Would someone be able to tell me where I would be able to purchase some 3/4″ phenolic plywood. I’m in Norheastern Wisconsin and none of the suppliers I’ve talked to have it and alot of them look at me like I’m crazy. So I’m guessing I’ll have to send out for it, but I don’t know where to start. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Regards,
Replies
There was a story about it a while back in FWW. They listed Woodcraft as the source.
I just tried to buy 4x8 sheets in 1/2" and 3/4" too. Wanted to use it for shop cabinetry and router table cabinet. But no Luck. I tried white cap construction supply - cited as source in the FWW article a few months back. The two closest locations didn't have it; the rep had heard of it but never seen it. They quoted $150+ per sheet to special order it. I will use cabinet grade maple instead.Woodcraft only sells 2'x4' sheets. in green only.Greg
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It seems funny that FWW would publish a article on how to build such a nice bench, but then nobody can find one of the main components to build the project! GEEEZ!
Typaically used for concrete forms. Not well known in the plywood supplier circles.
What do you want to do with it???
Make some fancy bench top's and drawer front's with it.
We use it in a commercial shop for fixtures and jigs because it stays flat and has a slick surface. For your use why not just use laminate...cheaper and simpler.
After reading the FWW article, I, too, started looking for sources. My research seemed to indicate there are two "grades" - that used for construction purposes and a better grade more suitable for jigs and such. The available info seemed to indicate the construction grade (available at White Cap and other construction suppliers) is about the same as construction grade ply with the phenolic surface glued on. The better grade (available through Woodcraft.com in 1/4 sheets [24"x48"] as the maximum size) apparently has the phenolic layer fused to the surface, rather than glued.
This is just a thought, but you might try calling some of the local toilet partition guys--they are usually the same as the commercial hardware distributors--and see if they have any phenolic partition scraps to sell for cheap. You might get a hold of some nice 1/2" or 3/4" pieces with a chipped corner or something that you can work around.
http://www.alibaba.com/member/finieris/aboutus.html#companyprofile
Found this company online. Have no other information about them. Located in Boston and appear to be a manufacturer.
ASK
Here's another link you can try to locate phenolic plywood in different states. It's for marine grade phenolic plywood. If that's not what your looking for, you could still call them and ask if they knew of someone in the area that handles the construction grade. The cost in my area was $94.00 for a 4' x 8' sheet. I don't know if that's a good price or not, but it's the nearest and least expensive for me. Thanks for everyone's input!
http://www.glen-l.com/resources/lumber-suppliers.html#WI
To all who wrote,
My company is one of North America's largest importers of Baltic Birch Plywood, aka Russian Birch, aka Finnish Birch, and a few other names too.
The core of "Phenolic" plywood is Baltic Birch, and an overlay of a Phenolic film is applied to each side, also known as "film faced plywood".
Standard grade of 1 layer of film is called 120 gram. Additional layers of film will subsequently increase that number, so, 2 layers each side is 240 grams and etc.
Standard 120 gram is what is used in the construction industry for concrete forming, and on an 18mm ( 3/4") thick core, it will withstand the heat and pressure used in the large concrete forms. Typically these panels are used in large construction jobs, example, building the CN Tower in Toronto Canada, or the building of the new Houston Airport terminals.
Many additional uses for this product have developed in the past few years, as many creative entrepreneurs take notice of this product and make furniture, furniture components, as well as truck flooring, jigs, out door decks etc. Why? Well, when the panel is properly sealed where any of the base plywood is exposed, and if the panel was made using water proof phenolic glue, (as Russian 4 x 8 is) the panel or product becomes virtually "Water Proof"
I've used it to repair the transom of my 14' fishing boat, and it has sat in the water, and under the water line for many years now.
We also sell it to the Agricultural industry, where it is used to line horse stalls, and pig pens. Why? because it is ureaic acid proof and it just plain washes off with water. There is a version which has a rough surface to make it less slippery too.
