If you’re planning a DIY project using Plywood – why not save time and order your Plywood Cut To Size. Less stress, less mess and guaranteed accuracy. What’s not to love?
How Hard Is It To Cut Plywood To Size?
Even the most experienced DIY’ers can find cutting Plywood to size a daunting task. Why? Well once you’ve cut plywood – you can’t go back. Accuracy is crucial when it comes to cutting sheet materials like Plywood. Even if you go too big – you’re going to have to trim it down – which can be tricky. Especially for timber wall panelling projects where every strip needs to be uniform.
The price of Plywood has rapidly shot up in the last 18 months, with suppliers increasing prices by more than 40%. Cutting it wrong is a costly mistake, so why not leave it to the professionals?
Is It Expensive To Order Plywood Cut To Size?
It varies from place to place, it also depends on the plywood market which has been quite rocky over the last 18 months. With ply being so popular sheet prices have shot up – by more than 40% in some places!
Stuck on the plywood thickness you need for your project? Keep reading for advice on the various applications each thickness can be used for.
What Thickness Plywood Should I Use?
Plywood can be used for so many applications that it can sometimes feel almost overwhelming when trying to decide on the right thickness for the task at hand. Weirdly there isn’t much information online to help you pick either. In this blog we will be focusing on Hardwood Plywood.
3.6mm Hardwood Plywood
This is one of the thinnest hardwood plywood sheets available. It’s most commonly used for boxing in, fascias and soffits, signage, packing cases, concrete formwork and much more.
We know it’s a bit strange but one of our favourite applications for this product is van and trailer linings – it’s aesthetically pleasing ok?!
3.6mm Hardwood Ply is typically laid to protect the floor surface – it’s ideal if you’re sprucing up your camper or trying to prevent scuffing your work van. Due to it being 3.6mm it is more flexible than our other sheets but it’s a firm favourite amongst DIY’ers and Traders.
5.5mm Hardwood Plywood
This product is super popular with flooring companies, it’s normally used by floor fitters as subflooring or to level out existing floorboards where a flat level floor is required.
This item can also be used for van and trailer linings when 3.6mm is deemed not quite thick enough. It can also be used for panelling, shelving, storage boxes and drawer linings.
9mm Hardwood Plywood
9mm plywood is well known as a staple product for wall sheathing, loft flooring and general construction. It can also be used to build under stair storage and cupboards – which is super handy if you need to make the most out of the space you have.
9mm Plywood can also be used as an alternative to MDF for wood wall panelling. There’s been a real resurgence in the wood wall panelling trend and we’re really enjoying seeing all of the beautiful panelling projects that our customers have created so far!
12mm Hardwood Plywood
12mm Plywood is often used by furniture makers to create drawers and cabinets, we’ve seen some beautiful creations using our 12mm Russian Birch Plywood – which has been incredibly popular amongst our joiner clientele.
12mm Hardwood Plywood is the perfect thickness for modular shelving too – it’s lightweight but not too clunky – which is ideal if you’re looking to make contemporary hexagonal shelving like the picture below.
Due to our 12mm Hardwood Plywood being a structural product – it can be used in sheds for roofing and flooring too. An interesting application for 12mm Ply is Plywood pegboards – a quirky addition to any home, plus they’re super easy to build.
15mm Hardwood Plywood
Strangely, 15mm Plywood is quite an unusual thickness but it’s one of our most popular products. It has a broad range of uses and we’ve included some of our favourites.
For the little adventure seekers among us 15mm Ply is sturdy enough to be used as a children’s climbing wall (if you’re looking to build an adult version we would strongly recommend using 18mm as a minimum).
18mm Hardwood Plywood
In terms of volume, this product is our bread and butter – we’re well known for it. Strong, durable and it boasts a plethora of different applications. This can be used to build dining tables, office desks, media consoles, door panels, coffee tables and so much more.
25mm Hardwood Plywood
Due to the stability and strength of 25mm plywood it’s perfect for applications that require a sturdy material. This product is commonly used for table tops, flooring and desks. They’re typically used in the construction sector as flooring in new builds, as well as for furniture and kitchens. Perhaps you’re looking for a strong sheet of ply to build an outdoor dining table for your garden – look no further, 25mm Hardwood Plywood is what you need – as long as it’s treated and sealed correctly!
Looking for something a bit more fancy? Look no further than Russian Birch Plywood.
Russian Birch Plywood – What You Need To Know!
