Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Dec 07, 2005 12:11am | #1

   Plywood is a manufactured product and the manufacturer can make many choices about the interior plies, the face plies, the glue, and number of layers, not to mention the country it is made in and the amount of quality control.  Good quality maple faced plywood could easily cost $120.00 for a true cabinetmaker's grade.  What is being sold at Loew's isn't the same grade of goods.

   John W.

2. 
   UnclePaul | Dec 07, 2005 03:51am | #2

   I'll second what John said. The plywood you saw at Lowe's was a much lower grade material than you would want to use for a nice finished product. If A-1 is the best grade of plywood, Lowe's is probably selling something like a C-3, or maybe a "shop grade ". It is usually stamped on the edge -what you are buying.

   Beware, not all plywoods are created equal.

   -Paul

3. 
   hammer1 | Dec 07, 2005 03:47pm | #3

   $120 is way more than I pay for good quality A2 3/4" maple plywood. $50 - $60 is closer to the price for a few sheets. You need to widen your choice of places to shop. Look in the yellow pages under hardwoods or plywood and veneer. It helps if you know something about plywood grading and deal with companies that specialize in supplying the cabinet and furniture trade. Here is a place to start.

   http://www.chpi.com/pages/grades.html

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
4. 
   ASK | Dec 08, 2005 02:16am | #4

   A few weeks ago I paid $129 for A1 3/4" Maple from a local, but very good local lumber yard I have been buying from for over 20 years. They didn't have it but got it for me in a few days.

   It's beautiful.

   ASK