The University of Toronto has used it to make their study carols in the library, in a dark green color. Why? because you can simply clean off all the scribbling and doodle marks made by imaginative students. And it looks great.
Typically, the product is sold to the industries by "Wood and Lumber" distributors in Canada and the USA.
In the USA, 1 of the largest distributors is called North American Plywood, in New Jersey, and California. They typically do not sell single sheets, but rather they distribute the product to local people in each of your areas.
If anyone wants more information, reply here, and I'll do what I can to assit you.
I don't know if I'm allowed to post my web site, so I won't. I'm not here to sell it, just help out fellow "wood working guys"
gsh1430
Thanks for the info gsh1430!
I'd be interested in your distributors in Wisconsin!
Regards,
Contact NAP in New Jersey, Tel 973-884-1000 for information about local distributors in your state.
send me info on supplier5 in WA. state
If this helps anyone, then I'm glad. I edited the outfeed table article. For the article, I ordered a sheet of phenolic faced ply from Roberts Plywood on Long Island (1.800.422.4944). They call if colorfin there. So you could also look for colorfin in your area.This is my personal signature.
Contact NAP in California, Tel 562 944 8368 for information about local distributors in your state.
gsh1430, thanks for posting. Can you speak to the issue of how the phenolic film is applied? That is, "glued" versus fused by a heat process? Also, from my (admittedly limited) research, I got the impression that the product available through construction-oriented outlets was of lesser quality - considerably cheaper than non-phenolic Baltic birch ply. Was that impression incorrect?
I cannot speak for all the mills, but heat fused is the usual method of application for Finnish and Russian Film Faced Baltic Birch Plywood.
There are several types of film faced plywood, with different core materials. The best is all Baltic Birch core.
China makes a product, but it has a poplar core, or maybe a combination of poplar and Birch. Typically they supply Pine CDX Film Faced.
Poland makes a panel using Beech, or a beech / fir combination.
You can find MDO, and HDO sometimes refered to as Film Faced plywood.
So, there are so many types of Film Faced, and so many different price points available. You need to ask yourself at what price level are you prepared to spend for your particular job or project.
And, I'm still amazed that a few of the industry experts in the construction supply side have never heard of "Baltic Birch Plywood". (my personal editorial here...)
However, that's the way the world works, you cannot possibly know everything. That's why these forums are great.
I too am challenged in getting Phenolic faced plywood. Locals don't have it,; some have never heard of it. It's too costly to ship full sheets in b/c of the weight. So I was thinking, I have a Vacuum veneer press, I could make my own phenolic faced plywood. Problem is, I can't seem to find a source for the Phenolic film either. Anybody know of a source for it?
Greg
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http://www.jjorly.com/phenolic_machining_fabrication.htm
Try this site. I think they may sell phenolic in sheets.
ASK
ASK, Thanks. This is a big help. That is what I am looking for. If it were available in different colors, that would be ideal.Greg
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Woodpecker(.com) sells Phenolic Coated Birch Ply but is out of stock now."... 1” x 24 x 48 Phenolic Coated Birch Ply
FF1-2448
Exterior Glue.
Out of stock - coming soon! 3/4” x 24 x 48 Phenolic Coated Birch Ply
FF34-2448
Exterior Glue.
Out of stock - coming soon! ..."Larry
Got an email that phenolic plywood is back at woodpeckers:
"Phenolic Coated Baltic Birch Plywood
Phenolic Coated Baltic Birch plywood is waterproof, abrasion resistant and has incredible screw holding strength. That's why Woodpeckers' uses it for some of our high quality products. This is the last time we'll offer this product this until sometime late fall, so take this opportunity to stock up on this great jig & fixture material. Available in 3/4" and 1" thickness.
Orders for this material need to be placed by midnight Friday March 15th. Plywood will ship beginning Monday April 6th. Please allow 7-10 days to receive your shipment. Your credit card will not be charged until the order is shipped.
