Ply offcut needed. Top quality, bottom quantity. Where to look?

[Greenheart]

I'm wanting to construct something from wood, to fit around the GRP of the dinghy. I'm sorry to be vague about its purpose, but even though I'm confident it'll work, I'd sooner not endure the inevitable mockery.

Silly thing is, I only need about a single square foot of 18mm, to do the job. It'd need to be top grade marine ply.

Do companies like Robbins sell pieces that small?

 

[status]

Robbins appear to sell marine ply 18mm by the quarter sheet.

http://www.robbins.co.uk/pdf/Marine_Pricelist.pdf

Page four.

And no, I was not doing the research for you, I have just bought two quarter sheets my self!

 

[David2452]

Have you considered HDPE http://www.directplastics.co.uk/hdpe-sheet easy to work as ply, sold cut to size and will never rot.

 

[Georgio]

Have you considered HDPE http://www.directplastics.co.uk/hdpe-sheet easy to work as ply, sold cut to size and will never rot.

Now that's a usefull supplier than has been added to my Favorites.

 

[Norman_E]

What is the UV resistance of natural colour HDPE like?

 

[reeac]

Don't you have a friendly boatyard? That's where I always get such requirements ...located in Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk.

 

[Georgio]

Where are you Dan, I think I have some 18mm marine ply in the garage as long as you don't mind it's cherry veneer. Happy to swap for an RNLI donation. I'm just north of Portsmouth.

 

[Cardo]

This is where I got the various bits of marine ply for our projects:
http://bamptons.co.uk
In Southampton, if you're anywhere near.

 

[bert49uk]

I once needed some marine ply and was told by a boat repairer, not to waste my money as exterior or even shuttering ply would do, he said to go to builders merchant and look through there stock and pick a sheet that had a good finish, got a good one, job done.

 

[Georgio]

I once needed some marine ply and was told by a boat repairer, not to waste my money as exterior or even shuttering ply would do, he said to go to builders merchant and look through there stock and pick a sheet that had a good finish, got a good one, job done.

He is not a boat repairer that I would want to use, exterior ply from the likes of B&Q/Wicks is total carp IMO.

 

[JesseLoynes]

A local boatyard would be a good try. Whereabouts are you?

But one thing, do offer to pay for it. For some reason there is a common misconception that boatyards don't need small bits of ply or timber. I have been asked for an "offcut" of 18mm ply 4' by 3'! And that was expecting me to hand it over free. Boatyards do just as many (in fact, many times more) small jobs as anyone else, so the idea that we have no use for anything smaller than half a sheet is utterly baffling. Sorry, just a little personal rant.

On the other hand, you'll be amazed what a couple of quid in the tea and biscuit kitty will get you in terms of materials, help and good will.

 

[VicS]

I'm wanting to construct something from wood, to fit around the GRP of the dinghy. I'm sorry to be vague about its purpose, but even though I'm confident it'll work, I'd sooner not endure the inevitable mockery.

Silly thing is, I only need about a single square foot of 18mm, to do the job. It'd need to be top grade marine ply.

Do companies like Robbins sell pieces that small?

You Emsworth or Chichester area ??

http://www.woodenboatsforever.co.uk/ ( previously Dolphin Quay Emsworth)

http://www.nickgates.co.uk/ ( Seanick of these forums)

 

[Greenheart]

Many thanks for these answers and kind offers. I'm usually London-based at the moment, so I daresay there's no shortage of offcuts, all around. I may even have found just the piece of wood I need, at home. I'm hoping SWMBO won't notice the starboard side of the bed, sagging in the absence of a leg.

 

[Hadenough]

He is not a boat repairer that I would want to use, exterior ply from the likes of B&Q/Wicks is total carp IMO.

Not so. I am refitting at the moment and decided to go for exterior WBP ply for internal work but use "marine" ply for exterior. Comparing the exterior WBF I got from Wickes to the expensive "marine" ply I got from another "reputable" supplier the Wickes stuff is much better. Proof being in the exterior finish and the number of voids exposed when cutting. You may question the glue but I have had a piece of Wickes ply in a bucket of sea water for 6 months now with no sign of delamination. Unless you need a decorative skin I wouldn't bother with "marine" ply. I will agree though that B&Q ply is rubbish, Wickes seem to have a different supplier.

 

[Greenheart]

I will agree though that B&Q ply is rubbish, Wickes seem to have a different supplier.

I'd hoped that rather than good and inferior suppliers of ply, there might be an established quality grading, which could be relied upon whoever sells it. Not so?

 

[single]

Any reason it has to be ply? Whats wrong with the tip for a piece of old teak wardrobe door or something?

 

[simon barefoot]

The quality of all ply has dropped to a desperate level recently, particularly WBP, the laminations are all over the place and barely glued in some places. I don't know if the manufacturers are having to use eco stick without enough balls to do the job, but some sheets are nigh on unusable!

 

[Hadenough]

I'd hoped that rather than good and inferior suppliers of ply, there might be an established quality grading, which could be relied upon whoever sells it. Not so?

There is, you'll find it printed on the corner of a full sheet. Lottery to find it on an off cut though.