• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Promotivia

Ideas. Innovation. Excellence.

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Construction
    • Education
    • Family
    • Furniture
    • Health
    • Pet Care
    • Swimming Pool
    • Technology
  • Ask a Question
  • Contact Us

Matching Plywood Core to Your Project Requirements

Last updated on August 30, 2012 by Sozo Staff Leave a Comment

Why is plywood so widely used? The stability of quality ply is one of the main benefits of using this manufactured lumber product in place of solid wood. However, cheaply made plywood lacks this major benefit, often cupping like a potato chip or coming apart altogether. While grading may help you find the right front and back face quality you need, the current grading system does nothing to describe the all-important core. The significance of the core materials and quality increase exponentially when the face veneer is thinner, since a thinner face wood offers less support than a thicker face does.

McIlvain Company, one of the country’s top lumber wholesalers, has built a centuries-long legacy of supplying premium hardwood lumber. They now supply only the most well-made plywood on the market, extending their well-earned reputation for quality. Such top-notch plywood is as difficult to come by, as low-quality products are plentiful, so in order to make sure that the plywood that you purchase has what it takes to get your job done right the first time, you need to properly match the product to your project. In fact, if your supplier doesn’t ask you how you plan to use the plywood when you place your order, you should probably look elsewhere.

Understanding the significance of a few common core options can help you navigate the sometimes confusing sea of the plywood core options.

Veneer Core

This popular interior is composed of veneers with alternating grain patterns; the veneers range in thickness from 2mm to 6.5 mm and create a stable substrate. To judge quality, consider this rule of thumb: The smaller the veneers and the more layers, the more stable the end product.

While some gaps between veneer layers cannot be avoided, their number and size should help you determine the grade of the plywood sheet. Veneer species typically vary by manufacturing locale, and while species type has little to no impact on the grading, it can be a significant factor in which supplier you choose. Veneer-core plywood has excellent capacity for holding screws and is the most commonly encountered plywood core type.

MDF and Particle Board Core

These two distinct core types have something major in common: They’re composite substances in and of themselves. Made of wood particles glued together, they make for a consistent, uniform substrate sandwiched between face veneer. While they boast higher stability than plywood with solid wood cores, they are also much heavier. Particle board will be lighter than MDF, but its edges often splinter easily.

Since MDF is essentially comprised of dust, its increased weight is balanced out by its high stability, strong edges, and easily-millable substrate. Both MDF and particle board core ply were once infamous for their inability to hold screws well, but newly designed screws with wider threads have made that a complete non-issue.

At McIlvain Lumber Company, we currently supply exclusively MDF and Veneer Core Plywood. You can be assured that our inventory consists of a high-quality selection of these popular products. For more information on McIlvain’s huge inventory of plywood types and domestic and exotic hardwoods and softwoods or to learn more about why they’re an industry leader, visit their website today. And for insider tips and woodworking tricks, check out these selections from McIlvain’s lumber blog:

  • Confused by Plywood Pricing? Plywood Grade Prices Explained Here!
  • Do You Really Need Marine Grade Plywood?
  • The Importance of Buying From the Importer of Record

Filed Under: Construction

Additional Articles

walt disney world ipe boardwalk
Is Composite Decking or Tropical Decking Better for Boardwalk Construction? Part 3
ipe boardwalk at johns pass
Is Composite Decking or Tropical Decking Better for Boardwalk Construction? Part 2
disney boardwalk ipe
Is Composite Decking or Tropical Decking Better for Boardwalk Construction? Part 1
backyard inground pool and luxury contemporary home
Adding to the Outdoor Ambiance with Extras
metal fencing around pool
Adding to the Outdoor Ambiance with Structures
multi layer paths steps around pool
Adding to the Outdoor Ambiance with Pathways

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

15 + 3 =

Primary Sidebar

Quality Wood Products
Plywood options

Featured Articles

  • Matching Lumber Color Is Trickier Than It Seems – Part 1
  • Good News for Forests & the Future: Why We Should Start Considering B Grade Lumber
  • Building an Ipe Deck That Lasts for Decades, Part 1
  • Lumber Pricing, Demystified (Part 1)
  • Why Do Large Timbers Have Cracks? Part 1
  • Is Lumber Sustainable?
  • Evaluating Issues Surrounding Teak, Part 1
  • FSC Lumber, LEED Certification, and the Price of Being Green
  • Mahogany Alternatives: A Wood Worker’s Top 3 Picks
  • Outlook for Genuine Mahogany’s Future, Part 1
Tropical Decking Lumber

Popular Articles

  • Expandable Children's Furniture at The Bedroom Source
  • African Mahogany Lumber vs Genuine Mahogany Lumber
  • The City Way: Taking Your Child’s Bed to the Next Level with Maxtrix!
  • Perfect Furniture for a Boy's Bedroom, Pt 1
  • Perfect Furniture for a Boy's Bedroom, Pt 2
  • How Do You Treat Reactive Attachment Disorder?
  • Ultra-Budget-Friendly Swimming Pool Upgrades
  • Why Sleep Is Important for Young Athletes
  • Why Parents Love Jackrabbit Class Management Software

Reader Feedback

  • DSP on Pool Maintenance Tips for Salt Water Pools, Part 1
  • Zachary Tomlinson on Amazing Benefits of Pool Ownership, Part 1
  • Zachary Tomlinson on 3 Types of Pool Covers, 3 Distinct Purposes
  • Afton Jackson on Bathroom Remodeling Ideas: Can You Use Wood in the Bathroom?
  • Alice Carroll on 4 Types of Vinyl Pool Liners
  • Afton Jackson on So You’re Adding an In-Ground Swimming Pool? Here’s What You Can Expect
  • Zachary Tomlinson on Why You Should Consider Installing a Backyard Swimming Pool – Part 3

Copyright © 2023 Sozo Firm Inc · Privacy Policy · Disclaimer · Sitemap