SHIPPING COST: The shipping cost from the web site should be accurate; however, if there's a discrepancy between what is indicated and actual, we'll let you know before we ship.
http://www.woodpeck.com/fbplywood.html "
Woodpeckers phenolic is COATED plywood. The liquid resin is "applied" to the surface wood ply. Like most finish coatings, the wood grain shows through.
This is probably fine for jigs, but I doubt it is hearty enough for a tabletop.
Woodcraft also has this in green.
I will keep searching for a phenolic faced plywood.Greg
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Do you have a distributor or retail contact for Chicago? I asked at Menards and they had no idea.
Thaks
Chris
I'm in Canada, so not familliar with each state.
but, try calling North American Plywood, the master distributor for the East / Central, they are in New Jersey, 973-884-1000
or Mid America Plywood 708 366 1130
Thanks much. I will try the 708 number - that area code is for some suburbs of Chicago.
Chris
Thank you for all that information.Would you have a source in the Vancouver, BC area?Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
One more request! Do you know of anyone who distributes in the Boston area? Thanks.
No, I don't personally know the US distributors.
Contact NAP in New Jersey, 973-884-1000
Yesterday I was at the local Rockler store (Maplewood Mn) and they had a stack of phenolic plywood. First time I have seen it there. You might check to see if the Rockler near you is also stocking it.Good luck,
Jerry
I went last week to look at the Phenolic Plywood at Rockler. It was not of high quality. Lots of bubbles in the surface and chips around the edge. Woodcrafts's seems of much higher quality. I assume they've gotten the plywood from different manufacturers.
When shopping, ask about the country of origin. The Chinese are making knock off "Baltic Birch" using a Birch face and a poplar core, and using resin coatings.
The real McCoy product from Russia, or Finland, uses all Russian birch veneers throughout, and a phenolic FILM, which is thermally applied to the board.
Moreover, check the number of plies, these products should have an odd number of ply's, so the outside face grain run's in the same direction on both faces, means it is a stable platform which to work with.
The Rockler site indicates its phenolic plywood panels are made with 14 ply's. What is with that?
My guess is that it would be 13 ply "baltic" birch and one ply of phenolic. I believe that phenolic would be a standard grade plastic laminate, i.e. Wilsonart, Formica, Nevamar, etc.
That might be the case, but properly balanced plywood panels should have the "laminate" of whatever type on both sides.
You'll get no argument from me about balanced plywood. But if I'm making router templates and jigs out of it, I'm not too concerned with the balance. I think the phenolic is only there for durability.
Got my plans yeserday for the outfeed table and started looking around for Phenolic Plywood and after a couple hours I called North American Plywood. They refered me to a place that rented trench plate that was 120 miles away. they refered me to a trench and safty supply 20 miles away. they have it and regularly carry it. $125 per sheet.
They said it is used to hold walls up in trenched and to form concret.
not all phenolics are equal
He's pointing you toward "construction grade" phenolic, rather than the higher-quality phenolic ply typically used for shop projects. Construction-grade often has the phenolic film glued on the surface, as opposed to heat-infused as would be typical on the higher-grade material. The phenolic you (likely) want is more like "Baltic Birch ply" with the phenolic surfaces heat-infused on both sides.
Both Rockler and Woodcraft stock smaller pieces of the better grade on a fairly regular basis, usually in both 1/2" and 3/4" thickness.
Try this link. There are other links you can find using Google.
http://www.whitecapdirect.com/locations/stores_by_region
Check with Richard Hummel at Woodpeckers. They used to use a red version on their drill press tables. I've had mine for several years. He might have a supply source.
Would Melamine work?
Would Melamine surface plywood work? I'm not familiar with phenolic plywood, but have used melamine for cabinets or application where a tough wearing slick surface was needed. Melamine might be easier to find.
Hi - do you have distributor names for southwestern ontario (London to Owen sound)? - I'm looking for this material for shop fixtures.
Thanks
Mark
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