Plywood Sizes Question

[Joe Beaulieu]

I have plans from an issue of Fine Woodworking to build a tool cabinet for my shop. Its a standard cabinet with some drawers in the bottom and places to hold many hand tools. Normal stuff, except...

The plan calls for 5/8 plywood in three or four places. I have been doing this for a few years, and I have never seen 5/8 ply of any kind. I asked at the local big box, and at a couple of very well stocked hardwood suppliers here in the east SF Bay. No one had ever seen nor heard of 5/8th" thick plywood. I am just asking to see if this is a regional thing? I can adapt the plans to use the 3/4 I did buy - along with the 1/2" and 1/4" I bought for the plan, but I don't get the plan using 5/8" thick plywood. I bought maple faced ply - on sale at McBeath's. I am psyched, starting tonight!

Thanks!

Joe

[Dave Richards]

Is it an old plan? I remember my dad getting 5/8" ply when I was much younger.

A quick search reveals it is still available. One source appears to be the big orange box (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-19-32-in-or-5-8-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-BC-Sanded-Pine-Plywood-326135/100007300). Sheathing plywood seems to be common in ~5/8" thick.

[M Toupin]

Baltic birch (http://www.wurthwoodgroup.com/Baltic-Birch-Plywood-58-Import-P78292.aspx) is available in 5/8" but it's actually 15mm. I'm not aware of any cabinet grade veneer core in 5/8" though.

Mike

[Davis Young]

The Blum tandem slides is sized to accept up to 5/8" or 15mm stock. Baltic birch and Appleply comes in that to name a few. It's not uncommon, though hardly widespread. It's hit or miss with the hardwood lumber yards in my area (So. Cal) but a plywood specialty yard would definitely have it. I'm surprised Macbeath doesn't carry it.

[Tom M King]

commonly called 5/8's plywood, but found in the racks in big box stores as 19/32's these days. They found a way to make it a little smaller, and still call it the same thing.

[Robert Engel]

Sounds like either a mistake or outdated planes.
There hasn't ever been any actuall 5/8 or 3/4 plywood around in my memory. It's always been 19/32 or 23/32.
We just call it 5/8 or 3/4.

You already know what to do.

[Peter Quinn]

They make chip board in 5/8", baltic birch in 15MM as noted, never seen standard veneer core ply in 5/8".

[Von Bickley]

They make 5/8" plywood to be used as floor underlayment over the sub-floor. I have bought and used it.

[Tom M King]

Common call name was ULD, but I haven't heard that in 20 years.

[Joe Beaulieu]

Is it an old plan? I remember my dad getting 5/8" ply when I was much younger.

A quick search reveals it is still available. One source appears to be the big orange box (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-19-32-in-or-5-8-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-BC-Sanded-Pine-Plywood-326135/100007300). Sheathing plywood seems to be common in ~5/8" thick.
Hey folks - thanks for the feedback. I need veneered ply for this, I ended up with maple from McBeaths. The plan is from the winter 2006/2007 issue of Tools and Shops, the companion mag to Fine WW. So not an old plan really. It's no major crisis, I can adapt easily enough, just thought it weird that anyone would call for 5/8 plywood in a supposedly easy to make project such as this. Oh well!

JB