I’m interested to know how many others use mostly shop grade plywood for projects (cabinets, entertainment centers, etc.) as compared to the more expensive grades of hardwood plywood. The majority of my customers don’t know one grade from another, so to keep price down, I usually build with shop grade: it’s about $12 per sheet less than the next grade, which is mdf core. ( Besides the extra expense, I dislike MDF because of the fine dust created when cutting, and the extra weight.) Besides an occassional void beneath the veneer, I’ve never had any reason not to use it. My products are usually in red oak, which is still popular here.
One more question: why is it referred to as “shop” grade. It almost sounds like it is intended for workshop jigs and fixtures. Thanks for any input on this, just wondering. GP
Replies
gp, I use it alot also but it definately is hit or miss on the quality. I have had unbelievable birdseye figure in some shop maple before and the stuff I just got is poor to good at best. So I generally use it for interiors and such. Spend the extra doe on the good stuff for the exteriors... Petey
"Shop grade" plywood is not a grade per se; rather, it denotes a defect of one sort or another (usually from shipping/handling).
If you can cut around or hide the defect, there is no reason not to use it in any project.
Eventho I was building 'commercial' cabinets at the time, I put the good stuff where it was visible, and relegated the cheaper stuff to that that was hidden from view.
I have yet to find a place here in Hoston that sells plywood with a thicker than average veneer. Average today is about 0.000000000000000001" thick.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood
It means it's a second...defects of various kinds. As I remember, a certain percentage of the sheet has to be useable (can't remember off the top of my head what the percentage is....80%? something like that). One of my suppliers tells me one company is going to purposely manufacture shop grade out of sub-standard veneer, instead of a sheet just getting graded down to shop because of defects.
"Shop grade typically is an off-fall AC or AD panel. It can have a number of defects that include being out of square, delamination, variations in thicknesses within the same panel, sand-throughs, etc" that's off a website somewhere.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.SWAY too conservative to be merely right wing
My supplier must allready be carrying that low grade veneer because they always have a huge supply of maple and cherry "shop grade" Petey
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