I’ve been doing various home reno projects and I know the basics of builder supply plywood options from subfloor quality up to cabinet grade materials. But what about high strength plywood?
What search terms should I be using to find specialty materials like this and does anyone have any good online suppliers? Even if it’s regional (I’m in western PA), just seeing a price list and description of materials will help me search locally.
I have some Ikea storage boxes that are about 8-10mm thick and 7-ply material. It is incredibly strong with almost no flex. I also have a bike jump from these guys (Ninja MTB Approach Mountain Bike Jump Ramp), which is more like 15mm and also 7-ply with no filler materials, just biased grain plywood. It seems closer to skateboard deck material than anything at Home Depot.
I’m missing the vocabulary to find what I’m looking for and generic overview like this aren’t that helpful: Types of Plywood - This Old House
Maybe “aircraft grade” would work as a starting point but that may be going to far into really expensive stuff. Anybody have a better idea of how to source specialty plywoods?
There’s also actual “marine ply”, it uses a different glue that’s waterproof,
and better quality wood as well. Significantly harder than regular ply
Marine Plywood is mostly referring to the glue, it is available in many
different woods (not all of them harder)
you can also get pressure treated plywood, but it’s nto always nice from a
contruction point of view, just impregnated with chemicals to keep it from
rotting.
I designed and built a walk-in closet last year with birch plywood, and just assumed it was the same thing as Baltic Birch. But it had thick interior layers of poplar and was much more flexible than I wanted and screws would sink into it like a sponge.
I just went through a similar research project that you are now. Some of the problem has been that overseas folks have different terminology. Especially Australia where they refer to Birch plywood. It is the equivalent to what we have in here in the states as Baltic or Russian Birch (synonymous with each other) . It is stronger because all of the layers are made from birch. As opposed to just Birch plywood that you would find at the local DIY’s which only use Birch on the outside layers (sometimes just one side). They will use softer wood in the center plys and it will compromise strength. That may cause screw retention problems and durability. But it is a good option if you are just trying to get the look of birch without the need for strength.
If you can find a local place like this, I strongly suggest you go over and talk to them about your project needs. They were very helpful, and it’s their business - so they love to talk about it and teach others.
I am building a flight sim and the seat and sides will need to take some punishment. So I will be using the Baltic Birch which is about $155 a sheet. I was able to compare the many different types side by side and note the differences. The Baltic Birch is a serious quality of wood. It’s like most other things - you get what you pay for.
I bought 10 sheets of 1/2” off FB marketplace for like $16 a sheet for a furniture project (used my Maslow to make a bunch of furniture for Burning Man) and finding a supplier like this helped shave enough money off to make it worth talking to someone on the phone.
For a different type of “strong” plywood, I’ve used WebbWood as well. The phenolic resin infused material literally holds up to a beating (arnis sticks/nunchuku/etc).
There’s also a product called MDO, medium density overlay, which is plywood with a phenolic outside layer. Some of the big box stores carry or can get it
