Plywood is used in panels of one or two layers. On a cost per square foot basis, many common materials are considerably more expensive than plywood, such as carpet and resilient floor coverings. Consider a plywood panel curved in place around a hull as being analogous to corrugated cardboard applied in similar fashion with the corrugations running lengthwise. FIG 5 – The “right” way (A) and “wrong” way (B) to drive a screw used to fasten plywood planking. These veneer layers (or plies) are laid up and balanced in alternating cross bands for stability and strength. that intersect frames will require fastenings at contact points. Once popular with kit airplane builders, it may still be available from suppliers in that field. But in flatter hull areas such panels will suffice for most boats. Birch is so dense you can tap the set screw holes for adjustment screws. In short, while frames on the plywood boat may contact planking and be glued at such points, ordinarily such contact is not actually necessary and in fact, frames can usually be relieved from such contact without detriment. A: Other than as stated above, I’m not against using a good grade of Exterior plywood (for example, AB) for planking, and I’ve never heard of a boat falling apart because of it. While nails may be relatively inexpensive, you should still pre-drill pilot holes for all but the smallest sizes. Plywood boards and rudders should be encapsulated with epoxy and fiberglass cloth in any case. Screw 1½-inch screws into all 4 corners, holding the plywood in place so it doesn’t turn. The higher the grade the better quality you should expect. FIG 2 – However, because of plywood’s cross grain, using gussets, floor timbers, and similar members to join sawn wood frame members will largely prevent splitting at such connections. 3A). Baltic birch or ApplePly is my first choice for drawers and shop jigs. Source: Timber & … Thus sheathings should be considered as basically cosmetic coverings; their intent is NOT to add strength. Plywood is also, pound for pound, stronger than steel. Another difficulty is that rudders and daggerboards should be faired to an airfoil sectional shape which is not as easy to do with plywood. While imported Marine plywood panels might cost twice as much as the domestic product or more (and we’re again fortunate to have this competition available regardless of the price), this is still a reasonable price compared to other alternatives. But the uniform plies and void-free endgrain can be attractive if you choose to use Baltic Birch for more decorative applications. You may have to make some repairs to the panel (e.g., fill voids) which can get tedious and is not always successful. Q: What happens if I don’t sheathe my plywood boat with fiberglass? When this occurs, water can creep behind the sheathing and cause problems. Euro screw thread: Melamine, particleboard, and MDF are notorious for their poor holding power when joined with regular screws. But one won’t know if such a glue has been used. That said, if you are on a budget, polyesters are acceptable if you do it right, but they don’t have true adhesive properties. Such reduction in expansion and contraction reduces any tendency for movement or cracking along the centerline where planking halves join. On each design page the method is listed under “Hull” in Characteristics. Conversely, in flatter areas of a hull (especially on small boats or those not intended for high speed or rough water use), and at mid areas within a panel, nails are acceptable if long enough and of ample wire size. Plywood is used as a “sheet” material in the majority of plywood boats, including Stitch-N-Glue. The tendency is to splinter the frame edges instead. This chart is designed for flat-head screws but can be used for any type. This is the most common type of construction used by the home builder. Plywood boats are frequently built in school wood shops or by youth groups as individual or group projects. The center cores are cross banded hardwood, providing strength, light weight and screw-holding capability. Unlike epoxies, both need well-fitted joints, specific limited temperatures, heavy clamping pressure, and leave colored glue lines. 6. However, combination core is a compromise: It doesn’t have the screw-holding capability and rigidity of veneer core, or the flatness and stability of MDF core. Because of these qualities, veneer core is my first choice in most cases. Many builders consider plywood cabinets an … Q: Can I make frames out of plywood rather than solid lumber? Because of the way hardware is mounted on frameless cabinetry, you need the strength and holding ability of high-density material. It is resistant to splitting, puncturing and impact damage – Phillips screws … Conversely, plywood is actually stronger on a weight basis in both tension and compression. The same thing can happen in a sheet of plywood. SHEET PLYWOOD: I will hang it via a French Cleat. Plywood is also, pound for pound, stronger than steel. The strength, stability, excellent screw-holding, and low price point makes Baltic Birch Plywood a popular choice for making shop jigs, drawer boxes, cabinet interiors and other rarely seen items. All are high quality A2 grade precut plywood panels with both faces in red oak. The layers are assembled with alternating grain direction, called