Baltic Birch Plywood prices?

[Tony Shea]

I have been looking all over for people locally that stock BB plywood and have had very limited results. Most places do have the ability to order it for me. I am very new to BB plywood and have heard very good things about it, with the most important being that it is very stable.

What is a fair price range that I should be willing to pay for 3/4" and maybe even some 1/2". The one place that had 3/4" gave me a quote of something like $79 per 5x5 sheet. I was not expecting that kind of price on a small 5x5 peice of plywood. Does this sound reasonable or should I not dream of paying that?

[Garrett Ellis]

I paid 30 for a 4x4 sheet of 1/2" today... I was also surprised at how expensive it is

[Walt Pater]

My supplier stocks two grades, A and B. The B grade has patches in places (maybe 2-3/side), which is fine for drawer stock, which is what I use it for. 15mm (~5/8") BB in B grade costs me $40.00/sheet. This is from a sheet good wholesaler. $79/sheet for 3/4" A grade might be a little high, but doesn't surprise me, especially if you're getting it from a lumberyard ordering it from a wholesaler.

You might be able to get away with thinner stock in BB, given its lumber core. Ask about the prices on other thicknesses. Good luck. Walt.

[Andrew Schlosser]

about $75 for 3/4 sheet is what I have seen also. Appleply, a similar product made domestically, is also in that range, but for a 4x8 sheet. I think even less people stock that.

[Jeff Nolan]

All plywood is stable. The advantage that baltic birch and its many cousins have is that the core construction provides a very appealing edge, and it is free of any voids (although it's certainly possible to get void free sheet goods in many other grades and brands).

As has already been mentioned, ApplePly is a domestically produced product that uses 1/16" laminations of birch and alder, and it comes in 4x8 sheets at a fraction of the cost of baltic birch (or finnish birch).

As for suppliers, the easiest way to find a local source is to use google... failing that call a local cabinet shop and ask them where they buy from. It will be available locally for you and in the worst case scenario you will have to drive a little (I have to run up 25 miles each way for my preferred local supplier).

[Larry Rasmussen]

I am an amatuer garage woodworker, became aware of baltic birch plywood 4-5 yrs ago when a speaker I wanted to build was specified to be made with baltic birch plywood- no exception. Audio Note in Britian uses it for their speakers and kits. At that time a 3/4 X 60 X 60 inch piece was in the low $50s in Seattle. It has ranged into the $70s since then but I believe I saw it for about $60 last month.

The local Rockler retail store stocks it but the largest size is 30" X 60" and it tends to retail for more than I would want to pay. On the other hand they do have a nice variety of thicknesses. The current flyer for the time period Jan 2 to Jan 29th just arrived and the baltic birch is on sale at 50% off. The example in the flyer is for the 3/4 X 30 X 60 inch size regular $49.99, sale price 24.99. That makes the regular price for a 5' X 5' piece $100- yowie! However at half it is of course $50 for a full piece of 3/4". That is better than I can do locally that I have found. I am going to go load up a bunch of the 30 X 60 inch pieces to have on hand in probably 3 or 4 thicknesses, I find the size very handy. You will find people tend to use it for jigs or other applications where a quality piece of ply is needed.

So if there is a Rockler down the road you're in luck, if not hopefully the price references helped.

Regards,
Larry R- Seattle

[Garrett Ellis]

I am an amatuer garage woodworker, became aware of baltic birch plywood 4-5 yrs ago when a speaker I wanted to build was specified to be made with baltic birch plywood- no exception. Audio Note in Britian uses it for their speakers and kits. At that time a 3/4 X 60 X 60 inch piece was in the low $50s in Seattle. It has ranged into the $70s since then but I believe I saw it for about $60 last month.

The local Rockler retail store stocks it but the largest size is 30" X 60" and it tends to retail for more than I would want to pay. On the other hand they do have a nice variety of thicknesses. The current flyer for the time period Jan 2 to Jan 29th just arrived and the baltic birch is on sale at 50% off. The example in the flyer is for the 3/4 X 30 X 60 inch size regular $49.99, sale price 24.99. That makes the regular price for a 5' X 5' piece $100- yowie! However at half it is of course $50 for a full piece of 3/4". That is better than I can do locally that I have found. I am going to go load up a bunch of the 30 X 60 inch pieces to have on hand in probably 3 or 4 thicknesses, I find the size very handy. You will find people tend to use it for jigs or other applications where a quality piece of ply is needed.

