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Fir AB Clear plywood

5/28/14       
Joseph D. Christman  Member

Website: IntegrityDesignBuild.com

The architect Frank Gehry popularized the use of "construction grade" fir plywood amongst Modern designers many years ago, and it is still a popular look here in our market.
Unfortunately, not only is it an unstable material to make cabinet doors with, it is also inconsistent in appearance. If we get ABX or AB Marine, there are footballs on the good face. If we go with AB Clear, it sometimes appears that the face is fir and sometimes the grain pattern and color are looser and paler, like a larch or pine.
(Thank goodness I have a good relationship with my local supplier, because they let me pick through their material to find acceptable boards for the last project like this.)

We are bidding a project that will require 3 units of this plywood.

Can anyone suggest:
a manufacturer or a spec that will improve consistency of appearance?
and/or
any potential veneer supplies for this material that we could lay up?


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5/28/14       #2: Fir AB Clear plywood ...
Bruce H

It's only related to money. Most mills will custom lay up whatever you want. The look you are after was made popular before the material was junk. Now you take what you can get, just include the "foot ball" patches in your bid and design.

The reason it was used in the first place was because it was cheap and the architect could put more money in his pocket.

5/29/14       #3: Fir AB Clear plywood ...
David R Sochar Member

I believe the rotary faces, the footballs, and the voids all relate to the 'honesty' of the material - the integrity of the tree, with its natural flaws, is transmuted into the panels, bringing that purity and simplicity into the architect's project. Obfuscation justified.

5/29/14       #4: Fir AB Clear plywood ...
Bruce H

David, that is a good response!

5/29/14       #5: Fir AB Clear plywood ...
David R Sochar Member

Response yes, but of no help to the OP's valid question.

I use Indiana Architectural Plywood for custom layups, and have used Forms and Surfaces and a few others.

You just have to specify the faces and core you want, then work with them. The rotary may be hard to do in less than t/l quantity, though. Sliced would look better, but also quite different. And you probably will not get the Resorcinol glue lines - the purple glue - since the maker will want to use their tried and true glues.

5/30/14       #6: Fir AB Clear plywood ...
Charles Wright  Member

Website: http://www.northcreekwoodworks.com

We can do that for you. I would suggest using a PBC or MDF core for stability. Seems to be popular, we are involved in a very large project that is qtr cut Doug Fir. Qtr cut is the most popular, but we can get p/s material if needed. It's not terribly expensive stuff. We are in Central NY State. Get to me if you need us.

FYI we are an office furn manufacturer but have lots of panel capacity.

6/2/14       #7: Fir AB Clear plywood ...
AJ

Gehry always uses/specifies true AC fir plywood, varathane finish, edges of plywood sanded and puttied

Last job I did with them all plywood was bought from Roseburg


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