"Laser grade" wood or not?

[Mark Ward]

Hi people, well our new laser gets delivered next week and I've been a bit slow in getting things in to practice on (yes a laser virgin here) before properly letting rip on proper products

Anyway, I've been looking around at different things but wanted to know if things such as "laser grade MDF" or "laser grade Birch plywood" (as seen here: http://www.hobarts.com/store/wood-c-15_55.html ) are much different than if I went to the DIY store and bought MDF or Plywood from them?
Is "laser grade" just a way to make bring us in or is there a sufficient difference between this stuff and the standard stuff from a DIY shop that means I should be buying it?

Also, I suppose a good question for any other UK people is any suggestions for recommended suppliers in the UK for woods/acrylics etc and such like too, I have found a few that I'm working through and pricing up but personal recommendations are always good.

[Dave Sheldrake]

Hiya Mark,

Some of the B&Q stuff is exterior MDF, it contains formaldehyde resins and cuts like a house brick. Look for Medite from somebody like Travis Perkins (and it's a lot cheaper than Hobarts)

cheers

Dave

[David Somers]

Mark,

If you get a chance and don't mind....put your location in your profile so it shows up in your posts, and put your equipment in your signature line. That helps folks a bunch when you ask questions.!

Hope you have a great time with the new toy!!!

Dave

[Matthew Grant]

The stuff I get from the hobby store here in the US is OK in a pinch, but the interior is very inconsistent and contains knots and glue pools. This creates areas don't cut easily, right next to areas that cut fine. I switched to a random eBay seller and get good results now. Probably not feasible for you to buy from them, but yes - there can be big differences in internal layers that makes all the difference.

[Michael Hunter]

The ply in DIY stores is almost certainly exterior grade and won't cut well on a laser.

Plenty of more specialised timber merchants scattered round the UK who sell interior grade ply.
Interior grade usually comes in 5' square panels which helps you to know that you are getting the right thing.
("Laser Ply" is interior grade with good quality veneers (A/BB??), but twice the price of standard BB/B interior grade)

The big national distributors (Hobarts, Lathams, Timbmet etc.) are good, but unless you can go and collect from a depot you are likely to get stung very badly on delivery (like £120 a time!).

I have found ordinary 6mm MDF from B&Q or Wickes to be OK for cutting, but it is generally very poor quality stuff with so little glue that it starts falling apart at the slightest excuse.
As Dave notes, you need to be careful as if they run out of the normal stuff they will sometimes substitute other grades.

[Mark Ward]

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated!

So glad I asked if there was a difference then, I've learnt something stright away here I'll get some cheaper stuff from B&Q or Wickes to practice on initially and then and keep the interior quality stuff for the products. Good shout on a Travis Perkins too, I've checked and there is one 5 miles away so I will go and see them

Dave, I have updated my location and signature too to list of our impending arrival

[Dave Sheldrake]

Travis perkins is 8 x cheaper than B&Q mark and it's all the correct Medite

[Mark Ward]

Oh wow, on second thoughts I'll practise on the cheaper good stuff then