So if there is a Rockler down the road you're in luck, if not hopefully the price references helped.

Regards,
Larry R- Seattle

what rockler flyer are you referring to? is this something specific to your local store or is it on sale everywhere?

[keith jensen]

Garrett,
I just got the same ad last night from Rockler for the $24.99 BB 30"x60". It wasn't store specific like some of the ads that I get from them but I assume it applies. The Rockler in Royal Oak, MI (Metro Detroit) is the closest to me.
Keith

[ROY DICK]

Garrett,
The flyer I got about a week or so ago is not posted on their web site yet. Or at least I couldn't fined it.
Small print says limit one per customer, but I would guess that would be a call on their part.
I doubt you could load up and buy every piece they had. I know when my wife and I go down there Saturday morning and someone came in to buy it all out, I would raise more than a little cane over it.
Not sure about your store though. Only availible at reatil stores.

Roy

[Michael Gibbons]

Tony, Have a price list right here.

3/4 European Birch 4x8 sheet $123.00
1/2 " " " " $ 94.50
1/4 " " " " $ 55.50


3/4 Russian 5x5 $ 54.00
1/2 " " $ 34.50
1/4 " " $ 24.75


3/4 Russian Phenolic faced 4x8 $87.00

These prices sre from the most recent catalog they sent me and that was in May 2009. The store is Johnsons lumber and workbench in Charlotte, Michigan. It's about a 2 hour ride for me but they have just about everything. Hope this helps, Mike

[glenn bradley]

what rockler flyer are you referring to? is this something specific to your local store or is it on sale everywhere?

Any Rockler retail store; 50% off on 3/4", 60x30 @ $24.99. My store also is not prepared for these sales and I usually can get only a panel or two, even on the first day. This is not that great of a sale if you have a yard near you that stocks the stuff normally. Reel Lumber in SoCal gets about $60 for 3/4" 5x5 sheets of B grade (a few football plugs on each side). I consider myself lucky to get it at all as my supplier stated that the chemical restrictions in California were to make BB ply unavailable, period, starting in 2009. Guess that was bad data, eh?

[Rob Fisher]

about $75 for 3/4 sheet is what I have seen also. Appleply, a similar product made domestically, is also in that range, but for a 4x8 sheet. I think even less people stock that.

Andrew and others in central PA area,

Industrial plywood in Reading, PA has 5x5 Baltic Birch for $34 for 3/4" BBB grade, which I believe is patches on at least one side. They also deliver pretty inexpensively.

Rob

[Brian Kent]

Glenn,

Only a panel or two at the Ontario Rockler? Just out of curiosity, what day are you going there to buy some? I think I may be going the day before that:rolleyes:.

Brian

[Andrew Schlosser]

Rob-
Thanks for the Reading PA Industrial Plywood. Never knew about them, and looks like they have all kinds of good things! I'm going to stop in there on my way home tomorrow.

[Von Bickley]

I don't know about the 3/4". Just got a price recently on 1/2" - 5 X 5 at about $28.00.

[John Sanford]

All plywood is stable.

:eek:

Not so!! All plywood is dimensionally stable as far as length and width goes, and for all practical purposes, thickness, but all aren't stable in configuration. When a flat sheet of plywood goes to a potato chip configuration, I would classify that as "not stable."

Because of the higher number of plys and likely the higher proportion of resins/glues in Baltic Birch, it much more resistant to warping than less expensive plys.

[dan sherman]

I was out pricing Birch plywood for my router table project today.

Menards
1/4" Baltic Birch, 4' by 8', 5-ply, BB/CP grade, $23 (sale price)
1/2" Baltic Birch, 4' by 8', 9-ply, BB/CP grade, $49 (sale price)
3/4" Baltic Birch, 4' by 8', 13-ply, BB/CP grade, $60 (sale price, normally $70)

Local woodworking store
1/4" White Birch, 4' by 8', 5-ply, C-4 grade, $27
1/2" White Birch, 4' by 8', 9-ply, C-2 grade, $42
3/4" White Birch, 4' by 8', 13-ply, C-2 grade, $53

6mm Russian Birch, 5' by 5', 5-ply, B/BB grade, $24
12mm Russian Birch, 5' by 5', 9-ply, B/BB grade, $40
18mm Russian Birch, 5' by 5', 13-ply, B/BB grade, $48

[Scott Schwake]

Some prices in WI: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/mat/1527885316.html

[Dan Forman]

Re: Appleply, I just priced some locally and it was $111.45 for 3/4", $79 for 1/2", for the 4 x 8 sheets. Nobody actually stocks it, but they can order it for me.

