71]

Down Grade Back, it's generally the standard for veneered boards. Means the veneer on the back face is the same species as the good face, but lower grade. Nearly all the Am Oak DGB stuff we bought at my old work had quarter sawn veneers on the back with insane medullary rays...apparently that's worse than the boring crown stuff :doh: :shrug:

The other options are Good Both Faces (or something to that effect) and Back At Manufacturer's Option (they put whatever they want on the back, odd species, leftovers, etc.)

I was hoping you would reply to my thread because I know you have had alot of experience with the old ply. You might have guessed, I'm buying some full sheets through Timerwood. I've had some 1.2mm white laminate from them so far which I was very happy with so I thought I'd give the old plywood a go. I'm hoping they let me inspect the panel before I buy it because I have only small samples of the ply to go by. When they say crown cut, is it only crown cut or is some straight grain in there aswell just to break up the pattern and make it less repeated?.

Would you recommend buying just the veneer and pressing it myself or get plywood sheets with the veneer already pressed on?.

[elanjacobs]

Does it have to be plywood? They generally have stock of MDF, not sure about ply.

The standard is book matched, so if you order crown that's all you're getting. There's often some straight bits in there, just depends how wide the flitch they're slicing is.

I'd always opt for buying finished boards; they have a proper press and a proper sander that will basically always be better than DIY.

[EagerBeaver71]

Does it have to be plywood? They generally have stock of MDF, not sure about ply.

The standard is book matched, so if you order crown that's all you're getting. There's often some straight bits in there, just depends how wide the flitch they're slicing is.

I'd always opt for buying finished boards; they have a proper press and a proper sander that will basically always be better than DIY.

I had a quote done for both Ply and MDF, Ply obviously being the more expensive (birch ply). Whats the difference apart from the strength and price?.

[elanjacobs]

That's basically it. 18mm MDF is pretty darn strong though

[EagerBeaver71]

That's basically it. 18mm MDF is pretty darn strong though


Can Crown Cut and Quarter Cut be done on the same board?, or would there be too much colour variance?.

[elanjacobs]

As in the same face? If you give them money they'll make whatever you want I assume, might look a bit strange IMO. Maybe ask if they can do randomised

[EagerBeaver71]

As in the same face? If you give them money they'll make whatever you want I assume, might look a bit strange IMO. Maybe ask if they can do randomised

Yeak on the same face, might give that a miss then. You've been a wealth of information mate, thanks for taking the time to rely.

Have a great Xmas & New Year!

[EagerBeaver71]

As in the same face? If you give them money they'll make whatever you want I assume, might look a bit strange IMO. Maybe ask if they can do randomised

Just been doing some research but can find an answer. How wide is a flitch generally or is that a stupid question?.

[elanjacobs]

Just been doing some research but can find an answer. How wide is a flitch generally or is that a stupid question?.
Could be anywhere from 100-300mm, depends on the species and what they have available, but Timberwood's crown US Oak I think was usually 6-7 pieces across a sheet so that'd make it 170-200mm wide.

Here's an example of what their crown US Oak looks like (pressed the "wrong" way by special order)

505262

[EagerBeaver71]

Could be anywhere from 100-300mm, depends on the species and what they have available, but Timberwood's crown US Oak I think was usually 6-7 pieces across a sheet so that'd make it 170-200mm wide.

Here's an example of what their crown US Oak looks like (pressed the "wrong" way by special order)

505262

Thanks for the photo mate. I'd want the cathedrals to be less close together like natural wood. Like this Red Oak Ply Panel from Bunnings:


505264


Is this down to the width of the veneer?. What does the right side look like on your oak panels?.

[elanjacobs]

It all depends on the flitch, sometimes they look like yours, sometimes not. It's a natural product, it's always going to vary :shrug:

Wider veneers can tend to be more like your panel, but even then there's no guarantee.

By wrong way, I mean the veneers run the short way instead of the long way. It's good both faces, both sides are pretty similar.