What is Baltic-birch plywood and why should I care?

[@Stefan_Kawalec]

Thickness is derived from metric system: 3 mm - a bit less than - 1/8″ (3 plies) 6 mm - a bit less than - 1/4″ (5 plies) 9 mm - a bit less than - 3/8″ (7 plies) 12 mm - a bit less than - 1/2″ (9 plies) 18 mm - a bit less than - 3/4″ (13 plies) Sheet size as well: 1525 mm x 1525 mm ≈ 5’ x 5′

[@TheSnekkerShow]

This is true. In the US, whether the plywood is manufactured in Europe or North America, it will normally be marketed as 3/4", but labeled as 23/32". With Baltic birch, it's marketed as 3/4" but often labeled as 18mm.

[@Otto-W]

@@TheSnekkerShow when buying from a plywood dealer most sheets are true sized as the majority of the plywoods they sell are made in America.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

@@Otto-W Good to know. I seldom find myself living near plywood suppliers, but I'll keep that in mind the next time I have some cabinet work to do.

[@Drevid]

I have no idea why you don't have more subs. I find your channel fantastic. Love your sense of humor.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

Thanks for that. I keep hoping it will take off, but I haven't found the secret yet.

[@karlus3684]

"But it's not going to measure half and inch because.....F woodworkers." LOL Instant subscribe.

[@DizzLexic]

same here!!! HAHA

[@moldings_etc]

Poplar birch tablesaw!!! Love the humor in that one. Also the ugly on whomever came up with plywood not being dimensioned correctly😂😂

[@woodshopnerdery]

Great visual demonstration of the poplar vs birch properties. I bought some half inch maple A/C plywood for some cabinet door panels. The wife and I fell in love with the C face because it had so much character. We ended up putting the C face on the outside of the doors.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

I look for character with solid wood, but I tend to do the opposite with plywood. Sounds like your cabinets could make an interesting video.

[@nefariousyawn]

I would also like to see these cabinets.

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

Tom, my son-in-law didn’t know what A-C plywood meant. He took two sheets back to the home center because he thought one face was defective!

[@tungsten1270]

I like the way how you made this comparison so straight forward.

[@VinceEspositoJr]

I don't understand why we can't make something of similar quality in the U.S. It pains me to have to buy this stuff.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

Check out ApplePly. I haven't found any local vendors, and the shipping is too high for my budget, but it's an option.

[@GeometryBuild]

Me neither. I found owners of bb ply business and you are not gonna like it. I did find maple ply with 13 laters. Called Columbia Forest Europly.

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

I wonder how much of that Birch actually comes from the Baltic region? You know… when I’m not wondering about thickness. Or counting plies. Or looking for voids. Or… Thnx… nicely entertaining!

[@Otto-W]

Most birch sold in the US is white birch and not Baltic birch. Home centers really blur this line and often come up with names to mislead people. For example cabinet grade isn't an industry grade. White birch is most commonly from Indonesia, Cambodia and China. Though you can get Birch that's made in the US. While most Baltic birch comes from Russia and Finland.

[@profuse007]

@@Otto-W if I’m at the high-end lumber yard are those Baltic birch plywood made from wood grown in Baltic region?

[@sassafrasvalley1939]

@@Otto-W thanks.

[@Otto-W]

@@profuse007 possible, look at the core material and stamp. The Baltic birch we have at work comes from Russia and sizes 12mm and up are stamped. A few of the smaller lumber yards within our delivery zone buy from us when they have a special order. But most don't stock it. If you find out where your local cabinet shops buy from you'll know where to go... Even though I've been building things as a hobby for some time I think it took me at least six months before I felt like I had seen most of what my work sticks.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

Making this video got me motivated enough to make a long, trafficky drive to Vienna Hardwoods in Northern Virginia today to stock up for the winter. I bought a 5x5 sheet of 1/2" that had a Krasnyi Yakor stamp, and a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" with a Plyterra stamp, both of which appear to be Russian suppliers.

[@siamaklighvani3951]

Plywood usage on making cabinet is just $$$$ matter ,water will damage it quickly ,it will bend gradually under small load and really not suitable for making kitchen cabinet. However the natural wood has character

[@chipsterb4946]

A game of Poplar/Birch/Tablesaw 😂 well played!