cross banding. Other plywood types with a more uniform grain pattern will fare better in this regard, but these will still require routine coating applications. Because of its high strength to weight, plywood construction yields a boat that is much lighter […] Plywood vs. OSB (Oriented Strand Board): Major Differences . Certain questions about plywood and its use in boatbuilding crop up time and again. You might be able to save some bucks by using Exterior plywood for planking curved areas. The outer cores are MDF, giving a flat, uniform surface for the face veneers. This method is utilized on round bilge hulls or hulls with compound shapes. Finish results with either otherwise appear the same, but polyesters are less flexible and resilient so tend to crack more easily over time. Compared to all the other boatbuilding materials an amateur may use, only steel is cheaper than sheet plywood. When bent in place, it would fold and break about the perforations. Check out these 16 Tips to Get the Best Plywood for Your Buck. In fact, I’m not totally against using lesser-quality AC plywood for planking on certain boats. After all, not all boats need to last so long that they become exhibits in museums. Q: Epoxy resins sound great but they cost too much. A: I don’t know how this line of thinking evolved, but the question keeps coming up. However, combination core is a compromise: It doesn’t have the screw-holding capability and rigidity of veneer core, or the flatness and stability of MDF core. To take full advantage of the material, our Plans and Patterns detail simplified construction methods geared to the abilities of the amateur. The advent of the Phillips-head screw in the 1930s changed everything and began the slow movement from hammering nails to driving screws. I plan to attach the top and bottom to the sides with biscuits and reinforce these joints with SPAX or GRK screws driven through the sides. But if I’m making one-piece doors, I’ll choose MDF core every time because of its flatness and stability. Any decorative thin face of a wood species can be applied to the front and back of the panel. x 2 ft. x 4 ft.; Actual: 0.703 in. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), 16 Tips to Get the Best Plywood for Your Buck, We take the mystery out of the plywood grading system and show you what you will get in each grade, show you how to cut construction grade plywood and finish grade plywood with a circular saw, Plywood Veneer: This is Why the Cut Matters, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. But as discussed above, plastic resin glues can work successfully in plywood boats for all practical purposes. The oval-head screw extends above the surface in a slight oval, the round-head screw protrudes above the surface in a half-circle, and the flat-head screw is flush with the surface. Like veneer core, it has excellent screw holding capability, strength and rigidity. A: The properly designed plywood planked hull incorporates as much as possible the principles of monocoque or “stress-skin” construction. Currently resorcinol costs more than epoxies, and offers no benefits over plastic resin glue in my opinion. Keep in mind that while fiberglass is strong in tensile strength, it is not very stiff. These do cost more and may not be readily available, however. A: As for domestic panels, my first reaction to this question is that we’re fortunate to have any Marine plywood available regardless of the price. And if you consider the price of plywood compared to other materials, it’s actually a bargain. Excellent nail, screw, and staple holding ability allows placement near panel edges without splits. Compared to MDF and particleboard cores, veneer core offers strength, weight and screw-holding advantages. We take the mystery out of the plywood grading system and show you what you will get in each grade. No difficult woodworking procedures, such as steam bending, are ever required, and the GLEN-L pattern system makes the difficult lofting procedure unnecessary. For most amateurs, plywood is the material of choice. Copyright 2006-2022 by Glen L Marine Designs. We can pin or tack such a cardboard panel in place all around the edges to hold it in place. ApplePly is available in thicknesses from 1/4 in. All rights reserved. Since plastic resin glues don’t stain and clean up easily, mix with water, and are a fraction of the cost of resorcinol, they’re my choice in lieu of epoxies. How many boats are ever subjected to boiling water conditions? Where cost is concerned, there is a big difference between the two materials. Epoxy is the recommended adhesive. All veneers in the panel should be under compression. The consumer demand for so many different types of screws makes a rather simple subject rather complex. However, the accepted standard for such a glue is one whose bonds will survive a boil test. A: Basically there are three plywood grades; Interior, Exterior, and Marine. An alternative is a stem with a plywood core and solid wood either side (B). However, one with a plywood core and solid wood each side is acceptable and perhaps preferable for larger rudders where solid wood will tend to split and/or must be glued up from narrower widths (B). A 4x8 ft (1.2 x 2.4 m) sheet will work well for this purpose. Stitch-and-glue boats that depend upon glue bonded junctions reinforced with fiberglass tape often show pure adherence to such principles. Q: When can I get by with Exterior plywood? Compared to MDF and particleboard cores, veneer core offers strength, weight and screw-holding advantages. The WSNTL screws have a strong holding power but can also be removed easily.. With the ability to countersink you can eliminate gaps between joists and subfloors while still allowing for future access to floor spaces later. 