Baltic Birch Shortage Reason Maybe

[kmmcrafts]

This is copied from a post on FB laser engraving group I'm on.. This doesn't sound good for those that use a lot of this stuff. I'm probably good for a couple years ( If I don't do too much laser work )..

 

Just an added note if people don't know why this stuff has gotten so rare and pricey.

1. Pandemic

2. Baltic Birch is from the Baltic/Siberian regions of Russia, the last couple years have been way warmer then usual during the winter and the ground didn't freeze hard enough for the normal "season" of harvesting trees......heavy equipment in basically swampy wet areas doesn't work

3. Russia has not been exporting logs to China nearly as much as they were because of above reasons (most of the Baltic Birch in the US used to actually be made in China from logs imported from Russia.

4. Moving forward, HUGE sections of the forests used to harvest Birch have been on fire all summer (the forest fires they are dealing with over there are larger then all the fires in the US combined) The bark of Birch is incredibly oily and is amazing for starting camp fires etc. I have seen video of the fires over there and its just dense birch forests all on fire. 

And there are several other contributing reasons that play into it.

That's why I don't expect it to get better any time soon.

 

[Norm Fengstad]

My supply is down, so I better stock up while I can.

[WayneMahler]

Thanks for information. From that it looks like we are going to be this for a while.

[Denny Knappen]

I just got a supply of 1/8" x 12" x 30" Baltic Birch plywood.

[FrankEV]

I like to use the solid core 3/32" thick project panels I get from HD.  I like their Maple but they have been out of stock on the 5/32" thick Maple for some time now.  I'm low on these panels but HD does have Birch panels in this thickness.  It is almost as pretty and nice as the Maple, just a slightly different color.  It is called Birch, but I have know idea if it is "Baltic" birch.  I just placed an order forthree boxes (30 sheets).  

Currently I do have a fairly large number of 1/8" BB ply, but I dont't use it that often.   I also have good stockpile of 1/4" material that I mostly use as backers including:  BB ply and the solid core  Walnut, Red Oak, Mahogany, Cherry and Maple panels as well. 

[OCtoolguy]

14 minutes ago, FrankEV said:

I like to use the solid core 3/32" thick project panels I get from HD.  I like their Maple but they have been out of stock on the 5/32" thick Maple for some time now.  I'm low on these panels but HD does have Birch panels in this thickness.  It is almost as pretty and nice as the Maple, just a slightly different color.  It is called Birch, but I have know idea if it is "Baltic" birch.  I just placed an order forthree boxes (30 sheets).  

Currently I do have a fairly large number of 1/8" BB ply, but I dont't use it that often.   I also have good stockpile of 1/4" material that I mostly use as backers including:  BB ply and the solid core  Walnut, Red Oak, Mahogany, Cherry and Maple panels as well. 

Frank, what do you nean by "project panels"? Are you referring to their hobby wood or have I overlooked something? What dimensions do they come in?

[kmmcrafts]

50 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said:

Frank, what do you nean by "project panels"? Are you referring to their hobby wood or have I overlooked something? What dimensions do they come in?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-5-32-in-x-1-ft-x-1-ft-7-in-PureBond-Birch-Plywood-Project-Panel-10-Pack-5534/315126783

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-5-32-in-x-1-ft-x-1-ft-7-in-PureBond-Walnut-Plywood-Project-Panel-10-Pack-5107/312981163

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-5-32-in-x-1-ft-x-1-ft-7-in-PureBond-Maple-Plywood-Project-Panel-10-Pack-4940/312284408

[FrankEV]

1 hour ago, kmmcrafts said:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-5-32-in-x-1-ft-x-1-ft-7-in-PureBond-Birch-Plywood-Project-Panel-10-Pack-5534/315126783

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-5-32-in-x-1-ft-x-1-ft-7-in-PureBond-Walnut-Plywood-Project-Panel-10-Pack-5107/312981163

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-5-32-in-x-1-ft-x-1-ft-7-in-PureBond-Maple-Plywood-Project-Panel-10-Pack-4940/312284408

That's them.  The vaneer on these panels is a better grade than the common BB Ply.  They are intended for Laser an Crcuit cutting and are refered to as Project Panels..

[dgman]

1 hour ago, kmmcrafts said:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-5-32-in-x-1-ft-x-1-ft-7-in-PureBond-Birch-Plywood-Project-Panel-10-Pack-5534/315126783

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-5-32-in-x-1-ft-x-1-ft-7-in-PureBond-Walnut-Plywood-Project-Panel-10-Pack-5107/312981163

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Columbia-Forest-Products-5-32-in-x-1-ft-x-1-ft-7-in-PureBond-Maple-Plywood-Project-Panel-10-Pack-4940/312284408

Of course now that links have been posted on these products, the prices will go up!

[OCtoolguy]

Thanks to all!

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, dgman said:

Of course now that links have been posted on these products, the prices will go up!

Sorry about that,   I won't post any links in the future to help keep prices down,

 

[kmmcrafts]

1 hour ago, FrankEV said:

That's them.  The vaneer on these panels is a better grade than the common BB Ply.  They are intended for Laser an Crcuit cutting and are refered to as Project Panels..