Baltic birch in the 5 x 5 (the good stuff) was about $70 for 3/4" last time I checked, and about $35 for the patched.

The bad thing about BB is that my truck is only 4 ft wide, so I have to trim off a foot just to get it home. And if I didn't do that, I couldn't get it down into my basement shop anyway - 4' is the limit there too.

One shop that carries the top grade BB said they had some 4 x 8 BB too. I told him they don't make genuine BB in that size, and he said this was Chinese BB. I told him I wasn't very happy with the other Chinese plywood I had gotten, and he said that in that case I probably wouldn't like this either.

The other Dan

[Glen Butler]

This is what I pay for 5x5 Baltic Birch, one side will have occasional patches.

1/4" - 17.20
1/2" - 25.80
3/4" - 48.30

[Rick Fisher]

We sell "B" Grade, 5x5 .. about 3 patches on the face..

1/4" is $16.99 Cdn..
1/2" is $25.99 Cdn
5/8" is $33.99 Cdn

We don't stock 3/4"

Baltic Birch fell hard in price in the last 2 years. .

Those prices are very low margin for that type of ply.. We buy it by the lift and make about 15% on it .. A bit more on the 5/8"..

Its premium stuff ( from a very good mill ) not "A" grade, but good ply..

The bizarre thing is that it doesn't actually sell that well.. A lift of 1/2" will last about 4 months..

We have one customer who insists we keep those sizes in stock :) .. Its priced low (retail) so it turns...

[Marty Paulus]

Russian Birch 5X5 B grade:
1/4 - $24.95
3/8 - $29.95
1/2 - $39.95
3/4 - $49.95

The 3/4 is 13 ply.

This company also has 7 ply birch plywood G2S in 4X8 for $44.95.

They are in Detroit.

[Ken Becker]

What is the name of the company, Marty?

[James Jaragosky]

Andrew and others in central PA area,

Industrial plywood in Reading, PA has 5x5 Baltic Birch for $34 for 3/4" BBB grade, which I believe is patches on at least one side. They also deliver pretty inexpensively.

Rob
Another supplier for those in PA,TN,KY,IL,IN and OH.


http://www.distributor-service.com/locations.html

[Dan Forman]

Is there any other difference in the grades other than patches? Are the lower grades more likely to warp or have voids? Can somebody list the various grades and what they mean? Thanks.

Dan

[dan sherman]

Is there any other difference in the grades other than patches? Are the lower grades more likely to warp or have voids? Can somebody list the various grades and what they mean? Thanks.

Dan

from my notes.

1/4" has 5 ply
3/8" has 7 ply
1/2" has 9 ply
3/4" has 13 ply

Baltic Birch Veneer Grade Summary

Grade B - This is a selected one-piece face, which is generally light and even in color. Some very small,
closed pin knots may be allowed, as well as some brown streaks. No patches, voids, or mineral streaks
are allowed. The surface is well sanded.

Grade BB - This is a one-piece face, which is generally light and even in color. Occasional pin knots and
mineral streaking is allowed. All open knots and defects other than those allowed in grade B have been
cut out and replaced with oval patches. The patch veneer is the same grade and specie, and is typically
of the same color. The surface is sanded.

Grade CP - This is a face that has been graded out from BB for small defects and mineral streaking. CP
typically has more patches than grade BB that may not always be matched for color. Some splits of less
than 0.5mm are allowed. The surface is sanded.

[John A langley]

1/2 BB 19.00 5x5 my shop cost

[Tony Shea]

I found a place that said they can get some that is BB/C grade for $45. They said it's 7 ply. What would you expect with this grade of plywood? Not looking to make cabinets but need it more so for some jigs I need to make up, including a cross-cut sled. Do you think that this stuff would be flat enough to create a base for a cross-cut sled? C can't be a very good quality side, but does it really need to be if that face isn't showing?

