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Ok, my timing is bad, but I have only half of the Baltic Birch that I need for my next speaker project. It seems that wood is getting increasingly hard to find 😡
So, which wood should I choose for the balance of my needs? I have several choices at my local supplier:
1) "paint grade" Lauan in 3/4" that appears to be 8-9 ply.
2) "good one side" Duraply in 3/4" that appears to be about 7 ply.
3) back to MDF
The Duraply is a heavier/more dense plywood than the Lauan. Both are "relatively" void free (though not 100% like BB).
I welcome your advice, suggestions, and input!
Thanks!
So, which wood should I choose for the balance of my needs? I have several choices at my local supplier:
1) "paint grade" Lauan in 3/4" that appears to be 8-9 ply.
2) "good one side" Duraply in 3/4" that appears to be about 7 ply.
3) back to MDF
The Duraply is a heavier/more dense plywood than the Lauan. Both are "relatively" void free (though not 100% like BB).
I welcome your advice, suggestions, and input!
Thanks!
Lauan is pretty close to birch in all parameters, very good replacement except the dust can cause skin irritation if you are sensitive to it.
Duraply doesn't seem to have a higher density, Lauan got 0,50 - 0,60 g/cm³, Duraply 0,44 - 0,60 g/cm³ according to their data sheet. I don't know at which moisture it was measured but the difference is not very high anyway.
It seems you can't get Duraply with emission class E0 (starts at E1) but it is weather resistant, Lauan the opposite. So which is better is a question on how you want to use it. Outdoors or PA -> Duraply. Indoors -> Lauan because you can get it with emission class E0.
Duraply doesn't seem to have a higher density, Lauan got 0,50 - 0,60 g/cm³, Duraply 0,44 - 0,60 g/cm³ according to their data sheet. I don't know at which moisture it was measured but the difference is not very high anyway.
It seems you can't get Duraply with emission class E0 (starts at E1) but it is weather resistant, Lauan the opposite. So which is better is a question on how you want to use it. Outdoors or PA -> Duraply. Indoors -> Lauan because you can get it with emission class E0.
Also depending on the sizes "missing" for your project, sometimes you can find "handy-panels" of BB in smaller sizes, FWIW.
Hmm, couldn't find Luan's MOE......... 🙁
1.8 mm Duraply is [9] lams/~ 432.4 k N/mm^2 [~627.4 k psi]: http://duraply.one/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/EN_Duraply_datasheet.pdf
Historically, 3/4" MDF = ~527 k psi, [11] lams BB = ~1.8 mil psi, so lacking more data, Duraply + bracing as if using MDF is my choice.
1.8 mm Duraply is [9] lams/~ 432.4 k N/mm^2 [~627.4 k psi]: http://duraply.one/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/EN_Duraply_datasheet.pdf
Historically, 3/4" MDF = ~527 k psi, [11] lams BB = ~1.8 mil psi, so lacking more data, Duraply + bracing as if using MDF is my choice.
Good argument with the size. Also a factor is the look of it. I haven't used Duraply yet but from the google images it ranges from boring to nice, Lauan got a finer grain/structure, that's sometimes more pleasing for smaller enclosures.
You can also mix materials, a different material baffle can be a nice touch, a solid wood baffle can look excellent with a black/white etc painted rest of the enclosure
You can also mix materials, a different material baffle can be a nice touch, a solid wood baffle can look excellent with a black/white etc painted rest of the enclosure
I personally don't want E1 (formaldehyde glue) wood products in my apartment but that's a choice you have to make for yourself, some don't even notice it.
I don't use MDF anymore. In the recent years the quality of it got worse and worse and I'm sick of drive-in nuts not gripping anymore or the parts crumbling into dust at minor force applied. Maybe that applies only to Germany but I've read such complaints also from other regions.
Poplar seems to be rather good also i hear from many. Never tried it, so that is second hand info. I got my projects on hold for the moment untill the wood prices go back to normal. Now it's like 400% of what it was 2 years ago down here...
Water resistant MDF is better on that, the green and the black variation. But i only use it for test builds or trying things. I'm now forced to listen to my green mdf-testbuild of my MLTL as ply became ridiculous expensive. But as soon as those prices drop, i'm going to make the final plywood version of it...
And two other projects are on hold for now for the same reasons.
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Good input, thank you! As for the finish surface, it will probably get another layer of veneer on the outside, so the details of the finish surface (grain, texture, etc) are not super relevant.
I was unaware of formaldehyde glue - I'll have to look into this a little more.
I was unaware of formaldehyde glue - I'll have to look into this a little more.
Veneer Panels | Russell Plywood
Also, Bob Berner who has been doing CNC'ed Frugel-Horn flat packs for us is located around Allentown PA., it couldnt hurt to ask where he has been getting his BB plywood.
Also, Bob Berner who has been doing CNC'ed Frugel-Horn flat packs for us is located around Allentown PA., it couldnt hurt to ask where he has been getting his BB plywood.
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Thanks for the links, MP9. I looked at Rockler when my local place was out. They have 24"x30" and I need 24" x 36" I hadn't heard of Russell Plywood, though. I'll check them out!
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My local place is still selling existing inventory at regular prices. Once their supply is gone, though, new pricing (+200% to +400%) takes effect.
The higher density makes it more attracitve for HiFi use but it's not visually very pleasing because it mostly ranges from boring to ugly. Technically it's a good option though and for HiFi it usually gets paint or a verneer on it anyway. Here in s. Germany the shops often only got it in 15mm thickness or not at all in stock.
For PA use it's not very appealing because it's quite heavy. I like to use it for building my tool cases like my plunge cut circle saw or my router etc. It's sturdy, robust and not that expensive and at these cases the look does not matter and the single available thickness doesn't either.
Yes, beech is plain looking but can be nice on furniture. Its great quality ply and with veneer it is better IMHO than BB (which I also veneer because it has peeled veneer that doesnt look very good)
In past pre-pandemic times I have also purchased BB Plywood at a reasonable cost from Wehrung's - https://www.wehrungs.com/plywood/
Simple Stoopid Particle board the cheap stuff with visible sized wood chips. Not wood dust and formaldehyde glue.. MDF.. nor even the usual Audio Weenie Priests' mandated Birch Ply dogma.
Try and see for yourself😉
Try and see for yourself😉
I agree, the plain and simple particle board becomes again more and more attractive because of the price/quality ratio. Except on prototype enclosures I usually use solid wood stripes for the edges of particle boards to get a better finish or put a bevel or rounded edge on it.
For prototype enclosures the OSB boards are still a fairly cheap option.