TKH1957
newbie
Reged: 11/28/05
Posts: 19
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Besides Rockler which is overpriced and Lowes and Home Depot's birch plywood is so warped, where in the Pittsburgh area can I purchase baltic birch plywood?
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Just_Bill
10,000 Stars
Reged: 01/27/02
Posts: 16985
Loc: Wilmington, Delaware
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Any lumberyard, which big box stores are not. PGH should have lots of lumber yards.
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Bob_Fleming
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/28/01
Posts: 23579
Loc: Eagle, CO USA
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I was having trouble finding a local supplier for Baltic (Russian) birch in SoCA but by searching around I did find one near home. It is worth the search; great stuff. The place I found was an off the beaten path lumber yard.
However, A veneer plywood and molding lumber yard nearby also sold it at a higher price. Seems if you can settle for the Russian Birch, it is cheaper than the Baltic Birch. I got the impression that the Baltic Birch might be a better quality product but both looked the same to me.
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twoshoes
veteran
Reged: 09/26/03
Posts: 1239
Loc: PA
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Try this Lumber Yard link. The H. P. Starr, which is in north Pgh, says they have birch plywood. Didn't look at the Bethel Park one. Hope it helps.
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Tom
Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy!
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ront02769
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/03/04
Posts: 8068
Loc: New England
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I would actually shy away from lumberyards. what you really need is a shop that sells cabinet grade plywood, WAY different than that which is sold even at good lumberyards. contact your local woodcraft store and ask them for recommendations. in my area, I was sent to cambio plywood in cranston, ri which I found later on is supplier to most local cabinet makers.
ront
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ewr
first timer
Reged: 01/26/10
Posts: 1
Loc: PA
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You do not want Birch as sold at HD -must be Baltic Birch- hard to source but we have a great source N on Rt 8-easily accessible via TP or Rt 8
Mars Lumber- Mars PA- they also have a website
I just purchased a 5x5 3/4" for $62.00
Great precut hardwood moldings and stock hardwood cabinet grade plywood
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Scholastica
``Karen Kandoo``
Reged: 09/21/03
Posts: 1517
Loc: Brooklyn, NY
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Can't help you where to find it - but you probably can find it locally. BUT - Beware of HD. They do sell it - but if you ask someone to cut it for you...tell them to go SLOW. I had a jerk cut some for me and it splintered all the way down. Most of their wood is warped (at least the stuff in my neighborhood). I eventually found a small (compared to the big chains) department/hardware/lumber store in my neighborhood (an ACE Hardware Store). The guy that cut it actually TAPED the wood before cutting it to ensure that it didn't splinter!!!!! That's gotta be rare in ANY store! From now on, I'll get all my wood from "Doody's Home Center"! 
K (Green-Horn Wannabe!)
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Amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
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Bob_Fleming
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/28/01
Posts: 23579
Loc: Eagle, CO USA
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The difference between birch ply and Baltic Birch is that the latter has more than three plies. I believe the norm is five plies for 1/2" material and more for thicker stock. Regular birch may be American made but am not sure. The greater number of plies assures flatter stock that doesn't warp as easily, and that is the reason the BB is better for cabinet work. Also, BB would be expected to have no voids in the inner plies. Those features are a world of difference between the two materials.
I have used plain birch ply from Home Depot for cabinet work where it is supported around the edges; it takes paint or stain better and gives a nice finish. It is sometimes cheaper than other plywoods for that usage. BB is another grade (or two) higher up the scale, which is why it is usually more expensive. BB is great for jigs since it is so flat.
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ront02769
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/03/04
Posts: 8068
Loc: New England
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not sure about that. typically in cabinet grade material the number of plys is related to the thickness of the plywood. so 1/8 inch baltic birch would be 3 plies whilst 3/4 would me more like 9 or 11 or there abouts. now if you just go to hd and buy 1/2 inch plywood, you might different number of plys based on the cost of the product.
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CabinConnection
Big Foot
Reged: 01/20/04
Posts: 18858
Loc: The Indianhead's Left Nostril....
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Quote:
Beware of HD
All depends on the last load they got... I've seen EXCELLENT wood at HD, Lowes, Menards, my local yards... Then the next time I went there, the stuff was JUNK. Just gotta know what to look for/buy, and shop around.
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