Chinese firewood...I mean plywood!

It is unfortunate that substandard products find their way to market. From a woodworker’s perspective, it is a shame that we end up with sheet goods that do not meet expected standards. I would think aside from making a profit, that these economies would want to establish a reputation for quality. Having a poor reputation is worse than not having one at all.

Anyway, I am glad you were able to recover your investment, but you still lost time and effort in this transaction. I guess paying $70 a sheet for good sheet goods looks pretty good given the options.

Dalec

Don’t burn it! It might contain lead….

-- --Chuck

Hi Dadoo,

Thanks for the post. I just bought some maple plywood at Home Depot for 46.88 a sheet. I looked at it but couldn’t seen any tag on it. I suspect that it is the same thing that you bought at Lowe’s. I will watch it and see if it develops the problems that you had.

But at least you got good service at Lowe’s. A lot of stores would not have credited you with the cut sheet.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Don’t feed it to your dog! It might contain melamine…

I have a similar story of “Birch Plywood” that I bought from my local orange box. A 2’x4’ sheet cost me $15 and some change. After I cut it to the dimensions I wanted, it just curled up like a potato chip! I have jut about resigned myself to using heavy carcinogenic MDF :(

Incidentally, I bought the more expensive birch plywood from one of the wood working supplies chain. The 20”x30” sheet I bought looked worse than the other and the cuts were badly chipped. Luckily, they have remained usable.

I have to say, quality plywood is pretty much unavailable or extremely expensive. I just hope that the smega stores get the message and stop carrying junk.

-- Praki, Aspiring Woodworker

Wow Dadoo, that sucks more than a dust collector. A huge thanks for letting us know. Use it to make a satellite dish… no shaping involved. Or maybe one of those modern one-piece chairs? Or maybe an outfeed table for my tortoise shell table saw?

-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us

Thanks for the warning!

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

First, shame on me, I knew better after reading horror stories about this stuff. Now I’ve used exactly one sheet of this crap and I will do without before using it ever again. Trouble is, I bought it from my “real” cabinet supply company. Sheesh! Apparently shame is in shorter supply than crappy plywood.

always,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

once again. proof that really cheap is usually expensive.

-- making sawdust....

Motthunter is correct.

If you want nice fresh oats you have to pay the price. If you wants oats that have already been through the horse they are much cheaper.

-- There is no such thing as scrap wood!,

GOOD Posting it is definitely worthwhile knowledge to share with all
- Thanks

-- Bill - - Ad-Marketing Guy, Ramsey NJ

I’m pretty sure that Lowes and Home Depot only carry China plywood now. I only use the stuff for shop projects now. I buy the $100+ plywood for other projects at my local hardwood supply house. Maybe we should start a write in campaign to see if we can get HD or Lowes to bring in some quality lumber?

-- DaveH - Boise, Idaho - “How hard can it be? It's only wood!”

I like what Mr. Herron said about getting our local discount hardware stores to stock some better quality, cabinet grade ply. Unfortunately if they switch over the better quality stuff they no longer are a discount hardware and Wally World will edge them out as they have all the other small speciality sotres. Personally I can’t afford expensive stuff. I guess this ply may be OK for small projects that do not have long sheets that can twist or curl. I also noticed that the finished layer is very thin. “Do Not” sand should be stamped on it. Any sanding of this ply will burn right through the outer layer and leave a fatal blemish only suitable for painting.

Chinese plywood is also sneeking into sheathing grade plywood for floors, construction etc. It’s also complete garbage.+

-- Paul

I can’t believe the things they market as “select, cabinet grade, and A/C” at those big box scores. I go there and their select plywood had at least 5 places where they cutout the veneer and replaced it. They didn’t even try to match the veneer either. on half of them the repairs grain was running in the opposite direction. It’s a shame.