[@jarethhsms]

And its also not going to measure half of an inch because ..... 🙃

[@calvin4875]

Haha I've never laughed harder at one of your videos..I like it

[@3falexchina]

Hello! Best and short explain about plywood i ewer seen! We actually haven't homeimprovement ply here in Kazakhstan, but im living in China long time and have experience with china poplar ply. People in Russia always angry about ply size 1,5x1.5 they prefer big sheet and they think it is old manufacturing method producing lower grade. They have no experience with Chinese poplar ply. I said we have stronger ply in the world but they think im crazy) And our cost for sheet of Baltic birch much, much lover.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

Now you have me wondering what the strongest plywood in the world is. That would make an interesting video.

[@SquirrelsForAll]

Great video, thanks so much!

[@nefariousyawn]

Oh neat, I made it into your screenshot collage. This must be the closest to star struck that I have ever felt. Anyway, great visual aids and execution of educational humor in this video. Plywood quality and wonky thicknesses definitely confused me for a while when I first started trying to use it.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

As a much younger and poorer woodworker, I was certainly disappointed to learn the hard way that my expensive carbide-tipped 3/4" router bit was not useful for building cabinets out of 3/4" plywood.

[@Milkshake61]

Great, entertaining, yet informative.

[@profuse007]

HD birch plywood are for DIYers that lacks the adequate education to distinguish from one to another. However very little amount of Baltic Birch being sold around here in Houston. The homeowners don’t care about either one

[@TheSnekkerShow]

It has its place, but it also has its limitations. I built several things for family in the 90s or so using birch plywood, including a bay-window cabinet, a kitchen pantry, and a painted toy box, and everything is still in great shape. I definitely sanded through some paper-thin veneers a few times though, which is tough to fix.

[@ericjones1621]

I'm just getting into this and enjoy your vids. Where are some places to get quality plywood? I went to get some at the chain stores and even with my novice level experience knew it wasn't good...so I left empty handed and don't know where to even look outside these stores.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

Thanks for the feedback. It's usually easy to find a Home Depot no matter where you live, but it's a little more challenging to find good plywood suppliers since there aren't as many chains. I usually do a search for unique terms like walnut plywood or Baltic birch plywood in my area, but you might even try calling a local woodworker to see if they have any recommendations. I've built plenty of quality stuff with big-chain plywood, but I also walk in ready to leave empty handed if their stock doesn't look good.

[@benjamingerow5650]

Just getting into woodworking, and your vids like this are very much appreciated!

[@TheSnekkerShow]

That's what I like to hear; thanks for the feedback.

[@davidwymore1976]

well played sir...well played

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

I agree Baltic Birch is in a whole different category compared to the other plywood that is available. I have never seen true Baltic Birch in any size other than 5x5.. last week I applied for a second mortgage to buy 3 sheets of BB for my shop cabinets. 😩🛫

[@Otto-W]

I work for a plywood/hardwood dealer, we sell Baltic birch in 5x5, 4x8 and 4x10 sheets both unfinished and pre-finished. Though the 4x10 we don't stock at our location and have to bring it in from our main location when a customer orders it. Shipment from Europe have been showing up 6+ months after our expected delivery dates. I think we've only received one container of Baltic birch this year and maybe five containers of German Beech. Usually we get a container or more of both each month.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

I just picked up my first sheet of 3/4x4x8 today, and the stamp was from a Russian supplier. That and a 5x5 sheet of 1/2" set me back around $150, and three hours in traffic. That's actually quite a bit less than I was expecting to pay.

[@chadcleary7931]

100% subscribed.

[@davemeeks8109]

Yes but have you used pear tree wood.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

I've got stack of Bradford pear drying in my garage right now. Beautiful wood. This was my latest pear project: instagram.com/p/CUqpBy5j_BF/

[@carlcarlamos9055]

Just saw something on the Bradford pear yesterday. In South Carolina they are going to block it’s sale when nurseries run out of stock. It’s invasive and crowds native trees, so they want to eliminate it. Which is easier said than done, as it spreads from roots and bird dropped seeds. Thanks for the videos. Take care.

[@TheSnekkerShow]

@@carlcarlamos9055 Very interesting, I just read up on that. Sounds like SC woodworkers should get their bandsaws ready.

[@fiveoboy01]

What's your opinion on nominal sizing? :P

[@TheSnekkerShow]

I want to start paying for lumber and plywood with nominal dollars.

[@fiveoboy01]

@@TheSnekkerShow BAHAHAHA goteem