Birch Ply Alternatives? [video 527]

I used a couple of boards on the recent workshop drawer cabinet that have been widely touted as Birch Ply alternatives, and in this video I’m going into the details of how the Birch-faced Poplar plywood, and Maple-faced reinforced Globulus plywood, worked out. Enjoy!

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Other videos of interest:-

New to the MFT or MultiFunction Table? Here’s a couple of explainers:-

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Wherever possible links are to actual products used, but this is not always possible e.g. some products are not available in the US, so something [similar] has been linked to instead.

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[andyc]

Thanks for this Peter, really useful and interesting, I totally agree, although the price of all 3 boards is quite staggering (to me at least) as the 2 alternatives are inferior in a number of ways it's not enough of a price difference ( 10-15% ) to make It worth switching in my opinion !

[andrewvarde]

Thanks for this Peter. I wondered whether it was worth doing an update to this as a few other options seem to be available now and I would be very interested to hear how you rate them. I am new to woodworking and about to build some workbenches.

[mikeking]

Thanks [edit for spelling] again for this, Peter. In the USA prices are not quite so horrible and the Globulus type plywood is touted as an alternative. Some folks have an allergic reaction to eucalyptus, so that might also be a consideration. (I know in my own case I can hack and wheeze for the better part of a day with plain old pine, spruce, and fir if I neglect my PPE.) My local "big box" supplier has hardwood veneer core maple plywood for $80.00 (£63.43 this morning) per sheet and I have a big gas guzzling pickup truck to get the stuff from the store to my shed. This stuff is 7-ply B2 grade, rotary cut and for anything but utility fixtures and shop furniture I would probably edge band it. The UV prefinished material is the same price but requires mechanical fasteners (pocket screws, etc.) to join a carcass, very popular with the shops that make kitchen cabinets. End customers display a prejudice against MDF, particle board, etc. in the USA. Not my problem I am my own end customer but the MR type MDF is impossible to find out in my part of the USA.

[toshn]

Holy moly plywood is expensive over there. I will honor your struggle by not wasting any of the $80 sheet I can buy in the US.

[robertleyland]

Thanks for the Video informative as usual, A video on the ply that BBQ is selling would be interesting at 1/4 of the price from your video alternatives, thanks

[aball]

I completely agree with you. I think you are correct in saying it's not a true replacement.

[rajmadhure]

we have a birch plywood called premcore in California that Im realizing now is a bargain ($70/sheet). very light and strong. awesome for workshop cabinets and my van. but it splinters like crazy, and the layers are not really presentable.

on a related note, i wish we could get colored mdf here. no valchromat or any alternatives here.

[martinlouden]

I think those who are marketing these as birch alternatives should be given the birch!

[guitarcarfanatic]

If just for shop cabinets, can highly recommend hardwood faced ply. I paid £35 a sheet for 18mm B/BB Q Mark Hardwood Plywood to make some shelving in the workshop. It's a little gappy, but no worse than those cheaper alternatives. I picked the best edges, used a little filler on the couple of gaps I couldn't avoid and it looks really good with a coat of danish oil! Not Birch ply quality, but then 1/4 of the price!!

[HiThereFriend]

Peter, thanks for another excellent, informative video. In Ohio we have a sheet good listed as “Sande Plywood” I have done some preliminary research and found it is manufactured in Ecuador and is a mixture of 9 kinds of mulberry. The different areas and species have different regulations for harvesting so you get the species that is available when they’re making it I guess. It is listed as “marine grade” but it’s a bit cheaper than everything else. It seems to have a very soft face but very clear. Very few voids or weird discolorations in the plies. For reference,
23/32” Birch is 93 (not the best birch either )
23/32” maple faced mystery centers is 75
23/32” red oak plywood 85 (this one is very high quality right now. )
23/32 Sande is 70
23/32 Radiata pine is 55

[matonmacs]

I’ve always wondered why North American manufacturers can’t make full ply thickness plywood similar to Baltic Birch out of our native species. Is it just that it would cost too much? I’ve also wondered why we don’t see South American plywoods. In my US big box stores the cheapest stuff is still coming from SE Asia.

[michael.knight]

Really hoped you had found a proper birch ply alternative at half the price!

[dfinma]

5:36 Ok, I need the details on this grooving setup. It's ingenious! (I think I only need to know which bit you're using, I think I can figure out the rest 👍)

[freshcoatpaintingmore]

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions.

[jjjrican]

Thanks for sharing, we are out of Brownsville Texas USA and have noticed those same issues with cheap alternatives and high prices.

[Afourteen-yfks]

Recently bought a couple of sheets of 'Birch' ply from one of the woodyards I use... having signed for the order I was left to go and load onto my van. Spent a good 30 minutes trying to find some decent sheets of ply (1x18mm, 2x9mm) and just about looking at every sheet in the stack I went off with something just about acceptable. Few days later was in the orange barn and their ply certainly looks better and amazingly enough there, at the time, hardwood ply was same price as their softwood ply; and over half the price of what I'd paid in the woodyard! I just hope we get back to having some decent ply soon 'cause I'm close to giving up trying to use stuff from the woodyard. Just really glad I don't have to do jobs using marine ply...

[RJH]

HI Peter, Could you tell me what finishing wax you have used on this or point me in the direction of any of your videos which contain information about finishes on PLY. The wax looks like a good option for my needs. Cheers

[eddie]

Great video Peter. I will be fitting out my hall cupboard soon and had considered birch ply but the high cost is putting me off given it'll just be to store shoes, jackets and the wife's handbags. Looks like I'll be opting for 18mm MDF and a few coats of gloss paint.

[radiokua]

First video of yours I've seen--really great analysis and video clips really show the details you're calling out. I look forward to watching many more of your videos.

[CreativeCustomDesigns]

I REALLY liked this Birch has gone crazy in price and availability here in Canada as well. I use only B/BB for the rounds we sell because of all the reasons you mention. I've tried other types of plywood and always return to the Baltic Birch. Here's hoping the price subsides a bit so I can continue making the rounds without having to increase the prices again.