Replies

1. 
   gfretwell | Jun 28, 2015 10:51am | #1

   The only plywood I am seeing in "inch" sizes is cabinet grade verneer.

2. 
   deadnuts | Jun 28, 2015 10:57am | #2

   Of course it is

   You're going to the wrong lumber yard.

3. 
   BossHog | Jun 28, 2015 12:36pm | #3

   The lumberyard I work at stocks it in CDX and OSB.

   I'm in central Illinois.  You didn't say where you're at.

1. 
   jimmiem | Jun 28, 2015 01:18pm | #4

   5/8" Plywood

   I'm in Massachusetts.....15 miles south of Boston.

4. 
   calvin | Jun 28, 2015 07:55pm | #5

   Jim

   what grade are you after and what's it for?

1. 
   jimmiem | Jun 28, 2015 09:48pm | #6

   5/8" Plywood

   Basement shelves.  Walls are studded and insulated  So I want to hang some shelves to get everything off the floor.  I've used some wire shelving but want something stronger.  I could just use 3/4" plywood, but I had used 5/8" for shelving in my garage many years ago and it did the trick so I figure use it again. 

1. 
   calvin | Jun 28, 2015 10:12pm | #7

   Jim

   Then I wouldn't dwell to strongly on the thickness of material.

   the number of plies and the grade of finish one side available is where I'd concentrate.

   here we can get a ply called Arauco that is beautiful stuff to work with, multiply, fairly thick face veneer at an ac grade.  20-27 a sheet, 3/4 shy.     Usually flat.

   Or

   if edging and painted and want a cab. grade look, MDO ply.  Here I can get it listed at good one side primed and the off side is just as good a finish.  Full 3/4 at 65, 1/2 at ......dunno, maybe 45.  Paints up beautiful.

   if ordered good one side only, backside very well will be c grade and these sheets tend to bow.

   shorter spans and not a ton of weight, the 1/2 is fine though a bit tougher to edge, 3/4 will do it all and more meat to tack nosing to.

1. 
   jimmiem | Jun 29, 2015 08:04am | #8

   Calvin

   A local lumber yard carries the Arauco.  I have used this in the past and based on your recommendation I will use it for my shelves.  Thank You.

5. 
   finefinish | Jun 30, 2015 08:47pm | #9

   Hey Jimmien, I am in Mass too and I have never been to a lumberyard in New England that didn't have 5/8" ply.  Birch and other hardwood veneer ply are usually sold in 1/4", 1/2", and 3/4".  ACX, CDX though are commonly available in 5/8" which is actually 19/32" and sold as such. Half inch is 15/32",  three quarter is 23/32" etc.  Is that possibly the answer to you not seeing 5/8"?

1. 
   jimmiem | Jun 30, 2015 09:40pm | #10

   Finefinish

   You mention ACX and CDX in 5/8" .  I'm probably not paying attention to those grades.  I recall the one time I did buy the 5/8" from a yard.  I  was building a large shelf in the back of my garage....the type that the front end of a car could fit under.  It was 4 feet wide and 12 feet long.  2 X 6 framing (16" OC) and 4 X4 legs.  I was going to use 1/2" plywood for the surface but the salesman recommended 5/8".  I guess I didn't realize that 5/8" only came in specific grades.  The Arauco that Calvin mentioned is 3/4" and I have used that in the past.  

2. 
   gfretwell | Jul 01, 2015 12:08pm | #11

   All of those odd "32d" sizes

   All of those odd "32d" sizes are actually metric, the result of our trade with the rest of the world. That was what I was referring to with my "inch" note.

1. 
   DanH | Jul 01, 2015 04:57pm | #12

   All of those odd "32d" sizes

   All of those odd "32d" sizes are actually metric, the result of our trade with the rest of the world. That was what I was referring to with my "inch" note.

   That and the fact that, similar to "dimensional number", some "even" dimensions of plywood have always been undersized to due to "sanding" (though in most cases they were undersized even before sanding).  The "odd" sizing is simply more honest.

1. 
   gfretwell | Jul 01, 2015 07:35pm | #13

   The difference is plywood was always what they said it was and if you buy cabinet grade it still is (3/4 is really 3/4). This is important when you are cutting rabbets. I ended up buying a few metric router bits.

6. 
   gfretwell | Jul 02, 2015 11:57am | #14

   It is probably not worth arguing about. By now 1980s plywood would have shrunk that much but I do know that if you used a 1/2" or 3/4" router bit, the plywood was a good fit. Now I need a metric bit to get that joint.

1. 
   jimmiem | Jul 02, 2015 01:45pm | #15

   Router Bits for Undersized Plywood

   Infinity has router bits specifically made for undersized plywood.  I would think that other manufacturers have them too.   

1. 
   gfretwell | Jul 02, 2015 03:56pm | #16

   The world uses metric tools and they are becoming widely available here.

   If I buy the stuff that is almost 1/2" it is really 12mm and Ace or Home Depot will sell that bit.

   I usually make things out of verneer plywood if I am doing that kind of jointing so it is not an issue. Just banging out shelving in the garage, the rabbet is not that critical and I might actually be doing it on the table saw.