Birch Plywood vs Sandy Ply?

[Al St. Aubin]

My daughter in law had a desk in storage that she really liked and had for many years. It got damaged by water. My question for the infinite level of knowledge and wisdom on this site is, What is better for stain quality and durability, 1/2 in Birch ply or Sandy ply that is sole at the Depot?

Also should I get the Mini kreg for pocket holes to attach quarter round to the edge of the ply or just glue and brad nail? or would the regular kreg work with this?

 

Thanks in advance

[Ken Darga]

Al,

Birch pw is much better than the ''sandy ply, since you are planning to stain it.

Sandy ply is okay if you're going to paint over it.

Lots of surface imperfections, splinters,  that'll need to be filled and sanded---

then sealed before painting.

Also have seen some panels with lots of warpage.

Attach the trim using glue and brads.

[ray vile]

the birch that you get from the big orange store is so much nicer than the sandyply, if you want to stain it it has alot more grain patern then the sandy ply, i really like the wildness that the birch ply that comes frome the home depot i sometimes use the minwax natural stain on it and cover it with wipe on poly it's beautiful

[Al St. Aubin]

Thanks guys for the help. I do want to stain it and then poly or some protective surface.  Will post project as I progress with it.

[Rick]

The birch ply is a closed grain like maple or cherry.  The Sande ply is open grain like oak or mahogany.  This will affect the appearance.

More importantly is the quality of the plywood.  Some of the Chinese junk at the Home Depot has delaminating plys inside, a paper thin outer veneer, and warping due to improper drying.

Recently I found some better birch plywood at Lowe's and bought a bunch.  Made in the USA, less voids, better glue, and a much thicker veneer. 

Edge-banding won't need pocket screws unless it's real thick like a 1x2.  I like to glue and brad nail, but have to be careful not to smear the glue on the face, since it then won't take stain.  You can also use tape to clamp during glue-up.

[Al St. Aubin]

Thanks for the help, I am thinking of banding it with !/4 round or 1/2 round molding.

[Ken Darga]

FYI

I visited the neighborhood HD, and looked over some newly arrived 1/2'' sandy ply.

Several panels looked good---clean---smooth---no warpage.

The prices on the panels were more costly to birch plywood.

The top layer of the sandy ply was about (.03) thick vs 

1/16'' on the birch plywood.

Ken Darga said:

Al,

Birch pw is much better than the ''sandy ply, since you are planning to stain it.

Sandy ply is okay if you're going to paint over it.

Lots of surface imperfections, splinters,  that'll need to be filled and sanded---

then sealed before painting.

Also have seen some panels with lots of warpage.

Attach the trim using glue and brads.

[Ken Darga]

Rick,

I discussed, with one of the employees, at a neighborhood HD, and he said they don't get any lumber from ''China''---

it all comes from the USA lumber mills. 

Rick said:

>>>...the Chinese junk at the Home Depot.../p>

[Rick]

Not any more.  I guess they listened to their customers.

I have definitely seen better quality cabinet grade plywood $45-50/sheet at SLowe Depot.  For a while there I was buying pricey baltic birch.

Ken Darga said:

Rick,

I discussed, with one of the employees, at a neighborhood HD, and he said they don't get any lumber from ''China''---

it all comes from the USA lumber mills. 

Rick said:

>>>...the Chinese junk at the Home Depot.../p>