[Brian Tax]

Seattle Dunn Lumber has 3/4" 5x5 for $48

[Rick Fisher]

Tony, the " C " Grade is really nice for Jigs and projects that just need quality product rather than beautiful product.
Baltic is my favorite ply to work with.. I use it for all sorts of stuff ..

[Dan Forman]

Thanks for the clarification.

Dan

[Scott Lennartz]

Don't know if this is true, but I was buying some Baltic Birch and asked the local supplier why they came in 5x5 sizes. He said he didn't know but claimed Russian construction workers use 5x10.

Does anyone know if that's true? I can't imagine luggiing those sheets around...

[Alexey Semenov]

I have been looking all over for people locally that stock BB plywood and have had very limited results. Most places do have the ability to order it for me. I am very new to BB plywood and have heard very good things about it, with the most important being that it is very stable.

What is a fair price range that I should be willing to pay for 3/4" and maybe even some 1/2". The one place that had 3/4" gave me a quote of something like $79 per 5x5 sheet. I was not expecting that kind of price on a small 5x5 peice of plywood. Does this sound reasonable or should I not dream of paying that?

Searching audio forums I have come across a place that does ship in continental USA and has an online store. Take a look at this www.shop.eastcoastplywood.com (http://www.shop.eastcoastplywood.com) or www.eastcoastplywood.com (http://www.eastcoastplywood.com) feedback is quite good and there are many happy woodworkers in maryland. Hope this helps.

[Alexey Semenov]

I was out pricing Birch plywood for my router table project today.

Menards
1/4" Baltic Birch, 4' by 8', 5-ply, BB/CP grade, $23 (sale price)
1/2" Baltic Birch, 4' by 8', 9-ply, BB/CP grade, $49 (sale price)
3/4" Baltic Birch, 4' by 8', 13-ply, BB/CP grade, $60 (sale price, normally $70)

Local woodworking store
1/4" White Birch, 4' by 8', 5-ply, C-4 grade, $27
1/2" White Birch, 4' by 8', 9-ply, C-2 grade, $42
3/4" White Birch, 4' by 8', 13-ply, C-2 grade, $53

6mm Russian Birch, 5' by 5', 5-ply, B/BB grade, $24
12mm Russian Birch, 5' by 5', 9-ply, B/BB grade, $40
18mm Russian Birch, 5' by 5', 13-ply, B/BB grade, $48

Here is pricelist from another place on the internet:
http://eastcoastplywood.com/wholesale-plywood-pricelist.htm
Not Bad at all

[Jon Endres]

I bought a dozen sheets each of 1/4" and 1/2" baltic birch ply to make drawers for my kitchen and bathroom cabinets. I got it in 4x8 sheets from Maine Coast Lumber. I don't recall the prices, but they were reasonable to me. MCL delivers anywhere in New England. It's not cheap enough for shop cabinets and such, but the scraps make great jigs and fixtures, obviously.

[Dave Gaul]

Rob-
Thanks for the Reading PA Industrial Plywood. Never knew about them, and looks like they have all kinds of good things! I'm going to stop in there on my way home tomorrow.


I work within 5 minutes of them... for 10 years! never even heard of them! Gonna have to make a trip there this weekend!!

[Dave Gaul]

Here is pricelist from another place on the internet:
http://eastcoastplywood.com/wholesale-plywood-pricelist.htm
Not Bad at all


Prices on sheets seem great... put one sheet of 1/2 CC grade Birch in my cart, went to checkout, and they want $175 for S&H:eek:

[Philip Johnson]

Just picked up some Russian baltic birch 5x5 sheets for 18.10 for 1/2 inch and 30.75 for 3/4 in northern wisconsin

[Alexey Semenov]

Prices on sheets seem great... put one sheet of 1/2 CC grade Birch in my cart, went to checkout, and they want $175 for S&H:eek:

I mentioned that it's better that you call them. Since it's a large size they go by freight rates. So if you get 1 sheet or 10 sheets price will be the same. Ups will not take these nor any other shipping service.:)

[Matt Meiser]

I just bought a 60x60 sheet of 3/4" last weekend from Toledo Plywood and paid $28. Really. Its supposedly not Chinese, has the familiar stamp I'm used to seeing on BB, and even if it was its flat and consistent. We walked out to inspect it in the warehouse and the 1/2 and 3/4 was all flat. Slight bow in the 1/4 but I've never seen 1/4" plywood completely flat. I was shocked. Should have bought more.