4A and 4B). Our feeling is that as long as you’re going to the trouble, you should use epoxy resins if at all possible; they’re worth the extra cost. Boat Plans Catalog – 300 Boats You Can Build! But it will survive hundreds of consecutive cycles of immersion in water at room temperatures. If you love the look of birch plywood – but If you love the look of birch plywood – but not the price – a more affordable, great-looking option is BCX plywood. Place one of the planks on the shelf brackets and screw the plank to the upper strip at the top/rear. The important quality separating Marine grade from Exterior panels is the quality and soundness of the inner plies and their construction (both are made with waterproof glues as noted above). While some complain of an increase in weight, this is seldom more than an ounce or two per square foot of area in the typical application. As for “stitch-and-glue” construction, a void-free panel for planking is important so that the wire ties at joints don’t pull out under tension, which is likely to occur if stitching holes need to be located coincidentally with a void that suddenly crops up once the panel has been cut to shape. Glen-L’s Poxy Grip is an excellent adhesive for your Glen-L boat. The “32” is the thread pitch - notated in threads per inch. The thickness is more consistent, and MDF gives a smooth, even surface for the face veneer. Q: Why should I cover my plywood boat with fiberglass? Place the second plank next to (left or right of) the first one and join the two end-to-end with a 6 in (15.25cm) x 18 in (45.7 cm) piece of plywood underneath the two plank ends. The shelves will be adjustable. Baltic Birch and Appleply are top-notch veneer core plywoods, which you’ll only find at a lumberyard. However, I’ve seen many plywood rudders and daggerboards break in use, and again, the problem is that areas of cross grain within a panel tend to be weak and lead to fracture. Multi-diagonal Planking Pictorial Guide. Polyester resins simply don’t work the same; they don’t stick or apply well, and because of their lack of elasticity, crack easily which can promote rot due to entrapped moisture. But even when transverse frames are part of the design, it’s the plywood skin that takes the stresses which are ultimately transferred to glued and/or fastened joints at panel edges. Because the core layers of Baltic birch are actually veneers of birch (rather than a softer, secondary wood) and form a void-free core, screws bite and hold with 100% of their threads. In a wall framed of two-by-fours, a typical 32-inch wide rough opening for a door or window requires a header made from a couple of two-by-sixes, with a piece of 1/2-inch plywood sandwiched in between. A: This is generally poor practice in the framed plywood boat for several reasons. Q: Must all plywood used for boatbuilding be waterproof? 2 below). On both sides of the core, there’s a cross banded veneer, then the face veneer. Ideal for projects where shrinking, warping, swelling, or splitting are a concern. The center cores are cross banded hardwood, providing strength, light weight and screw-holding capability. Plywood is also used in “cold-molded” construction and “multi-diagonal” planking. an easy way to make these inserts is using 3/8" Baltic birch plywood for the insert. Sailors often don’t realize just how much stress can be applied to a rudder turned hard over on the small sailboat or just how much force a capsized sailor exerts while standing on a daggerboard attempting to right the small dinghy. Just as in production boats, top quality is not always demanded, needed, nor expected. MDF CORE And if this question is asked because thicker panels are not available, the answer is to use a double thickness of plywood rather than attempt to make up the difference with fiberglass. Second, longitudinal strength members (e.g., keels, chine logs, sheer clamps, stiffening battens, etc.) Also, it’s a special-order product, at least from my lumberyard, whereas MDF core is readily available. 1 below). Q: Why shouldn’t sheet plywood planking be fastened to transverse frames? Note that I didn’t say that builders ALL want ultimate top quality, and that’s intended. Exterior panels (with any major defects repaired when possible) can usually also be used for most internal members throughout a boat without problem for such items as transoms, gussets, bulkheads, etc. Get contact details & address of companies manufacturing and supplying Plywoods, Timber Plywood, Plywood … That said, using Marine plywood is most critical in my opinion where panels must conform to rather extreme curvatures (the bow in most boats, especially the bottom), and for boats built with “stitch-and-glue” methods. Panel Products Plywood Plywood … A: If a Marine grade panel is used, and these are thick enough (say 1″ or more), plywood is sometimes acceptable. Q: If frames shouldn’t be made from