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Author Topic: 3mm or 1/8th ply  (Read 2404 times)

MartinGough

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3mm or 1/8th ply
« on: April 12, 2020, 10:46:31 am »

Need some advice on where to buy an 8' x 4' sheet of 3mm or 1/8th plywood
suitable to build a Bearospace Annie model which I have bought the plans for
and which type of ply to use?


Thanks Martin.


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david48

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2020, 11:12:54 am »


For a 8x4 sheet ,finding one of good quality might be difficult ,make very sure it is not from China ,From experience  I bought a  sheet of marine ply when it was cut it was full of voids the ply layers were not even and was full of black glue. Its just a case of buyer be aware.
David   
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Tugtower

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2020, 11:25:39 am »

8’x4’ 3mm sheets of marine ply you can get at a builders merchants, B&Q ,wicks etc will also stock 3mm ply in that sheet size, but I expect won’t be marine grade...(builders merchants can usually deliver too!)


Depending on what your building it maybe better to buy A1 sheets (or similar smaller sizes) from a dedicated hobby store like Cornwall model boats, who only stock good quality, ( they have a range of woods) not that cheap chinese rubbish, as if it’s for frames then A smaller sheet is easier to manage. ( experience tell me this) it’s not always cheaper to buy a large 8x4 even decent marine grades in that size can have hollows etc, remember there primarily used for exterior build work so cuts on large sheets are small and voids don’t effect a building as much as a model.


Most ply not marine grade From hobby stores will need sealing before paint, you can use a sanding sealer but it can affect paint finishes long term... ( cracking etc) so it’s best to seal with epoxy or acrylic lacquer. Both work to seal ply effectively.

roycv

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2020, 11:31:16 am »

Hi for large sheets have you tried your local wood yard?  They may have to order it for you though.
Otherwise Wickes do keep large sheets of ply that might be suitable at 4 fet long and they do a cutting service. I know the plans and can see that it needs to have 1 metre or so lengths of ply.

Great choice of yacht hope we hear how the build goes.

regards
Roy
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Colin Bishop

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2020, 11:51:57 am »

Places like Wickes and B&Q sell exterior ply but I hve found that it is generally of poor quality. Full of voids and splits and delaminates easily. OK if you are boarding a stud partition but nowhere near good enough for quality model boat building.

If you can manage with sheet sizes of  3 feet x 4 feet then use Birch ply from a specialist supplier like SLEC:

https://www.slecuk.com/birch-ply/32mm-18quot-birch-bbbb

Alternatively for various grades of good marine ply have a look at the Robbins site:

https://www.robbins.co.uk/

Colin
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Tugtower

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2020, 12:24:06 pm »

 :-))

misog

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2020, 01:07:42 pm »


Google for somewhere in your area that sells furniture grade birch ply.


It will have patches where the knots were, but that's what a lot of the kit people use.


I'm lucky I have a small timber yard not too far away that has off cuts ( 4' X 1')


Good Luck


Misog
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Gardener

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2020, 01:13:24 pm »

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Capt Podge

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2020, 01:49:43 pm »

The company mentioned previously - slecuk - is where I've been getting my wood supplies from for the last couple of years. Good quality and excellent service. Their sources include sustainable wood from Finland.


Note : I have no connection with them other than as a very satisfied customer  :-))


Regards,
Ray.
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radiojoe

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2020, 02:57:40 pm »


Yeah great sauce of ply/wood, they do an 8' x 4' in 1/8" poplar ply but heaven knows what the postage would be.  :((


Joe
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MartinGough

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #10 on: April 13, 2020, 09:30:28 am »

Thanks for all your replies will get on the phone Tuesday.

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roycv

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #11 on: April 14, 2020, 08:32:24 am »

Hi all, there is a nice youtube video of Annie sailing.  The Bearospaceindustries web site has reference to his other sailing boats and an interview.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6O-7tyc9lM

regards
Roy
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Tug Fanatic

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2020, 08:47:46 am »

The Bearospace models are all specified for "door ply" which is not good quality and a great deal more flexible than the same thickness quality ply sold by the UK model trade.
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Colin Bishop

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2020, 09:25:47 am »

The last lot of 3mm exterior ply I bought from Wickes for a boat case delaminated, came up in bubbles and warped when I started putting paint on it. No way would I use if for modelling.

Colin
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Tug Fanatic

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #14 on: April 14, 2020, 09:47:55 am »

The last lot of 3mm exterior ply I bought from Wickes for a boat case delaminated, came up in bubbles and warped when I started putting paint on it. No way would I use if for modelling.

Colin

I wouldn't use it for a boat case either.  :} :} :}
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roycv

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #15 on: April 14, 2020, 10:50:05 am »

Hi I have a piece of 1/8th. ply I bought to make a tray for a jig saw.  Looking at it, the core is quite thick with only token facing surfaces.  It is cheap!  My last purchase of quality ply was from a woodyard / timber merchant.  Good quality and it may not be marine quality but is possibly 'Thames' quality, if they still do that?
I used to buy larger pieces of ply from the model aircraft flying shows and you have to be quick there as I came back later to one trader and it had all gone.
regards
Roy
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MartinGough

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Re: 3mm or 1/8th ply
« Reply #16 on: April 15, 2020, 12:41:14 pm »

Thanks for all the advice. Ive ended up going with 3mm birch ply from slec.
Not too bad in price considering what it will build.
Regards Martin.

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