Maple plywood cabinet?

[MysteryFever]

I'm building a 2x12 combo cab out of plywood and while I was down at Home Depot I found they carried large sheets of maple plywood. Is this a good option or should I just stick to birch?

[Lonely Raven]

I'm building a 2x12 combo cab out of plywood and while I was down at Home Depot I found they carried large sheets of maple plywood. Is this a good option or should I just stick to birch?

Typically when they say Maple plywood, that simply means it's maple faced and can be any sort of plywood in the middle.

"Baltic Birch" and other "voidless" birches are typically of very high quality, but not necessary honestly, though they are the best.

Maple plywood should be fine as long as it's not full of voids.

[Phil_S]

I've never seen the Maple at HD, but I have seen the Birch. It is not particularly good quality plywood. It's OK for doing a wall or maybe a table, but it's got voids and plugs, making it a bad candidate for a speaker cab.

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware stores carry very nice Baltic Birch, the stuff real cabinet makers use. There is a Rockler in S. Portland, according to their website. I realize that Maine is a big state (been there a few times, real nice place) and have no idea if that's convenient. Also in Cambridge, MA, and Salem NH. There have got to be other places near enough to you. BTW, the laminated wood I bought at the local Rockler store was very reasonably priced and, like I said, many steps up in quality from what you find a the two most popular home center type stores. It is also conveniently sized and you can mail order it if you have to: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=846

Back to your question about the species, I'd say get whatever you like the look of better.

[Markusv]

HD in Canada carries void free 13 layer Russian birch ply
Rock solid

Markus V

[amplifiednation]

HD in Canada carries void free 13 layer Russian birch ply
Rock solid

Markus V

thats exactly what i get too. local lumber store here in massachusetts

[M Fowler]

When I lived in Gilbert. AZ we bought custom built maple ply PA cabs built by a guy in Meza. They were very nice and fun to watch him build the cabs too.

I would just use 13 ply baltic birch.

[KT66]

Ya, that big box Birch plywood is junk, I challenge you to find a piece that isn't warped, and forget about finger joining it. You need to find a specialty lumber place near you, even if they don't stock exactly what you want, they can usually order it for you. Keep in mind that all Baltic Birch isn't created equal - I believe that the best stuff is the kind that comes in 5 X 5 sheets.

I live in the Puget Sound area and get mine from Edensaw.

[MysteryFever]

Cool, I was wondering if I'd have to go to a specialty lumber store to find the right stuff. Just from picking up the HD ply and looking at it, I couldn't tell why it might not be suitable, but I suspected that because I found it at that particular place, there had to be something. Now I know.

[Lonely Raven]

Cool, I was wondering if I'd have to go to a specialty lumber store to find the right stuff. Just from picking up the HD ply and looking at it, I couldn't tell why it might not be suitable, but I suspected that because I found it at that particular place, there had to be something. Now I know.

The best you can do with unknown plywood is check the edges and see if their are voids, and see how many plugs they've used in it, if any at all. Other than that, shop around and find the real void free stuff.

[amplifiednation]

Where are you in Maine? There is a cabinet maker in southern Maine who found some decent ply, it was on the expensive side though. The higher quality stuff is worth the money though. I can shoot him a text he might share his source

[MysteryFever]

That's mighty nice of you Taylor, I'd appreciate that.

I'm right near the capitol, all points south of here are within reasonable driving range. I'd be happy to know where I can get some great ply.

[amplifiednation]

No problemo. He got right back to me.

Mainecoast Lumber in York, ME

They have 13 ply baltic birch according to my buddy.

[MysteryFever]

That's great, I'll look them up!