Replies

1. 
   SgianDubh | Jun 12, 2002 07:44am | #1

   Rich, I think people might be trying to work out if you are asking for a comparison between blockboard (aka lumbercore in the US) and regular veneer core plywood. If you could clarify that, some opinions will surely be given. Slainte, RJ.

   RJFurniture
1. 
   Rich42198 | Jun 18, 2002 06:04am | #3

   Sorry it took so long to acknowledge your request for clarification.  What I'm really inquiring about is "lumber core" as described in John's response.  I recently used a product that was briefly stocked at my local Home Depot.  It was hardwood 1x3 strips with a mahogony veneer.  It was light and easy to handle.  I didn't see any disadvantages over traditional multi-ply laminated plywood.  I'm wondering if anyone has a different opinion.  Thanks.

1. 
   SgianDubh | Jun 18, 2002 06:45am | #4

   Funnily enough Rich, I always had something of a preference for blockboard as it's called in the UK, or US lumbercore. It was just about as easy to buy, and not much more expensive back then as veneer core plywood. Back then was 9 years ago. I don't think I've seen a piece in the US, although i know it can be ordered at a significant premium. For general purpose work I found it tended to be a bit more stable and perhaps a little less warped than veneer core usually is, and the finished surface was generally smoother. One problem in cheaper stuff was a tendency to suffer from voids where the knots are, and where two planks weren't butted correctly end to end. Also voids can be left if the edges of the strips aren't butted correctly, or one edge is partially missing. A lot of the cheaper blockboard (lumbercore) I used was made of strips of pine about 1" wide. I always liked the really high quality stuff which was sold as laminboard. It usually came out of Asia or Africa with a core of tropical hardwood strips no more than about 1/4" or 3/8" wide all squashed up nice and tight, a veneer either side set perpendicular to these strips grain direction and a decorative show veneer running with the grain of the core. Very stable stuff for a solid wood construction, fairly light, and with many of the qualities of solid timber in a fairly neat package. It was super expensive though. Slainte, RJ.RJFurniture

2. 
   cuttoff | Jun 12, 2002 09:04pm | #2

   Here you go... Core Construction View Image Veneer Core The most common core type, with all inner plies made from softwood or hardwood veneer. Employs a standard cross-ply technique with three, five, seven or nine plies (including the face and back) used to produce the final panel. Structural strength and stability make veneer core panels particularly suited to cabinet and casework. View Image Solid Core Solid cores consist of particleboard or medium density fiberboard (MDF). Exceptionally stable; used for applications where flatness is required. View Image Fiber-Ply Core A hybrid core with the advantages of both veneer core and solid core. View Image Lumber Core Veneer core crossbands are laminated on both sides of glued-up strips of lumber.

   John