Swindleries/interesting conversation

[NPMR]

Came across the supplier of marine ply to our local 'wood specialist' this morning.

Says he "Its a bugger that 'they' charge £55 a sheet; loads more than he gets!"

Says I, "Can I buy from you?"

"Yes please" says he.

And he does planed timber for Travis/Jewsons locally. They put 200-300% mark up on!

Shame he is only interested in local business as he can only just cope with what he's doing now!

As ever, it pays to hunt around.

 

[sighmoon]

There are different grades of marine ply, or so said someone who was going to supply me with a marine ply dinghy.

He only said this when I questioned his assertion that there was no marine ply in the country, so I'd have to wait a few months while he sat on my money. Does anybody know if it's true?

 

[NPMR]

The pile of Marine Ply I saw looked impressive to me.

No doubt there are different grades or manufacturers but I suspect 'Marine Ply' is a nominal standard somewhere.

The next grade is WPB is it not ? Water and Boil Proof. Not the same but reckoned to be OK for yacht interiors (non structural).

My WBP ply, home-made dinghy, made in 1989 is still going strong (literally!) and is being adapted, even as we sit here*, by me, to turn it into a lug-sail dinghy to tow behind us when we take the family to the R. Helford, so I can sail and play at sailing with the grandchildren, rather than getting sand in my 'trollies' with a bucket and spade on the beach!!

* OK, the kitchen is awash with varnished spars and tiller/rudder etc!

SWMBO is not in 'noticing mode' as we have No 3 son in intensive care, coming out of a major operation News is good so far!

 

[john_morris_uk]

[ QUOTE ]
No doubt there are different grades or manufacturers but I suspect 'Marine Ply' is a nominal standard somewhere.

[/ QUOTE ] Marine Ply is supposed to indicate that it is made to the British Standard BS1088. Basically this specifies what glue is used and is supposed to guarentee that there are no voids in the laminate. I am not sure if it says anything at all about the quality of the timber used in the laminate -one of the reasons for the widely different pricing. There are all sorts of qualities of ply that meet the same standard! For exmple, if you want teak faced marine ply you will pay more.

WPB uses the same glue but has no gaurentee regarding the 'no voids' in the laminate.

 

[Keiron]

Robbins timber in Bristol are good for timber and I found them cheaper than my local builders merchant. They apparently supply a fair few boat builders.
Keiron

 

[john_morris_uk]

[ QUOTE ]
Robbins timber in Bristol are good for timber and I found them cheaper than my local builders merchant. They apparently supply a fair few boat builders.
Keiron

[/ QUOTE ]I agree that Robbins are good - not so sure about them being cheap!!

 

[boatmike]

Thats pretty well correct. I would add though that there are wide variences in the number of plys for a given thickness too. Usually good quality ply like "Bryazeel" (I think thats right spelling) has for say 12mm ply up to 11 laminations where cheap and nasty far eastern stuff only has 5. Also the wood used for the core is pretty soft. Agree Robbins are good suppliers, there are others though. Shop around locally. If you see "Lloyds approved" it will be more expensive but better. Last time I looked there was some excellent stuff made in Israel. Kosher in all respects!

 

[richardandtracy]

At one stage all the good quality 'Gaboon' ply we used at work came from Isreal.

Regards

Richard.

 

[Ifraser]

Watched an episode of "Groundforce" a while ago Tommy Walsh had a sheet of as he said "Marine Ply" for some creation. he left it out in the rain for one night and the next day it was de-laminated!! Reckon someone saw old Tom comming!!

 

[mikefleetwood]

Regarding NPMR's local wood supplier - how local (I'm on the Lizard)? I could use a good, cheap, supplier of hardwoods. Although I have most of what I need now, I know I will need more! All mine came from "Woodstock", but I've no idea how their prices compare with elsewhere.

 

[JREdginton]

BS1088 maybe/is on the way out. Interestingly enough, many firms still manufacture to 1088. It covered(s) glues, laminates, nominal thickness and so on. Here's a link to a brief description... http://www.worldpanel.com/bs1088.htm

On the WBP front, you can now get FSC (conservancy timber) stamped material, nice for the environment until you lather it in epoxy /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If you are thinking about epoxy (never polyester) sheathing then WBP can have a VERY long life.

John