plywood, what about stems? And when you consider the speed and ease with which a plywood boat can be built, it’s still the material of choice for most do-it-yourself builders. Such panels are also easier to work with for the same reasons when used for internal members and bulkheads on “stitch-and-glue” boats. Use this screw selection chart for selecting the correct size and length of screw for any job. Can I use polyesters for sheathings instead? We used the block-free center section of plywood … The thinnest that you can get this plywood is 3/8 inch but the 1/2 inch version is much more common. The point is, Interior grade plywood is not rated for exterior or marine use where such panels may be exposed to moisture because grading standards permit non-waterproof glues in their manufacture. And because many species of plywood are not as tough as fir, they will more easily suffer damage without sheathing. A plywood subfloor generally uses 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch-thick sheets of plywood that have one rough side (which faces down) and one smooth side, which faces up. Besides, the practice is penny-wise and pound-foolish. The latter is 100% waterproof while plastic resin is considered “highly water-resistant”. But particleboard core options are a bit worse in the screw holding category. Lumber Core consists of edge-glued strips of wood, usually basswood. Nails in this situation lack the leverage inherent in screws to maintain this tension if a glue joint lets go for some reason (albeit a rare occurrence). The sheets are generally 4 x 8 or 4 x 12 feet in size. Use a pattern router bit to finish it to a perfect fit. Q: What about using plywood for sailboat rudders, centerboards, and daggerboards? Sanded Plywood (Common: 23/32 in. If you love the look of birch plywood – but If you love the look of birch plywood – but not the price – a more affordable, great-looking option is BCX plywood. The only other alternative I’m aware of and have used with good results in the past is Aerolite, a water-resistant urea-formaldehyde based product by Ciba-Geigy sometimes imported from England but seldom found. MDF CORE Add edge trim. FIG 4 – A section through a sailboat rudder faired to an airfoil below water (A) is difficult to do with plywood; solid wood is preferable. In that time, he has absorbed so many slivers and ingested so much sawdust that he's practically made of wood. These veneer layers (or plies) are laid up and balanced in alternating cross bands for stability and strength. In reality, it’s the longitudinal members doing most of the work and this is why planking panels are preferably fastened only to these and at the ends of panels and NOT to frames between. However, does this mean that such a panel might fail if exposed to exterior or marine conditions? Each sheet of our 1/2'' Baltic Birch Plywood is constructed from high-quality, one-piece birch laminations for exceptional strength and screw holding power. When I speak of covering the outside of plywood boats with fiberglass, I use the term generically; you can use other fabrics such a Dynel or polypropylene, but fiberglass gives the best combination of price, ease of application, ready-availability, and protection in my opinion. Instead of plugging or filling the screw holes I will apply 1/4” plywood panels to … The reason is that a plywood stem is more dimensionally stable due to the cross grain. Like MDF core, it’s flat and stable with consistent thickness. One disadvantage is that poorly-made lumber core plywood may have voids within the core that diminish its strength and screw holding abilities. Brad Holden, an associate editor at The Family Handyman, has been building cabinets and furniture for 30 years. Sabre saw/jigsaw the blank 1/8" larger and then use double face tape to fasten the original to the blank. Then too, for some reason many who ask this question think fiberglass is lighter and will thus save weight. Sheet Plywood Pictorial Guide with captions. A Question of Value – Cost. Multi veneer construction for durability and strength. The twin-lead thread pattern allows for quick and secure installation.. How so? 3B). The typical assumption is that plywood used in boats must be made with waterproof glue. 6. As for the encapsulation process where all wood surfaces inside and out get coated, do NOT substitute polyesters this way in place of epoxies. But since the boat will probably by sheathed with fiberglass, some builders use the C-side outside and fill all the defects with resin putty prior to fiberglass application; they become invisible once painted. If you’re installing new plywood, use galvanized screws to fasten it, and countersink the screw heads. Hull strength comes from the plywood hull structure itself, and with proper design and construction, should prove more than adequate. Because Baltic. 7 Reasons Why Baltic Birch Is a Preferable Plywood. Q: Can I use nails in place of screws for fastening plywood planking and decking? And while highly water-resistant, this glue won’t survive a boil test and is thus not considered totally waterproof. Marine plywood. If plywood is used for frame members instead, because of the alternating grain direction of the plies, there is no strength in those veneers in the cross-grain direction.

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