Experence with baltic birch from Rockler?

reible · Post by **reible** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:26 pm

Hi,

Got a new project going for the common good of mankind or at least shopsmithkind.

I'm looking at the Rockler catalog (page 140 of the one I have) at the Baltic Birch plywood. In this case the 3/4"x24"x30 (63453) sized one.

I've used baltic birch plywood from other sources but never from Rockler. Has anyone any experience with theirs?

(It will be used as a 2'x2' or so table top with a 18" to 20" slot cut across it with supports below. Thinking perhaps some sort of laminate on top and bottom wood trim for edges.)

Another option might be the Phenolic faced multiply sold by woodcraft. Again I've used this sort of material but never from this source. The item number is 131170 and is on page 146 of my catalog.

If you have another national source for this type material that you have used please let me know about that too.

Got to be plywood.... like these shown.

Ed

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:46 pm

Have ya looked at Lowes or HD.

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 4:59 pm

Reible:

One of these days you are going to have to take a trip to the Frank Miller Lumber Company in Union City Indiana. This is one of the largest mills in the country. Along with domestic and imported hardwoods, they have a large selection of fine plywoods, including baltic birch. This is probably a 5-6 hour drive for you. It's a frequent stop for me on my trips up and down I 75. This is the woodworker's "candy store".

By-the-way, back in the 70's I was your "neighbor" in Naperville.

reible · Post by **reible** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:40 pm

Hi,

I guess I didn't quite explain this well enough. I'm looking for a source that anyone here at the forums who lives in the Continental USA would have access to buying from. When I go up to the UP the nearest big box store is about 100 miles away and I have to guess that others may not even be that close to a "common store". So the choice of a mail order place seems the most universal shopping place we have.

You know how in magazines they list where they get the hardware from, well I'd like to list where I got the wood from if I can.

I have some left over 14 ply, it was sold as 3/4" but it comes it right at .700", now I make a drawing calling for 3/4" 14 ply and use the true dimensions of what I have and you go buy some that is .75" my plans may not work out so well for you. This is the case where I know what I know but that might not be enough since I live where I live and buy where I buy.

Hope this clears up some of the confusion on the where to buy issue. Still looking to here from anyone who has used the products I've listed.

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:46 pm

8iowa wrote:Reible:

One of these days you are going to have to take a trip to the Frank Miller Lumber Company in Union City Indiana. This is one of the largest mills in the country. Along with domestic and imported hardwoods, they have a large selection of fine plywoods, including baltic birch. This is probably a 5-6 hour drive for you. It's a frequent stop for me on my trips up and down I 75. This is the woodworker's "candy store".

By-the-way, back in the 70's I was your "neighbor" in Naperville.

I'd like to check out that place, I've heard it mentioned several time by a few people here. Not sure when that will happen but maybe someday I'll have to do a road trip.

We might have been closer neighbor then we know. I move to IL in 1973 and live in Lisle for 2 years. We then rented a house on North Washington ST for 8 years before moving out to Aurora. I use to get to claim I was the token poor person for Naperville. Not sure if that was true but the median salary jump up the year I left.

Ed

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:16 pm

Portland has many excellect sources of very high quality (expensive) plywoods but I get all by Baltic Birch from Rockler. The constantlly run 50% off sales and the quality is very high. Until Feb. 26th they have 1/2" thick sheets for $19.99.

The sales all vary sometimes it is but any sheet and get another for free.

bhurley · Post by **bhurley** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:04 am

For those in the southeast close to Jacksonville I would recommend Southern Lumber & Plywood. They stock numerous type of sheet goods that might be a little harder to find. Lowes and HD just don't normally these types of things.

rdubbs · Post by **rdubbs** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 10:53 am

Hi Ed,

I use Woodcraft Baltic Birch regularly, but I've never used the Phenolic-faced version. Woodcraft also has a more expensive Finnish Birch (that uses a different glue between the plys), but I'm always too cheep to use that. I have no experience with the material from Rockler.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 11:50 am

Ed
Baltic ply should be baltic ply. That said I have no idea whether Rockler is selling baltic ply or something they call baltic ply. I have inspected but never bought baltic ply and phenolic coated ply at Woodcraft and both look excellent to me.

I buy baltic ply from a local distributer in town that sell to various industries; cabinet, boat, furniture, signage and etc.

If you go with Rockler be sure to do a review of the material as I'm sure we would all be interested in hearing your findings.

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:40 pm

I often use the Baltic Birch from Rockler, and find the quality excellent, no voids, one side clear and some plugs on reverse side. Woodcraft has an equal product. I have purchased cabinet grade ply, with a softer center but no voids, from Integrity Lumber , and Heritage.com offers custom cut ply. I have only purchased intrasia sizes from them in the past.
I think shipping would be a major factor.
Perhaps you can find a cabinet/wood shop in your area, or a lumberyard that could special order your needs and include it in their regular shipment. Just a thought.
Back to your question: I have never had a problem ordering from Rockler, and when they make an error (and they do) it is corrected promptly to my satisfaction.