|
What ply for bins? |
Post Reply 
|
Page <12 |
| Author | |
Meat Substitute 
Registered User 
Joined: 10 July 2020 Status: Offline Points: 125 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Posted: 13 November 2025 at 6:58am |
|
I've used tropical hardwood ply before. In France okume plywood is very common at DIY shops. The outer face is nice and hard (and often really nice looking IMHO) but it is made with softer cheaper inner plys which are often a mess. In the UK I bought some B&Q 12mm cheapo ply recently and was pleasantly surprised how good it was. I reckon it'd work ok for cabs. Depends what it's gonna do and for how long. The okume didn't make bad cabs in the end but it was full of voids that had to be tracked down, filled and sanded. Smaller pieces that ended up with voids in just had to be remade multiple times. Added a lot of work. I've also made cabs out of MDF, chipboard and various scrap.
|
|
 |
|
|
fudge22
Registered User
Joined: 26 July 2022 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 263 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 13 November 2025 at 8:49pm |
The best way to check the quality of plywood is to check the certification code it is stamped with. It should have something like the following S EN 314-2 Class 2 CE 2+ BS EN 13986 S means it is structural grade EN 314-2 Class 2 The 314-2 is the testing classification, and the class 2 the performance level, either 1, 2 or 3. Class 2 meets standard bond for humid conditions The CE 2+ system means the factory is under third-party audit control EN 13986 is the framework that defines how you prove it meets EU construction requirements. The advantage of Baltic Birch is that it is a furniture grade plywood, optimised for quality of finish and ease of manufacture. If you are knocking out loads of boxes you probably don’t want to be spending time fixing imperfections. Also everyone just knows it is far superior and anything else is just crap. Having just checked online, A random supplier of Baltic Birch at £146 per sheet is rated EN314-2 CE2+. The surface finish is BB/BB. It doesn’t specify a bond rating so probably class 2. Wickes non structural ply at £37 per sheet is rated BS EN 13986, BS EN314-2 class 2. The surface finish is B/BB (B is slightly better than BB) The structural ply at £39 a sheet is similar, but is class 3 so suitable for wet use. The surface finish is rated B/CC. From personal use The Wickes non structural hardwood ply is heavier and has a better finish than the structural ply. All of the above will make decent cabinets, The Baltic Birch is nicer to work with but at a cost. Just avoid anything that is not certified. |
|
|
|
|
Steve20131
Registered User
Joined: 28 July 2013 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 460 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 15 November 2025 at 4:36pm |
|
Try both, remember also you might make mistakes too and cut wrong. Could try a cheap 12mm hardwood version first. Wickes have a sale on that
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
Page <12 |
| Tweet |
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Topic Options
you can normally tell if its good ply just by the laminates. If its got 13 laminates for 18mm ply its likely gonna be good but if it has 5 / 7 or 9 layers its basically shuttering ply and no good for speakers