Could be boaty ... need sheet wood but not plywood

[JumbleDuck]

For a work project I need to get hold of some thin flat wood which isn't plywood. In an ideal world it would be 5mm thick and a metre square, but this may be too much to ask, and anything down to 30cm square would be fine.

Any bright ideas?

 

[Graham_Wright]

For a work project I need to get hold of some thin flat wood which isn't plywood. In an ideal world it would be 5mm thick and a metre square, but this may be too much to ask, and anything down to 30cm square would be fine.

Any bright ideas?

No but can you not use plastic? Widens the availability enormously.

 

[Poignard]

For a work project I need to get hold of some thin flat wood which isn't plywood. In an ideal world it would be 5mm thick and a metre square, but this may be too much to ask, and anything down to 30cm square would be fine.

Any bright ideas?

6mm MDF?

(Veneered if it's going to be seen)

 

[sarabande]

providing that wood to those dimensions is going to be very expensive in newly-sawn / prepared timber.


The best suggestion I can make is to peruse the old wardrobes and cupboards in 2nd hand furniture dealers. Old and unfashionable furniture often has large pieces of solid wood at the back.

 

[bedouin]

For a work project I need to get hold of some thin flat wood which isn't plywood. In an ideal world it would be 5mm thick and a metre square, but this may be too much to ask, and anything down to 30cm square would be fine.

Any bright ideas?

Must it be a single sheet?

The only wood I can think of for that would be Balsa wood - but not sure if you can get it in that sort of size.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Thanks, all. Must be wood, so MDF and plastic out, and can't be balsa, alas. Could be thinner, though, if anyone knows a good source of non-decorative veneer.

 

[Graham_Wright]

providing that wood to those dimensions is going to be very expensive in newly-sawn / prepared timber.


The best suggestion I can make is to peruse the old wardrobes and cupboards in 2nd hand furniture dealers. Old and unfashionable furniture often has large pieces of solid wood at the back.

+1

 

[nigelmercier]

I've recently had the same problem, although I wanted 14mm thick. In the end I decided to make my own sheet from strips of timber glued together with Cascamite ("Stronger than the wood itself ...") which I bought on Amazon http://amzn.to/1ttP9NB

I haven't quite figured out how to hold them in place while it cures though ...

 

[parbuckle]

Boards of 5mm have very little structural strength so before the advent of plywood anything of this gauge would be fixed in a frame as support so as previously mentioned I would look for old panel work.

 

[alahol2]

For a work project I need to get hold of some thin flat wood which isn't plywood. In an ideal world it would be 5mm thick and a metre square, but this may be too much to ask, and anything down to 30cm square would be fine.

Any bright ideas?

Is this stuff too thin? http://www.thewoodveneerhub.co.uk/Wood-Veneers-Constructional-Veneers-2.5mm-Constructional-Veneer/c1_8_105/index.html

 

[JumbleDuck]

Is this stuff too thin? http://www.thewoodveneerhub.co.uk/Wood-Veneers-Constructional-Veneers-2.5mm-Constructional-Veneer/c1_8_105/index.html

Thanks - I shall investigate. They mention up to 4mm, which would be nice.

 

[nigelmercier]

I'd be interested to know the application.

I chose not to use ply because I need it to hold screws, but it may be that my reasoning is unfounded.

 

[prv]

Trees don't come in thin sheets, so sawn timber (as opposed to engineered board) generally doesn't either. If you do find a short length of a very wide plank, it won't be as stiff and stable as you may expect from plywood.

Pete

 

[JumbleDuck]

Trees don't come in thin sheets, so sawn timber (as opposed to engineered board) generally doesn't either. If you do find a short length of a very wide plank, it won't be as stiff and stable as you may expect from plywood.

That's the idea!

 

[alahol2]

I know you said not plywood but if it's bendable you are looking for how about... http://www.lathamtimber.co.uk/ProductDetail.418.html

 

[nickd]

I've recently had the same problem, although I wanted 14mm thick. In the end I decided to make my own sheet from strips of timber glued together with Cascamite ("Stronger than the wood itself ...") which I bought on Amazon http://amzn.to/1ttP9NB

I haven't quite figured out how to hold them in place while it cures though ...

errr Clamps might be good

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Lanarkshire Hardwoods have some massive logs and the machinery to cut them. Google and call the guy he may be able help. Perhaps a thin ring which a 1m x 1m x 5mm section could be cut out, can be sawn from a log, tricky I would imagine. The old wardrobe idea sounds good.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Old wardrobes are a good idea - I've just broken up a wardrobe and ended with a pine back, 2 pine inner sides and two mahogany sides, all about 20" wide and 5' long x 15/19mm thick. Very useful and nicely seasoned.