Lack of Baltic Birch Plywood

[Vet]

Here in the midwest it's my understanding and experience that baltic birch plywood is extremely hard to find.  One proposed explanation is the war with Russia and the Ukraine is limiting the product.   Wondering what other thoughts there are on this subject or if the one explanation I gave is valid..

 

Thanks

[kmealy]

I went to buy some two years ago (pre-Ukraine invasion).  The local mill had one sheet left, 1/2" even though I was looking for 1/4"   They said they could not get any due to "supply chain issues".  Before I left, I called another dealer and they had none at all, so I bought the 1/2".  I needed to fill a spot that was bigger than 48" but less than 60" so I needed 5x5 baltic birch.

[Smallpatch]

Woodworkers Source in Arizona has a few store and the last time I checked which was about a week or two ago they had all thicknesses but they can't ship the 5x5 pieces so they cut it up in like 6 pieces of 30 x 20 or other sizes but the only way they can sell the 5x5 pieces is if you go to one of their stores which is in Phoenix or Tucson and the shipping of the cut up sizes is about the same as the prices of the wood itself...so when I do order it I get enough to divide the shipping cost in to lots of pieces.

   And by the way they make you feel like you are the one and only person that matters so I like to get their notes they add in the shipments or while waiting for the stuff to get here..lots of guys there and they all seem to have a great sense of humor.

[Smallpatch]

And check out their site!

[Vet]

36 minutes ago, Smallpatch said:

And check out their site!

Thanks for the replies.  I did go to the website and I see a 5x5 1/2" baltic birch at $110.  Ouch.....  Two years ago I was buying 5x5 sheets for $25.  Last year $50 and this year doesn't seem to exist here... These are the days of our lives.... 

[knockonit]

was just in store yesterday ( rocklers) and they had 3x5 for around 50 bucks or less, i saw 49. plus or minus didn't see what size but they had three different stacks, so assuming qtr, half and .75 or there abouts, seemed to have a bit of it, again, only saw the one sign with above noted amount, 

good luck, i stocked up a few years ago, with a few sheets of each and fortunately have not needed any for projects ,uh knock on wood

rj in az

 

[4DThinker]

Just watched a woodworker's YouTube video who was making cabinets and he complained the 4x8 sheets of 18mm BB were $250 per sheet.  I've put off visiting my hardwood source for project material until gas is back down to $2.50/gal or less. If it never gets that low again I'm content to keep raiding my scrap bins for pieces I can glue up to make useful planks. 

[knockonit]

lol, boy howdy you must have one heckuva scrap bin for ply, me thinks he ll, will freeze over before we see at least in Arizona below 3 buck gas, i'm a hoping even a little less for diesel, but me thinks hand writing is on wall, 

good luck

rj in az

[4DThinker]

1 minute ago, knockonit said:

... you must have one heckuva scrap bin for ply.

rj in az

I'm retired now and already have a full house of projects, so I don't have any demand for plywood other than to satisfy my own design curiosity.  I do have a good supply of hardwood scraps though, and usually I can throw together enough for a small table or smaller project when my boredom needs a distraction. 

I've got some deck chairs that have seen the sun too long which I've started tearing apart to see if any of the wood can be revived/salvaged.  Not too promising so far. 

4D in KS

[Vet]

All I know is it sucks bad!!! I would like to think there is an alternative plywood to the bb, that I know will still be high priced, (cause everything is high) but will allow me to make a decent drawer.  I'll have to check with some cabinet makers soon as when winter rolls in the saws start up.

[knockonit]

I've been finding some decent deals on materials from ''going outta biz'' shops ect, a couple seconds lumber  yards here sometimes have the premade drawer sides, available, with rabbit for drawer bottom ect, all out of good ply, usually in different widths and lengths, i tend to grab enough for a few drawers each time i go, tend to lean toward the longer ones as most drawers i'll build will be for std, 24'' deep cabt. so can cut down, 

hope you find the goods, my vendors tell me prices will probably go up a tad, says sees no droppage of price for a bit. 

Rj in az

[Smallpatch]

I might be wrong guys but my understandings are Baltic Birch plywood from Russia only comes in 5 x 5'  size .

