Baltic Birch Plywood

[Travis]

Hi All.  I'm writing up an article on Baltic Birch plywood for our Articles section and I thought I'd crowd-source some feedback as it relates to scrollers.

• What do you find Baltic Birch most useful for? 
• What kind of projects? 
• How else do you use it? 
• Any tips you'd like to share?

Please share your knowledge and experience. 

 

 

[stoney]

I use BB mostly for fretwork projects.  I have also used it for strength gussets on other wood working projects.

Edited May 1, 2023 by stoney

[BadBob]

I use plywood where strength is an issue.

[scrollerpete]

I use it for fretwork and also for backing 

[Roberta Moreton]

I use 1/8” BB double stacked for fine fretwork. I used to use it for backers as well (now I find less expensive options).

I also liked using BB for Steve Goods wooden weaved boxes. 

[Bill WIlson]

I mostly use BB ply for detailed projects where I need the advantages of strength and stability that it provides over solid wood, ie Christmas ornaments, portraits, some types of word art (overlay), etc.  I use it in projects where I don't want to grain to compete with the cut image, such as backer boards.  I also use it for other WW'ing projects; drawer bottoms, cabinet backs, shop jigs, templates, etc.

[Wilson142]

In the past I used it for fretwork...lately I'm looking at my dwindling supply and using it as an investment.

[Ctutor]

I use thin stuff for Alex Fox's stacked projects where the layers make up the pattern.  Need the strength for some of the very fine details

[Denny Knappen]

My biggest use is the Alex Fox's bowls or baskets.

[rjweb]

I use it for fret work, backers and Christmas ornaments, RJ

[Gene Howe]

I use it when my wallet gets too fat. 

[edward]

I use it mostly for Steve Goods projects like boxes, crosses, and any other things that I build.

[Scrappile]

I pretty much use it only for fretwork pictures, in 1/4" and 1/8" thickness.  I have used it a couple times in boxes, but usually I use hardwoods for boxes.  I use very little of it now that it is running around $60 a 5'x5' sheet.  Might as well by hardwoods.  I also understand there are different grades of BB.  From what I have seen locally lately we are getting mostly the poorer grades.

[MarieC]

I use the 1/2 inch for dovetail drawers for cabinets.  I also like to paint (artwork) on it (1/4 and 1/2 inch).  

[OCtoolguy]

So far, I've only used it to make the Steve Good tissue box covers. I'm not a fretwork guy. If warping is an issue, I might use it.

[Gene Howe]

50 minutes ago, MarieC said:

I use the 1/2 inch for dovetail drawers for cabinets.  I also like to paint (artwork) on it (1/4 and 1/2 inch).  

The 1/2" makes great stock for drawers and other square ish containers. Especially if you use the quarter, quarter, quarter method. 

[NC Scroller]

I use it from portraits, ornaments, gift card holder, layered projects like Alex Fox's, and I also use it for backers.

[preprius]

wooden kinectic sculptures use BB alot. 

I have used 1/8" as backers for intarsia. 

 

[kmmcrafts]

Only thing new I can add that hasn't already been said is jigsaw puzzles.. the kind where you laminate a photo to the 1/8 - 1/4 BBply and cut into a puzzle. I tried regular ply for that once and it was a disaster.. but the BBply has good strength and no voids. I don't make many puzzles anymore but noticed that one hadn't been mentioned yet. I use it for most the other things that others have mentioned already. 

[Gonzo]

All of the above. Plus geared clocks, that in theory, run on a pendulum. I say in theory because the one I made doesn’t run. But it is on my to do list to try making it again. 

[Fish]

I use it mostly for portraits. It has gotten expensive though. $40 for a 4x8 sheet.

[JessL]

I just can't wait to try it! 

[Gene Howe]

6 hours ago, Fish said:

I use it mostly for portraits. It has gotten expensive though. $40 for a 4x8 sheet.

What thickness? I just bought 3 5X5 sheets of 1/2" for $42 per. 

[FrankEV]

I use the 1/4 BB ply exclusively for fretwork art type panel backers.  I use 5/32 in thk solid core project panels for the cut panels. I find even the best quality 1/8 in thk BB Ply is not nice looking enough lacking grain and color.  Also it does tends to warp and will not lay flat.  

Edited May 2, 2023 by FrankEV

[Joe W.]

I'd guess 98% of everything I've cut has been using Baltic Birch - mostly 1/4" with 1/8" second runner up and the rest 1/2".

And about 98% of the patterns have been Steve Good patterns (thanks Steve).
The wood has a uniform color.  Cut easily, takes stain and finishes well.
Is locally available in various sizes, compared to hardwood. 
The quality is better than other plywood available at the box stores (HD/Lowes).
That's my 2 pennies worth.