Where do you get you plywood from?

[Stevo69]

I am looking for advise on what type of plywood to use for the Dobsonian project. I am using Kreiges Dobsonian book as a guide. I am aiming for 5/8 plywood but I've notice place like Bunnings and other general hardware stores stock a pretty course plywood. And most are twisted or have some sort of "warp" in them.

Should I look at a "marine" grade ply? Any hints or tips

I am in Melbourne (North-West) if anyone can recommend a supplier, I will travel across Melbourne if I have to.

The other option was to build the mirror box and mount out of, say 12mm MDF and "laminate" a fine sheet of 5mm plywood on top to get the "grain effect" on the outside.

[Stevo69]

Just to add to this, regarding Marine plywood, I have found this:
"Bondwood" Marine Plywood - A\A Grade Hoop Pine - Conforms to A.S. 2272 at Constructing Plywood Sales, in Melbourne Any thoughts on this also?

[Satchmo]

All exterior plys these days use waterproof glue so I'm not sure what is special about marine ply. I've always used Hoop pine plywood from Mr Plywood : they're great as they'll do all your straight cuts for a maximum of $20 extra. They don't have branches in Melbourne , but I'm sure someone else has the market covered down there.

[CoombellKid]

I agree about Bunnings. The one in Lismore sells crap ply, but then again
they try to be the cheapest so I guess that is why.

I'm looking for veneer all Bunnings has is this pre glued stuff you iron on.

From what I can tell, correct me if I'm wrong. Marine ply is all hardwood
and doesn't have bits missing in the layers. Along with being water proof.

regards,CS

[Satchmo]

You're probably right, though I've never seen any voids in the Hoop Pine. It may be worthwhile getting a hardwood veneer plywood for dent resistance. Most of the strength of the panel comes from its thickness and the transverse grain layering of the plys so I don't think having hardwood throughout is such an advantage ( check the Kreige book for the theory on this).
I think it comes down to cosmetic resistance against the weight gain of marine ply which is maybe 30% heavier. My 14" Dob's Hooped pine mount sits out in all weathers..the estapol has long ago cracked and peeled off and the ply just seems to have seasoned itself and not really deteriating .

[cristian abarca]

If you want good plywood forget about the hardware stores. You have to try timber yards/wood merchants, or places that sell wood to the construction industry. There are many of these all over Melbourne. Look in the yellow pages. With plywood you get what you pay for.

Regards Cristian

[Jupiter]

Remember to post pics as you go Stevo, for inspiration to all of us potential scope builders.

[skeltz (Rob)]

If you want the best ply you can get follow this link to brimsply http://www.brims.com.au/contact.htm
they have the best plywood period.
I used their ply to make my round plywood tube,they sell all sorts of ply.Another hint is to go to homehardware they are more geared for the tradesman unlike some other stores
cheers rob

[GrahamL]

yeah rob/steve most of bunnings stock is fairly low grade
I bought some fairly good AC ply from them, though it isn't always there I notice , the sheets were smaller 1800x 1200 so were a little dearer .Very few voids and even the C side was pretty clean.

hurfords had some really nice marine ply , you can double the price from pine though .

[CoombellKid]

Graham

Double the price alright, Thrifty Link Hardware, Casino marine ply from
12mm $160 per sheet to 25mm (from memory) $250 per sheet. But they
did have better pine ply for about 2-3x the price that I brought from
Bunnings. But it was also 10x better ply.

I've started rebuilding my 8" last week. Do you know of any veneer retailers
over you way? I need to make a curved focuser board which I've made
a mold for. And was just going to make my own curved ply so to speak
using veneer.

regards,CS

[GrahamL]

try legge brothers rob ? .....don't have a number
12 mm marine was $96 at hurfords.. you could always laminate
something a little more price friendly on some inside unseen panels

[Lee]

Bunnings only sell CD ply - the D side can be pretty rough - although I have seen CD ply at Mr Ply (specialist ply/timber place) - looked just as bad as Bunnings - but was priced about 50% more.

Apparently the only difference between marine ply and exterior grade ply is the marine ply must have A grade plys all through the laminate - ie no filler or voids. Both use the same A-bond glue.

[bloodhound31]

Look up two companies in your area called "Laminex" and "Amerind". Failing that, try Hyne timber supplies. I buy this and similar stuff everyday for a living and these are my major suppliers. They will be able to tell you most everything you need to know about sheet product.

Baz.

[Stevo69]

Thank you to everyone in this thread. I have a few days off so I'll do some ringing around all the companies suggested... thanks again.

By chance, I met someone in the woodworking industry last night. He could not tell me where to actually buy it, but he explained the grading of plywood:

The letter refers to the outer ply surface.

A - very fine grain - excellent for presentation
B - |
C - |
D - visually very poor - lots of large knots, voids, pieces missing etc.

Two letters refer to each side of the ply, thus:

"A-A grade" - perfect, very fine grain both sides
"A-C grade" - one side is excellent, the other side is pretty rough.

Interesting, makes sense!

Originally Posted by Jupiter

Remember to post pics as you go Stevo, for inspiration to all of us potential scope builders.

Will do! Do I jut start a new thread in the ATM section? Or is there another area?

[Jupiter]

Just use this thread, this can be your thread for your scope build.

[CoombellKid]

Well doing the rounds by phone of local timber suppliers. It isn't easy to
get veneer these days that doesn't have glue already on it. I found a
Joinery shop in Lismore that could order it in for me. 1x300x2400mm for
$40.00 takes about a week to get it. I then stopped in at a joinery shop
in Casino who had the same stuff Queensland Maple for $20, boy I said
to myself this must be the first time I have brought something in Casino
that isn't twice the price as the rest of the known world. Hell I'll even
have enough to do the focuser board for my 16" : )))))

regards,CS

[xstream (John)]

Originally Posted by Stevo69

Will do! Do I jut start a new thread in the ATM section? Or is there another area?

A new thread with the relevant heading in the ATM & DIY would be the ideal way to go.