What kind of ply do the magazine's use for pics?

[Troy Turner]

I'm always browsing through wood mags at the home center and even subcribe to one. Got one the other day and noticed some jigs they used. Looking at the ply, it looks so much better than what I get. What kind is it and where can I get some? Most of the plys I've used or seen (even at the lumberyard) are I think 6 or 7 ply. Those looked like 10 or 12.

[Mike Nolan]

Baltic birch plywood has more plys and few or no voids. It is often recommended for jigs. 5' by 5' is a standard size. The normal source is Russia. I have heard that there are imitataions that are not as good.

[Bill Powell]

We like to think that ApplePly is the premium multiply panel. It's inner plies come from Poland with domestic faces and backs, usually Maple but other species are available. We are starting to stock it in some Lowe's stores in NY, PA and OH. Check out ApplePly.com for more information.

[Bob Lang]

At Popular Woodworking, we usually use Baltic Birch plywood. We get it from a local company that mainly supplies commercial shops, but our local retail woodworking stores also carry it. Sometimes the big box stores will have imported plywood with lots of thin layers, but it isn't the same stuff. Try to find out where local cabinetmakers buy their material, those kinds of distributors are different than suppliers for construction.

Bob Lang

[Forrest Bonner]

Now the Finns think that the Russian BBP is not so good according to their plywood website. Here in SoCal we can get 5x5 BBP from Ganahl and 4x8 sheets from Austin. I have not asked from where they procure it. I use it mostly for jigs.
Forrest

[Ted Calver]

We are starting to stock it in some Lowe's stores in NY, PA and OH.
Looking forward to finding it at my Lowe's in Newport News, Virginia, although after a visit to ApplePly.com I notice Virginia and North Carolina have no distributors. Was it something we said???

[Jim Rimmer]

I'm always browsing through wood mags at the home center and even subcribe to one. Got one the other day and noticed some jigs they used. Looking at the ply, it looks so much better than what I get. What kind is it and where can I get some? Most of the plys I've used or seen (even at the lumberyard) are I think 6 or 7 ply. Those looked like 10 or 12.

Are you in West, Texas or west Texas? :D Hardwood Lumber Co. in Dallas has Baltic Birch http://www.hlcdallas.com/ Maybe too much of a drive for you. If there is a mcCoys nearby they carry a pretty good grade of Birch ply (not BB) in 4x8 sheets.

[Mike Henderson]

Now the Finns think that the Russian BBP is not so good according to their plywood website. Here in SoCal we can get 5x5 BBP from Ganahl and 4x8 sheets from Austin. I have not asked from where they procure it. I use it mostly for jigs.
Forrest
I've heard people say the Finnish ply is better than the Baltic Birch but I've had good success with the Baltic Birch, lots of plys and very few voids. I've only found the 5'x5' BB at Austin. I haven't seen the 4x8 BB sheets there. I thought it only came in metric sizes.

Mike

[Troy Turner]

Jim..that would be West Texas :D Little town west of Abilene called Sweetwater. Dallas is only about 2 1/2 hrs out.

It may be the lighting on the photos or something, but here's what I get from the home store. This is 1/2 BB I used for a drawer and here's a jig out of the mag I was talking about. I always see this good looking ply...at least everywhere but Abilene. Is it cabinet grade or something? Special order?

206469206470

[Peter Quinn]

There are lots of different grades of Russian birch being sold as BB. Some grades have voids and fills, others have no voids. I've worked with some of the highest grade material but mostly a lower grade with one clean face, one side with fills but no internal voids. It all works pretty well for jigs IME.

[Rick Fisher]

Baltic Birch is what you most often see.. I am in the Building supply business and we sell 5x5 sheets .. its very high quality plywood .. Gotta make sure its not Chinese, looks the same but is very hit and miss..

True Baltic usually has a stamp on the back with the details..

[Troy Turner]

We have a couple of lumber yards around (one of them McCoys). Guess I'll look there and maybe pay a little more attention to where the stuff is actually coming from.

[Norman Hitt]

If you only want a small amt for some jigs, go to Woodpecker's site, as they have a special that can be ordered until FRIDAY, on some top quality Baltic Birch Ply. (it isn't cheap, but you can read the full description of it there). The email reminder was from Woodpeckers Inc. [mailroom@woodpeck.com], or, go to www.woodpeck.com/bbplywood.html
They are also having their annual special on 18", 20", and 22" 100 lb rated full extension drawer slides, but they also must be ordered by friday. Good price on these.

[lowell holmes]

Be aware that there is a lot of inferior plywood sold as baltic birch.I've had so many problems with the laminations failing, I won't buy if from the box stores any more.

[Chris Fournier]

Voids in BB has everything to do with the grade and there are several grades available.

[Jim Rimmer]

Jim..that would be West Texas :D Little town west of Abilene called Sweetwater. Dallas is only about 2 1/2 hrs out.

Well, you can disregard my previous post then. For non-Texans, there is a big difference between West Texas (a geographical area) and West, Texas ( a small town near Waco). I've been through Sweetwater many times.
I found a wood supplier in Lubbock that has BB but that's a pretty long haul for you, too.

[glenn bradley]

I used Finnish ply back a couple years when baltic was scarce (how come the price never went back down . .. hmmmm, forget I asked) and the quality was quite good, as was the price. Batlic became readily available again and my yard stopped carrying the Finnish ply. They also stopped carrying the better BB ply grades so i now shop elsewhere for that. I informed them of why I don't get my play from them anymore but, I am a small fish and their big buyers (commercial shops) want a cheaper product and can live with the blemishes.