  My daughter called me one day from Austin, Tx and said she had been at a cabinet shop and they had lots of cut offs or small sizes of 3/4" Baltic Birch and most sizes were in the 20 x 16 or close both ways and do I want her to bring a load to me the next time they come to see us. And she said it would be free to me.. Wow, you bet. I'll take all you can get.

  I don't know why some people like to take advantage of female population but this was the worse 3/4" plywood I have ever had in my shop. To start with the top and bottom both were very very thin ply's and was very brittle.  Then I found made in Taiwan on the side of the ply's  and lots of plys doubled over each other which even American made usually stays away from that kind of a mess. Why would a cabinet shop guy lie to a lady????

 

 

[Vet]

20 minutes ago, Smallpatch said:

I might be wrong guys but my understandings are Baltic Birch plywood from Russia only comes in 5 x 5'  size .

  My daughter called me one day from Austin, Tx and said she had been at a cabinet shop and they had lots of cut offs or small sizes of 3/4" Baltic Birch and most sizes were in the 20 x 16 or close both ways and do I want her to bring a load to me the next time they come to see us. And she said it would be free to me.. Wow, you bet. I'll take all you can get.

  I don't know why some people like to take advantage of female population but this was the worse 3/4" plywood I have ever had in my shop. To start with the top and bottom both were very very thin ply's and was very brittle.  Then I found made in Taiwan on the side of the ply's  and lots of plys doubled over each other which even American made usually stays away from that kind of a mess. Why would a cabinet shop guy lie to a lady????

 

 

All of the 1/2"stuff I've ever had has always been great quality for drawers.  Even at $25 for a 5 x 5.   I've never dealt with any 3/4" stuff.

[John Morris]

We have plenty of it here on the Left Coast, So Cal to be exact, but I am not sure the cost. Hmmm, I'll have to check on that. I'll give my supplier a call and find out, it may be worth shipping if the cost is low enough.

Thanks for posting Vet!

[Smallpatch]

Sherri I forgot you read my things I post but that did tick me off for someone taking advantage of a person that wasn't savy on plywood or any thing else for that matter as you or anyone else would put their trust in to what the cabinet shop guy would tell anyone. But its also guys that are told the wrong things especially about Baltic Birch plywood.

   You guys haven't retired yet until you sell out and move to somewhere that ain't nobody ever heard of especially if you move to the other side of a big city that us old folks don't like to drive through.

[Vet]

3 hours ago, John Morris said:

We have plenty of it here on the Left Coast, So Cal to be exact, but I am not sure the cost. Hmmm, I'll have to check on that. I'll give my supplier a call and find out, it may be worth shipping if the cost is low enough.

Thanks for posting Vet!

Yeah I'm curious to know the cost and if shipping costs would make it a possibility.  Thanks

[Smallpatch]

John I just read where your officials out there have come up with some strange laws that will effect lot of people in Cal.  No fuel driven vehicles can be sold after a certain date, then they say so go and buy electric vehicles then last week they say they want no one to drive electric vehicles after 4:00 pm because they electric grid might blow up and go caput. I know there is a time line in there but that might make a lot of folks want to move to Texas so we will have to pass some laws saying no no not to here. Our elected officials are already losing their minds over more simpler situations.

Edited September 5, 2022 by Smallpatch

[4DThinker]

I thought it was that no one was to charge their cars after 4:00pm. Reasoning is that when folks get home from work all the air conditioners get turned on or temp lowered to deal with the heat.  Getting rid of gas powered vehicles is to help clean the air.  

[Smallpatch]

You might be right but that is still saying one thing then a few days later it adds insult to injury kinda language.

[Ron Dudelston]

I can’t speak to the Baltic birch but cabinet grade 3/4” oak plywood is non existent.  My regular supplier, Frank Miller Lumber, has none.  They said that they might be able to get some with a 6 week lead time.  I just bought 4 sheets of oak plywood at Gillman Home Center for $90 a sheet.  It measured .717 and was made in Indonesia.  It worked but the dust from it was nasty.