1/8" plywood question

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 10:12 am

I'm building some panel traps according to Ethan's plans, but I am having some difficulty locating 1/8" plywood, but i have located 1/8" MDF in 4x8 sheets.

Does anyone know if this is an acceptible substitue?

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 10:18 am

Hmm... I did see that this has been answered recently in another thread - MDF is not acceptable.

I shall have to search for 1/8 in plywood... unless anyone knows of a source at Home Depot / Lowe's that I am not aware of? Asking one of their employees is like playing the lottery - sometimes you get an intelligent soul, and sometimes you get someone who will just lie and say they don't have it because they aren't interested in helping you.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 10:36 am

Ask for luan plywood.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 12:28 pm

Phantasm (what's your name?),

> I am having some difficulty locating 1/8" plywood <

It's definitely available, but not at Home Depot and other mass-market places like that. And as Eric said, Luan plywood is fine. Keep checking around and you should be able to find it. There are three lumber yards near me that carry 1/8th inch, and two of them even have the nicer looking birch veneer type.

--Ethan

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 12:57 pm

Fan Tasm,
At what type of supplier did you find 1/8" MDF?

JZ

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 1:10 pm

If you get Luan plywood, make sure that it is not called Luan 5.2 plywood which is 3/16" thick.

You may need to call a store that specializes in "specialty hardwoods" in order to locate 1/8" plywood.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 1:48 pm

Ok, I changed my display name.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

I was able to find 1/8 MDF at Lowe's. I'll look again tonight to see what else they've got, I was in a rush earlier.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 1:55 pm

I'm calling around and the most common answer I get is that they have 1/8" paneling, but no plywood. Still calling...

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 1:58 pm

Wouldn't paneling do the job? How would the density compare to plywood? The density of the material determines the target frequency absorbed.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 2:01 pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Eric Best:
Wouldn't paneling do the job? How would the density compare to plywood? The density of the material determines the target frequency absorbed.

I guess that's what I'm fishing for here... If paneling will work, It is for sale at home depot and lowe's. I'm going to paint it anyway.

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 2:27 pm

Hi Daniel,

> If paneling will work <

I don't think so. One problem with paneling is it has grooves cut into it, so it won't flex the same way as plywood that has a smooth and consistent surface.

--Ethan

Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2003 3:09 pm

Masonite/hard board? Is that a viable option?

As for the luan, I had this thought earlier about it too- it is VERY dry and VERY stiff. Does the lower density of luan compared to that of plywood have a enough of an effect for it to matter? Luan is also much stiffer due to the low moisture among other things. Hardboard is dense and consistent in texture.
And option #3: Buy the 1/4" thick and belt sand it down to 1/8 inch. Yeah, that'll work reeeeeal well. Very Happy

(Ethan, Jon- any ideas my "Deaf guy..space utilization" post?)

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 3:45 am

Jeff,

> Masonite/hard board? <

Who knows? There are lots of materials that might work, but the only way to know for sure is to test them. Which as I point out in my FAQ is very expensive. And not only is the testing itself expensive, but you have to make a bunch of them because you can't get a reliable result testing just one.

My gut feeling is that masonite is not good because it's too soft. But a hardwood board is probably good. Solid wood is much better than plywood for making violins and cellos.

--Ethan

Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 9:18 pm

I got 1/8 inch Birch finish one side HomeDepot sku# 728927005006 15.97 per 4 X 8 sheet. They also have Oak finish. Works great for high bass traps

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2003 7:40 am

Call around for 'door skins.' 1/8" 3x7 plywood sheets I've been able to find at Lowe's and Home Depot fairly regularly.

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