kon_jelly Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 Looking to make some shop furniture and was pricing out some plywood. I've never bought true Baltic Birch before, but my local lumber supply has some. I've got pricing but I feel like it's high. A sheet of 5x5 3/4" is $85. That's $3.40 per sq/ft. They also have domestic birch in 4x8, and a 3/4" sheet is $71.50 ($2.25 sq/ft). Are these prices reasonable? I know the stuff at Home Depot isn't nearly the same quality, but the price difference is pretty substantial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted January 8, 2017 Report Share Posted January 8, 2017 True Baltic is import and high quality. I cannot beat that price without buying a whole bunk or more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Yea thats about right. Its worth it though It is real nice, no voids and even a sanded edge when finished looks good. If he has it you can use 1/2 inch too. All my shop stuff is 1/2 inch. Router table cabinet, out feed/assembly table and some of my miter station cabinetry are all 1/2 inch. Even my drawer fronts are 1/2 inch baltic birch, little round over sanded and finished they look fine in the shop. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 About $70 to $78 per 5x5 sheet of 3/4 last time I looked at the few places I go to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kon_jelly Posted January 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Thanks all. Just wanted to make sure I was in the right ballpark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krtwood Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Some yards will have a "shop grade" 3/4 maple/birch ply that isn't as pretty on the surface but better quality stuff than the borg ply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 It's around 49 -55 for me but I buy wholesale and usually don't need the top grade. There are several different grades. At 85 at least one face should have none of the football shaped patches. The other side should only have a few if any. Inspect the edges for voids in the core, none are allowed in the top grades. You might ask around for pricing on BB grade,might be more football patches but still strong,stiff , flat 5x5 sheets for shop furniture. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 I recently found a local lumber dealer with 1/2" Russian Birch for $28 a sheet (5x5). I haven't bought any 3/4 from them yet, but I'd say call around a little more. It's shop grade, with a few patches, but absolutely solid and perfect for shop use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattF Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 1 hour ago, BonPacific said: I recently found a local lumber dealer with 1/2" Russian Birch for $28 a sheet (5x5). I haven't bought any 3/4 from them yet, but I'd say call around a little more. It's shop grade, with a few patches, but absolutely solid and perfect for shop use. Do you mind letting me know where? I need some shop plywood and that does seem too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 44 minutes ago, MattF said: Do you mind letting me know where? I need some shop plywood and that does seem too bad. Dunn Lumber, they don't always carry it in every location, but they can order it in for you at no charge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattF Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 11 minutes ago, BonPacific said: Dunn Lumber, they don't always carry it in every location, but they can order it in for you at no charge. Cool, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 19 hours ago, wdwerker said: You might ask around for pricing on BB grade,might be more football patches but still strong,stiff , flat 5x5 sheets for shop furniture. I think what I have been buying is the BB baltic, usually has one side with 7 or 8 footballs and the other side has 0-2 of them, depends on the sheet. But it's great for shop stuff, or things unseen where you can hide the footballs, and the price is great. Here's what the tag from my place says: "BAL BIRCH 3/4x5x5 18mm CARB-II" .What does "CARB-II" mean? ...Anyway, that stuff is around $38 a sheet right now. The 1/2" stuff is only about $25 so I have been using that for a lot of stuff lately. Again, gotta work around the voids or be able to hide them though, so its not like it's a free lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BonPacific Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 28 minutes ago, JosephThomas said: What does "CARB-II" mean? California Air Resources Board phase 2. It's why we have less formaldehyde in engineered wood these days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisterDrow Posted January 9, 2017 Report Share Posted January 9, 2017 Man... I can get 3/4" 5x5 BB ply from a local yard for $37... but, then again, I get a discount through the company I work for since they purchase so much from said yard. Never taken the chance to see how much it is for the man-on-the-street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 I was guessing on my 3/4" price. I buy a lot more 1/2"$23 and 5/8" $29 Baltic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fireball Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 We pay $1.03 and $1.54/sf here in central PA. We have a small cabinet shop but are a very small potatoes buyer from our supplier. Steve, are you buying from Peachstate up in Kennesaw? I was down in Atlanta for years and got sticker shock when I first moved and started buying hardwoods and fancy ply up here in PA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kon_jelly Posted January 11, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Man I knew I was getting taken for a ride! Just found another supplier - it's a bit of a drive from me but man the prices are so much better. A 3/4" sheet is $45.50 ($1.82 sq/ft), almost half the price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlau Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 kon jelly make sure your gettun apples to apples and not apples to squash.. wouldnt be the first time a salesman said yes we have that and its not what we are after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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