Source for 1/16 @ 1/32 Plywood

[Ken Culbertson]

Is there any source for reasonably priced plywood?  Is there a substitute we could use for electric?  Could we perhaps laminate 1/64 Basswood or use 1/8"?  It is not that bad if you don't have to bend it.
Prices have gotten out of control.  .5mm carbon fiber sheets are cheaper.

ken

[fred cesquim]

Is there any source for reasonably priced plywood?  Is there a substitute we could use for electric?  Could we perhaps laminate 1/64 Basswood or use 1/8"?  It is not that bad if you don't have to bend it.
Prices have gotten out of control.  .5mm carbon fiber sheets are cheaper.

ken

have you tried Balsa USA or aircraft spruce? prices are good and sellection is great

[Dick Byron]

Amazon has 1/32 ply at $9.88 each. 12x12

[Steve Berry]

Ken, try this...

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/wppages/finnishbirch.php

Full size sheets are 4' x 4', and half sheets are 2' x 4'. Overall, not too bad of prices.

Steve

[Dennis Toth]

National Balsa has it on sale now - https://www.nationalbalsa.com/collections/birch-plywood

Best,   DennisT

[Rusty]

I agree with Ken 100%.   The prices of light plywood is ridiculous.  It's more than I am willing to pay. 

What I would like to know is WHY???  I understand balsa being ridiculous because other people wanted the available wood and paid more to get it.  However. what is the reason light birch plywood is so expensive?  That is not in demand like balsa.

I am glad I have more than enough kits to last my lifetime.  I will stop scratch building.

Happy New Year!

[Brent Williams]

I wonder if .027" poplar veneer could be substituted for plywood in some applications, doublers, ect.  https://www.homedepot.com/p/PureEdge-24-in-x-96-in-Poplar-Real-Wood-Veneer-with-10-mil-Paperback-903773/312591265

[Dave_Trible]

Ken, try this...

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/wppages/finnishbirch.php

Full size sheets are 4' x 4', and half sheets are 2' x 4'. Overall, not too bad of prices.

Steve

I got three 2'x4' sheets from them recently.  Very good quality birch hard plywood.   I don't use light ply.  Hard balsa is about as strong,  and you can laminate it like plywood.  I understand there is only one manufacturer of birch aircraft ply left-and in Finland.  That is what is driving the price.  Aircraft Spruce was very fairly priced but of course shipping something this big isn't cheap-so I bought enough to last for a few years I guess.  There is a video somewhere that shows how it is made and is very interesting.  The wood is shaved off a log paper thin with a giant razor blade type thing,  then glued together.....

Dave

[Ken Culbertson]

National Balsa has it on sale now - https://www.nationalbalsa.com/collections/birch-plywood

Best,   DennisT

All I need is 1 sheet of 1/16 or 1/32.  Since they have a $50 minimum, I have to buy stuff I don't need.  With shipping the price was $73.  I passed.  I ordered a sheet (plate they call it) of .5mm CF delivered for $11. That is about 1/48"  I may be thinking about making my own "plywood".  Problem is find veneer locally that is not iron 0n or paper backed.  I wonder if 1/64 Iron on placed glue to glue then ironed would work?

Ken

[spare_parts]

I bought some 1/16" 3 ply sourced from the jungle site for the laser. Typical cheap stuff, country of origin unknown. It looked OK initially, then warped sitting on the table a few days after unwrapping. The plies separated fairly easily in areas, but I've only used one sheet so far. Smaller parts would probably be fine after gluing, but I'm not sure I trust it for larger structural parts. Of course, your results may vary as one order or vendor may have substantially varied quality.

Searching google for 1/32 seemed to return a fair price for Midwest ply at Menards. Unfortunately,  it looks like they're discontinuing it. It didn't come up in my searches when I ended up buying from scamazon. I'll have to stop there today to see what they have.

I didn't realize there was an Aircraft Spruce warehouse so close to here. Will try them next time.

[Steve Berry]

All I need is 1 sheet of 1/16 or 1/32.  Since they have a $50 minimum, I have to buy stuff I don't need.  With shipping the price was $73.  I passed.  I ordered a sheet (plate they call it) of .5mm CF delivered for $11. That is about 1/48"  I may be thinking about making my own "plywood".  Problem is find veneer locally that is not iron 0n or paper backed.  I wonder if 1/64 Iron on placed glue to glue then ironed would work?

Ken

Ken, I just checked. Aircraft Spruce does have a location in Fort Worth, (Aircraft Spruce - CENTRAL, 600 Railhead Road. Suite 236, Fort Worth, TX 76106). Might be able to simply call them up and order it for pickup there.

Steve

[Dave Moritz]

Ken

And where might we find the .5mm carbon fiber? Thanks!

Dave Mo…

[Ken Culbertson]

Ken

And where might we find the .5mm carbon fiber? Thanks!

Dave Mo…

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093H4PBYD?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Won't know till tomorrow if it is exactly what I want.  I have some 1mm that I used for my flap gizmo mount that was great.  .5 is in-between 1/32" and 1/64" for reference.  Actually it is 1/51"  My 1mm mount was lighter than the 1/16" birch plywood one it replaced.
I gave some .5x3x400mm strips on the way for TE reinforcement (flaps never warp once these are on them) and some .6x5x400mm for spars.  I am on a CF Binge!

Ken

I am sure there are better and cheaper, for sure, places other than Amazon BUT you actually get it, and ususlly on time.