Is this ply suitable for my first build

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   Ive been recommended the following timber merchant and wondered if this ply is suitable for my first builds?http://www.beaumontforest.co.uk/timber-sheet-materials/certified-plywood/certified-hardwood-plywood
The others under that area appear to be soft wood, though the above has a BB/CC designation (as I understand, knots etc), though if I do build these they will be covered under tuffcab

The only other suitable I can find is http://www.beaumontforest.co.uk/timber-sheet-materials/marine-plywood/marine-plywood-bs1088 though thats double the price and for a first build, maybe not the best idea!

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IainB Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 25 November 2016 Location: Rushden Status: Offline Points: 422	Post Options Post Reply Quote IainB Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Is this ply suitable for my first build Posted: 05 May 2017 at 10:23pm
	Ive been recommended the following timber merchant and wondered if this ply is suitable for my first builds? http://www.beaumontforest.co.uk/timber-sheet-materials/certified-plywood/certified-hardwood-plywood The others under that area appear to be soft wood, though the above has a BB/CC designation (as I understand, knots etc), though if I do build these they will be covered under tuffcab The only other suitable I can find is http://www.beaumontforest.co.uk/timber-sheet-materials/marine-plywood/marine-plywood-bs1088 though thats double the price and for a first build, maybe not the best idea!

I-shen Soundboy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 21 December 2016 Location: Big Smoke Status: Offline Points: 375	Post Options Post Reply Quote I-shen Soundboy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2017 at 12:08am
	Jesus no, for that price you can get the good stuff. Birch is the word, and it'll have all birch plys 1.4mm thick, not the barely compressed sawdust some plywood uses in between the veneers. If you absolutely can't stretch to Baltic birch, B&Q do MDF sheets for £16.

ceharden Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List The 10,000 Points Club Joined: 05 June 2005 Location: Southampton Status: Offline Points: 11776	Post Options Post Reply Quote ceharden Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2017 at 12:08am
	For the highest quality builds you, birch ply is the only real option. However I suspect in your case the ply you have chosen will be fine. It won't have the final strength and finish, especially on the end grain as birch ply but it'll still make perfectly usable cabs. From experience, the first cabs you build probably won't last that long before you decide to build some more to replace them. Or, has happened to me, I've tested a prototype once then it's pretty much immediately ended up on the bonfire because I've got it wrong!

I-shen Soundboy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 21 December 2016 Location: Big Smoke Status: Offline Points: 375	Post Options Post Reply Quote I-shen Soundboy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2017 at 12:20am
	I'll elaborate: A skilled professional might be able to get shoddy ply or OSB to behave enough to make a solid cabinet, but I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner. MDF isn't much nicer (toxic dust, troublesome edges) but it does make for a good cabinet, albeit without the ruggedness of birch plywood, and it's cheap enough to practice on. Once you've used birch plywood you won't want to work with MDF again, so perhaps get that in first...?

shagnasty Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 30 July 2007 Location: Guildford, UK Status: Offline Points: 7685	Post Options Post Reply Quote shagnasty Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2017 at 3:12am
	this is about a tenth the price.... :- http://www.diy.com/departments/birch-plywood-th18mm-w1220mm-l2440mm/27596_BQ.prd The stuff you linked to isn't even shuttering ply , more packaging grade....

IainB Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 25 November 2016 Location: Rushden Status: Offline Points: 422	Post Options Post Reply Quote IainB Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2017 at 11:40am
	Thanks everyone, thats saved me some money! More to this than meets the eye, every day is a learning day atm Shame B&Q dont sell the one they have on their site though...bizarre

I-shen Soundboy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 21 December 2016 Location: Big Smoke Status: Offline Points: 375	Post Options Post Reply Quote I-shen Soundboy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2017 at 5:48pm
	Birch plywood prices went north last year after Fuxit, so a lot of demand dried up/stockists stopped stocking.

Shortrope Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Young Croc Joined: 08 July 2013 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 1232	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shortrope Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06 May 2017 at 6:04pm
	Plenty here in Ireland it seems. €37exc vat a sheet.
	My Tinnitus is coming along nicely!!

IainB Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 25 November 2016 Location: Rushden Status: Offline Points: 422	Post Options Post Reply Quote IainB Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 May 2017 at 3:40pm
	Ever think your doomed on your first build Finding Birch ply has been 'fun' to say the least, phoned my chosen supplier 'yes sir, we have loads in stock' drive all the way over there.... 1 sheet in store and the rest is offsite in a storage warehouse, someone may / may not get it today (depending if they can find a driver), Ive rapidly lost my **** and have now sinned and gone to B&Q Yes... its not birch, but for first build, I will throw things around, make mistakes and I can save the good stuff for my next one On the upside, the money Ive just saved has been spent on a few tools I needed, so now I have new toys to play with as well

odc04r Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 12 July 2006 Location: Sarfampton Status: Offline Points: 5482	Post Options Post Reply Quote odc04r Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 May 2017 at 4:33pm
	As you say, don't bust a nut building your first cabs. Investment in good tools instead is much wiser over the long term