I can add #1 - don't buy Chinese. Vietnamese. etc., plywood.  Crap interior plies and microscopically thin face veneers.

 

https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/tips-best-plywood-for-your-buck/?_cmp=HandymanPro&_ebid=HandymanPro3102022&_mid=480102&ehid=EBC4D8BEC6F08D97A318788DB78D9A1244AF138A&_PermHash=9053a2376d41cd30183e07b1196eed8a49fa2f9004cc48ff6462b837c1b495c2

 

I few years ago, I build some cabinets for our church.  We used some pre-finished ply for that and I think it worked out pretty well.   They were tucked in an alcove so only the insides of the cabinets were visible.

i'm on the hunt for MDO plywood, for making a table top that will live outdoors.  no idea where it is made.

4 hours ago, DAB said:

i'm on the hunt for MDO plywood, for making a table top that will live outdoors.  no idea where it is made.

Take the title to your truck or deed to the house when you go to pick it up.

Another thing about some of that import stuff is the smell, I've has some that really smelled bad while you cutting it. Of course, finding an occasional piece of metal in it isn't a good thing either. By and large I've tried to stick with USA made stuff and my hardwood dealer stocks Columbia Forest Products plywood which so far has been really good stuff. But like Dave implied, it may take a second mortgage to buy several sheets of it.

11 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Take the title to your truck or deed to the house when you go to pick it up.

$120/sheet.....

2 hours ago, DAB said:

$120/sheet.....

$89 at Menards. But, they ain't no Menards close to you or me, DAB. Our Home Depot and Lowes just have blank stares when you ask about MDO.

4 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

$89 at Menards. But, they ain't no Menards close to you or me, DAB. Our Home Depot and Lowes just have blank stares when you ask about MDO.

their websites show that they carry it, but nothing in stock.  found a source in Albuquerque, 100 mile round trip.  ugh.

4 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

$89 at Menards. But, they ain't no Menards close to you or me, DAB. Our Home Depot and Lowes just have blank stares when you ask about MDO.

 

29 minutes ago, DAB said:

their websites show that they carry it, but nothing in stock.  found a source in Albuquerque, 100 mile round trip.  ugh.

Apparently has come down a bit. Last time I looked (probably 4-5 weeks ago) they were at $109/sheet. At that time had several in the bin. Can't say for sure if it was import or not. Most all of their plywood is. A couple months back, I checked Lowes. On their website for both 1/2" & 3/4", but none was currently available.

23 hours ago, DAB said:

i'm on the hunt for MDO plywood, for making a table top that will live outdoors.  no idea where it is made.

I made one of my bench tops from MDO. One of the carpenters at work told me about. I don’t know anything about brands/grades, but while I was researching it, they talked about HDO. MDO is medium density overlay, and HDO is high density overlay. They use the HDO for the highway signs, and it outlasts the metal signs. The guy at work told me it’s pretty darn flat, and will last a LONG time. So far I love it. From what I’ve read if you seal the sides of it, it will last a LONG time, even outside. 

 Make sure that the scan price at the check-out is the same as the price tag on the rack. Last year at Lowes the rack price for a 2x8x10" was $13.86 and at the check-out it scanned at $18.86. They gave me the $13 price, but I wondered how many people didn't catch the difference.

8 hours ago, DuckSoup said:

 Make sure that the scan price at the check-out is the same as the price tag on the rack. Last year at Lowes the rack price for a 2x8x10" was $13.86 and at the check-out it scanned at $18.86. They gave me the $13 price, but I wondered how many people didn't catch the difference.

These days, it pays to take a photo of every thing you are buying before heading to the checkout.

3 hours ago, kmealy said:

These days, it pays to take a photo of every thing you are buying before heading to the checkout.

Yep, been doing it for sometime especially if marked On Sale or Close Out. I figure I've saved $200-$300 or more last 2 or 3 years when it doesn't ring up the correct price. Show them their marked price plus their UPC code.