Russian Birch plywood, is often referred to as Baltic Birch plywood. Baltic birch is a plywood product hailing from the northeastern area of Europe around the Baltic Sea. However our product is shipped directly from a district in the Komi Republic, Russia. Real Russian Birch Plywood with FSC certification, it’s one of our best selling products – and we decided to write a blog to provide our customers with a better understanding of the benefits of Russian Birch Ply.
Why is Russian Birch Plywood more expensive than regular plywood?
This question comes up alot and it basically comes down to the classic saying ‘you get what you pay for’. Unlike traditional plywoods the core is composed of layers of inner plies. The inner plies are made up of 1mm to 1.5mm solid birch veneers, which are cross-banded and then laminated with a very strong adhesive. This unique and clever recipe results in a void-free core – which as we all know is super important.
The layers of solid birch veneers give Russian Birch Plywood an impressive strength-to-weight ratio. As a natural wood product all plywoods run the risk of warping, but the most common issue with plywood is bowing. Although Russian Birch is not immune to this, it has an advantage over other types of plywood due to the cross-banded layers of thick birch veneer. These veneers balance the sheet and provide a flatter product.
Why is Russian Birch ply used by Joiners?
Because it’s the best! This versatile product cuts and finishes well, making it a firm favourite with Joiners due to the void-free core and its screw-holding power. Because this product has birch veneers instead of a softer type of timber – screws can enter and hold with the entirety of the thread. The uniform layers also provide aesthetically pleasing joints. You’ll notice the face and back veneers are considerably thicker than on other plywoods. The thicker veneers prevent the sheets from being easily damaged or sanded through.
What’s so special about Russian Birch Ply?
The attractive appearance of Russian Birch Plywood has seen it’s popularity soar over the last couple of years. You may have noticed an increase in plywood furniture such as headboards, desks and shelving on channels such as Pinterest and Etsy. If you head over to Instagram you’ll also see a lot of European and Nordic suppliers showcasing homes with high-end floor plans using plywood for flooring, walls and to create unique spaces with a raw and modern aesthetic. We don’t think this trend will be disappearing anytime soon.
Another fantastic advantage of using Russian Birch Plywood is that if you want to, you can leave the edges exposed, the beautiful uniform layers are quite striking and if you’re going for a contemporary look – you can just sand and finish the edges as they are.
Can I Stain Russian Birch ply?
Yes you can! Russian Birch ply has a lighter face than your typical plywoods but if you have a certain shade in mind, you can stain the face and back to achieve the desired effect. These boards are suitable for staining, but are commonly finished with clear lacquers or oils due to their light uniform appearance.
What do the Russian Birch Plywood grades mean?
B/BB: The highest grade of Russian Birch plywood. This grade has a single piece face and back veneer. The face veneers are clear and free of defects with a light consistent color. Slight discolouration is permitted. The back veneers allow for 3-6 colour matched patches, which are typically oval in shape and around the same size as an egg. The inner cores are comprised of solid birch single piece veneers. No external defects with a maximum of 3 repair patches per M2.
BB/BB: The second highest grade of Russian birch ply. Boasting a predominantly unfilled and sanded veneer. Single piece face and back. Both the face and back veneers on average allow for 3-6 small colour-matched patches and some light mineral streaks. Tight pin knots may be present. The inner cores are comprised of solid single piece veneers. All major defects are replaced with wood patches. A restricted number of solid minor knots are admissible along with small, closed splits
BB/CP: Single piece face and back. The “CP” back veneers are a downgrade from “BB” grade veneers, this allows for unlimited patches and sound knots, but in no way allows for open defects. The inner cores are comprised of solid birch single piece veneers.
CP/CP: Single piece face and back. Both the face and back grade veneers allow for unlimited sound knots and repaired splits and unlimited patches. The panel is sound both sides and designed for laminating. Putty repairs and large defects are permitted.
C/C: The lowest grade plywood. Not sanded, open defects of wood structure and processing defects are allowed. With this grade patches, open knots, and small veneer splits are allowed. Some veneer lap and small core voids are also permitted. This panel is not sanded and would be more suitable for structural purposes.
Will I find patches on Russian Birch Ply?
Yes, even on the highest grade you will find oval, egg shaped and irregular shaped patches on either side of the Russian Birch ply sheet. These patches are there to fix unsightly irregularities such as knots and discolouration. Thankfully, patches are colour matched – so typically they blend in to the rest of the panel.
Why Choose Russian Birch plywood over standard plywood?
With it’s formidable strength-to-weight ratio and its striking visual appeal, Russian Birch Plywood is suitable for a broad range of applications. These include but aren’t limited to tables, drawer parts, cabinets, bookcases, floors, desks and more. Whatever you build out of Russian birch cut plywood will last for a very long time.