:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/a-man-moving-a-large-piece-of-wood-in-a-workshop-176925868-57c9a87c3df78c71b638e0f0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Figuring out Plywood Sizes and Varieties")
As you retailer for plywood to your woodworking duties, you need to to consider not solely the numerous grading classifications, however moreover the best way wherein whereby plywood panels are sized. Buying at a big-box home coronary heart could lead you to think about it’s a simple matter of choosing 4 x 8 sheets in thicknesses of 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, or 3/4-inch, nonetheless it is not that easy—significantly for those who occur to retailer at a specialty lumberyard or woodworking present outlet.
Thicknesses
Most plywood merchandise acceptable for use in woodworking duties are marketed as 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, 5/8-inch, or 3/4-inch thicknesses, nonetheless it is important to know that these are nominal sizesnot exact dimensions. Merely as constructing lumber nominal sizes differ from exact dimensions, the an identical is true of plywood sheet gadgets:
| NOMINAL VS. ACTUAL SIZES | |
|---|---|
| 1/4-inch | 11/32 |
| 1/2-inch | 15/32 |
| 5/8-inch | 19/32 |
| 3/4-inch | 23/32 |
Specialty woodworking retailers might carry plywood in additional thicknesses, much like 1/8-inch (3/32) panels for use as a going by way of supplies.
Although with 1/32-inch distinction wouldn’t appear to be rather a lot—and it will not make rather a lot distinction in robust constructing work the place the tolerances are a lot much less demanding—it is going to most likely turn into an issue in precision woodworking. As an illustration, if a woodworker is establishing a bookshelf the place a “3/4-inch” plywood shelf is positioned proper right into a dado slot decrease with a 3/4-inch router bit, there’ll doubtless be a extremely noticeable 1/32-inch gap, and the shelf will actually really feel a bit sloppy inside the dado. To battle this, the dado have to be decrease at 23/32 inch to verify an accurate match. All excellent cabinetry and woodworking duties should keep in mind the variations between nominal and exact measurements of plywood and totally different picket boards.
Many retailers now label plywood merchandise with the exact thicknesses, along with the nominal thicknesses.
Plywood Sheet Dimensions
Huge-box home enchancment services normally promote sanded pine or hardwood-faced plywood acceptable for woodworking duties in customary 4 x 8-ft. sheets. There moreover may be 4 x 12-ft. sheets on the market by specific order (these larger sheets will normally be in-stock at predominant lumberyards). Residence enchancment services may also promote “endeavor panel” plywood gadgets in 2 x 2-ft., 2 x 4-ft. or 4 x 4-ft. sizes. These endeavor panels are sometimes sawn to dimension from large panels by the store to satisfy native demand.
Specialty woodworking outlets sometimes further choice (and as well as larger prices), selling various hardwood-faced plywood panels in sizes ranging from 12 x 30 to 24 x 48 inches. Baltic birch plywood panels (a kind of plywood consisting of birch veneers all by way of) are sometimes purchased as 5 x 5-ft. panels.
Why Nominal Sizes Differ From Exact Sizes
In framing lumber, the excellence between the nominal dimension (how a board is labeled) vs. its exact dimension comes about as a result of planing and drying course of, which shrinks a board from the scale it had when it was initially milled. For example, a stud-grade pine board is initially milled to a precise 2 x 4-inch dimension, nonetheless the next drying and planing course of shrinks the board to about 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches in dimension.
With hardwood boards purchased in outlets, the excellence in nominal vs. exact dimensions is commonly about 1/16 inch; it is the outcomes of the planing course of used to finish the board faces. Woodworkers should protect this in ideas when using robust hardwoods of their duties.
With plywood merchandise, the excellence between nominal and exact thickness comes about as a result of sanding course of used to finish the face of the panel after the layers have been glued and dried. This sanding typically removes 1/32 inch from the face of the plywood.