I'm on several laser groups and forums.. never once seen mention of this stuff.. I'll keep quiet on it as those laser boy go through some ply.. Only wood I see mention on those laser sites is BB ply.. and most use the 1/8" .. Those guys buy the stuff by the skid.. I might buy a package of this stuff and try it in my laser.. If it don't work well then I can at least scroll it. 

[lawson56]

OOPPS, I had better run out to my local lumber store and stock up, they still had a tall stack last week, I hope that stack has shorten all they way down.

[kmmcrafts]

Jinxed myself, went to the HD site to maybe order a pack of these to try and because I posted the link you guys bought it all.. Guess I could buy the walnut pack.. I find dark colored wood for laser engraving and even scroll sawing detailed stuff that the darkness doesn't show up the details as well... Maybe if I put a light color behind it.. but the light color is sold out.. See if I help you all out with links again, 

[William Eicehelberger]

I just wet to Paxton Woods and bought 2 5X5 14 BB Ply for $37.08 each that's about $10 more than 2 Mo.. ago that's $1,50 PR Sq., ft.. If it don't go down I will wish I bought more. I do stil have plenty of 1/8 BB so will be ok for a while . I guess that's life behind the saw.

IKE

[BadBob]

When they first started selling Columbia Forest Products a Home Depot you had to order it at the pro desk and you could only get it in 4x8 foot sheets.

I'm going to have to buy some and give it a try now that they are available in smaller pieces.

[BadBob]

Columbia Forest Products also has Europly in 1/4″, 1/2″, 5/8″, 3/4″ and 1″. It's similar to baltic birch. Home Depot only has the 3/4" inch on their web site so its out of stock or they don't sell it.

 

There is also a hardwood plywood called. ApplePly if you can find it.

Edited September 25, 2021 by BadBob

[OCtoolguy]

I just checked all 5 stores near me and none of them have any and won't even accept my email address to notify me when it comes in. Probably gone forever now.

 

[kmmcrafts]

48 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said:

I just checked all 5 stores near me and none of them have any and won't even accept my email address to notify me when it comes in. Probably gone forever now.

 

Boy, I really messed up posting those links.. 

[dgman]

1 hour ago, kmmcrafts said:

Boy, I really messed up posting those links.. 

yup!

[OCtoolguy]

We can walk about a mile down to what is called "The Wetlands" and have a view of Catalina Island and the Long Beach Harbor area. The cargo ships are lined up as far as the eye can see waiting to get into port for offloading. Just about everything we all are waiting for to fill the shelves in our stores is sitting on those ships. Hopefully those boxes of wood are out there.

[OzarkSawdust]

On 9/23/2021 at 4:05 PM, FrankEV said:

I like to use the solid core 3/32" thick project panels I get from HD.  I like their Maple but they have been out of stock on the 5/32" thick Maple for some time now.  I'm low on these panels but HD does have Birch panels in this thickness.  It is almost as pretty and nice as the Maple, just a slightly different color.  It is called Birch, but I have know idea if it is "Baltic" birch.  I just placed an order forthree boxes (30 sheets).  

Currently I do have a fairly large number of 1/8" BB ply, but I dont't use it that often.   I also have good stockpile of 1/4" material that I mostly use as backers including:  BB ply and the solid core  Walnut, Red Oak, Mahogany, Cherry and Maple panels as well. 

How do they cut Frank? When I first started out I tried cutting core type stuff from a big box store...very bad. It would always break off pieces, usually the last one or two cuts, and crumble. Someone here explained what true Baltic birch plywood was and I ordered it...MUCH better! I've never used anything else from that day on. I get my BB from Ocooch and use Pegas blades exclusively now, but I'm open to other, less expensive  ideas.

[FrankEV]

2 hours ago, OzarkSawdust said:

How do they cut Frank? When I first started out I tried cutting core type stuff from a big box store...very bad. It would always break off pieces, usually the last one or two cuts, and crumble. Someone here explained what true Baltic birch plywood was and I ordered it...MUCH better! I've never used anything else from that day on. I get my BB from Ocooch and use Pegas blades exclusively now, but I'm open to other, less expensive  ideas.

Athough they are available through HD, they are not the typical big box store type product as they are very high quality panels, as the price indicates, intended for laser cutting.  I much prefer to cut them then BB pyly.  The vaneer is of a much better quality for finishing and I found that there are no voids. Also, the grain in the vaneer is much more uniform than the BB ply.   

[Joe W.]

i ordered a box of the Maple from HD a few months ago and am pleased with the way it cuts and looks.  Last I looked, it was close in price to BB.   

[Dave Monk]

On 9/23/2021 at 4:05 PM, FrankEV said:

I like to use the solid core 3/32" thick project panels I get from HD.  I like their Maple but they have been out of stock on the 5/32" thick Maple for some time now.  I'm low on these panels but HD does have Birch panels in this thickness.  It is almost as pretty and nice as the Maple, just a slightly different color.  It is called Birch, but I have know idea if it is "Baltic" birch.  I just placed an order forthree boxes (30 sheets).  

Currently I do have a fairly large number of 1/8" BB ply, but I dont't use it that often.   I also have good stockpile of 1/4" material that I mostly use as backers including:  BB ply and the solid core  Walnut, Red Oak, Mahogany, Cherry and Maple panels as well. 

Is the core of your solid core ply MDF