Plywood is an engineered wood made from thin sheets of veneer (also called plies, hence the name). The sheets are glued together in alternating right angles to form a cross-grain pattern. The criss-cross structure of the board adds strength and stability to the material. This helps in minimising shrinkage and warping of the furniture in the face of humidity or changing temperature.
Features of Plywood
- The number of plies determines the thickness of the board, which is available in odd numbers for dimensional stability. The minimum number of plies is 3, while 5 and 7 plies are also commonly available.
- Grades of plywood define the quality and appearance of the board, with ‘A’ signifying the best quality and ‘D’ the lowest.
- The boards are commonly available in sheets of 4’ x 8’ or 3’ x 7’, with thickness ranging from 1/8th inch to 1 ¼ inch.
- To prevent off-gassing, buy plywood that is manufactured using ‘green’ processes. Don’t forget to ensure that all surfaces are sealed completely.
- Due to its layered construction, plywood cannot be shaped or routed like MDF.
- Exposure to water can cause damage to the board. However, this is minimized in case of water-resistant and waterproof boards. They are also known as Marine boards.
- The surface is raw and must be finished using laminate, veneer or paint.
Plywood Furniture Ideas
- Resistant: One of the most important differences that distinguishes plywood from timber boards is two fold: plywood is durable throughout the entire board, instead of just along the grain and is resistant to exterior factors. To contribute to this natural strength, we offer treatments for high durability in humid conditions, such as the Durable Range. In addition, we can include value-added finishes and overlays, such as decorative laminate.
- Customizable: Plywood comes in a great variety of sizes, including larger sheets, which makes furniture building easier. In addition, the number of finishes and options available to you guarantees you will find the perfect fit for your next project.
- Lightweight: Poplar plywood is incredibly lightweight which, in comparison with other materials, makes it much easier to maneuver and transport.
Types of Plywood
Softwood plywood is manufactured from a long-grained, homogenous timber with straight fibres. Its veneer structure gives it considerable strength and rigidity. They are light, easy to work with and can be installed easily.
It is thin but has high strength along with heat resistance . Structural aircraft-grade plywood is more commonly manufactured from African mahogany or American birch veneers that are bonded together in a hot press over hardwood cores of basswood or poplar.
This plywood is for decorative purposes and is made from oak, teak, mahogany, etc. Decorative plywood is easy to dye and draw on as compared to other Plywoods. It is often surfaced with hardwood and Formica, metal and resin-impregnated paper or fabric bonded added on top of this kind of plywood on both sides, making it ready for use in the decoration field.
- FLEXIBLE PLYWOOD:
As the name suggests, this kind of plywood is flexible and is also called by names such as ‘flexi- ply’, ‘bendi-ply’ and ‘hatter’s-ply’. It is used for making curved parts and in some countries, it is not considered plywood.
- MARINE PLYWOODS:
We will have to change this to a dark looking Ply Marine plywood is manufactured from durable face and core veneers that make it perform longer in humid and wet conditions and resist delaminating and fungal attack.
