RE: [bolger] Any experience with Finland Birch Marine Plywood?
Here's my 2 cents, for what it's worth:
I own two folding kayaks - a Klepper and a Nautiraid, both have wooden
frames. The Klepper (1967 vintage) has ash laterals and plywood mahogany
floors, reinforcements, etc. The Nautiraid (built in 1995) is also mostly
ash with floors, etc. of Finnish Birch, same thickness as the Klepper's
(thin! haven't measured it). It may be partially due to the age, but the
Klepper's plywood is very brittle, whereas the Nautiraid's is very flexible
and springy. I recently revarnished the Nautiraid frame, and where the
plywood had been stressed (middle of floor, no support underneath, feet
often land there getting in/out) it was slightly discolored, where the grain
of the wood had stretched and cracked the varnish along the grain, allowing
water in; but it held up well and was only slightly graying. I've already
had to fiberglass underneath all the floors of my Klepper where they've
busted out. Since around the early 1970's, Klepper now uses Birch as well,
which may say something.......... The birch seems very resilient and strong,
good glue. I think it would be find if well encapsulated in epoxy; I don't
know how long it would withstand soaking though.
Paul Lefebvre
The Woods Hole Research Center
P.O. Box 296
13 Church St. (UPS/FEDEX delivery only)
Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
(508)540-9900; fax (508)540-9700
paul@...http://www.whrc.org
I own two folding kayaks - a Klepper and a Nautiraid, both have wooden
frames. The Klepper (1967 vintage) has ash laterals and plywood mahogany
floors, reinforcements, etc. The Nautiraid (built in 1995) is also mostly
ash with floors, etc. of Finnish Birch, same thickness as the Klepper's
(thin! haven't measured it). It may be partially due to the age, but the
Klepper's plywood is very brittle, whereas the Nautiraid's is very flexible
and springy. I recently revarnished the Nautiraid frame, and where the
plywood had been stressed (middle of floor, no support underneath, feet
often land there getting in/out) it was slightly discolored, where the grain
of the wood had stretched and cracked the varnish along the grain, allowing
water in; but it held up well and was only slightly graying. I've already
had to fiberglass underneath all the floors of my Klepper where they've
busted out. Since around the early 1970's, Klepper now uses Birch as well,
which may say something.......... The birch seems very resilient and strong,
good glue. I think it would be find if well encapsulated in epoxy; I don't
know how long it would withstand soaking though.
Paul Lefebvre
The Woods Hole Research Center
P.O. Box 296
13 Church St. (UPS/FEDEX delivery only)
Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
(508)540-9900; fax (508)540-9700
paul@...http://www.whrc.org
> -----Original Message-----
> From:glen_gibson@...[mailto:glen_gibson@...]
> Sent: Friday, June 02, 2000 4:54 PM
> To:bolger@egroups.com
> Subject: [bolger] Any experience with Finland Birch Marine Plywood?
>
>
>
>
> My local exotic woods retailer has a reasonable price on "Finland
> Birch Marine
> Plywood, 100% birch throughout. Grade S/BB. I'll be using it in 3/8".
>
> Any feedback or knowledge on such a thing?
>
> Thanks in advance, I really appreciate the great responses to my
> many questions!
>
> Thank!
>
> Glen @ finishing main mast, moving onto the hull !!!!
>
>
>
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>
>
>It's generally accepted here (in Finland), that birch rots easily,
>
>
> My local exotic woods retailer has a reasonable price on "Finland Birch Marine
> Plywood, 100% birch throughout. Grade S/BB. I'll be using it in 3/8".
>
> Any feedback or knowledge on such a thing?
and it is not used for boatbuilding at all.
The preferred local woods for boatbuilding are fir (Picea abies)
and pine (Pinus silvestris); this goes for plywood, too.
I think Finnish birch plywood is pretty high quality as plywoods go.
However, this "quality" just means that the surface is very even and
uniform and that there are few or no knots and voids. It doesn't mean
durability. I have never seen birch plywood advertised as being good
for *marine* use.
Sakari Aaltonen
My local exotic woods retailer has a reasonable price on "Finland Birch Marine
Plywood, 100% birch throughout. Grade S/BB. I'll be using it in 3/8".
Any feedback or knowledge on such a thing?
Thanks in advance, I really appreciate the great responses to my many questions!
Thank!
Glen @ finishing main mast, moving onto the hull !!!!
Plywood, 100% birch throughout. Grade S/BB. I'll be using it in 3/8".
Any feedback or knowledge on such a thing?
Thanks in advance, I really appreciate the great responses to my many questions!
Thank!
Glen @ finishing main mast, moving onto the hull !!!!