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| Plywood in Guitar Making http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=4581 |
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| Author: | peterm [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:35 am ] |
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I have always used mahogany for my neck and heel blocks but I hear a lot of makers prefer plywood....stronger and more stable I hear. Can anyone elaborate on that? What kind of plywood would be used? Thanks, |
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| Author: | Pwoolson [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:54 am ] |
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I think you are refering to laminated necks rather than plywood. Plywood is what you buy at the Home Depot to make doghouses. Laminated necks are glued up from solid stock in alternating grain direction to counter any side-to-side pulls that might otherwise occur. Here's a laminated neck. 
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| Author: | Shane Neifer [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:55 am ] |
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Peter, Most use Baltic Birch if they use a plywood. It is voidless...Usually 5/8 at the tail, I haven't seen it used on the heel but it may happen! Shane |
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| Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:59 am ] |
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I've seen builders using baltic Birch glued perpendicular to the neck block in order to support the neck extension. |
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| Author: | Pwoolson [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:06 am ] |
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Geeeez, I really need to read more carefully. Sorry about that last post. I thought it said necks, not neck blocks. Ok, I'll fire an answer to that real question now. I use it on tailblocks. 1/2" baltic birch is my wood of choice. Very strong in all dimensions and probably lighter than equally strong solid wood. |
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| Author: | peterm [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:30 am ] |
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Thanks, Baltic birch is what I heard that works the best! Paul, you crack me up!!  at first I was totally confused and even thought I was loosing my mind....could it it? Plywood neck??
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| Author: | Mattia Valente [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:50 am ] |
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High quality (aircraft) birch ply for end/tail blocks (heel block and neck block is the same thing), to counteract the tendency of neatly quartered wood to split if dropped hard on the endpin. |
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| Author: | John Kinnaird [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:03 am ] |
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I use it. My tail block that is about as thick as the lining. Baltic birch ply. It makes for a light and very strong tail block. I have not used if for heel blocks yet because I am afraid of the customers reaction to seeing ply there. So, I make my own ply out of mahogany for the heel block. John |
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| Author: | John Kinnaird [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:04 am ] |
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But anyway Brock, that sure is a pretty picture and worth a post and a second or third look. John |
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| Author: | peterm [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:37 am ] |
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is there a difference between the birch ply found at home depot and Baltic Birch? |
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| Author: | Pwoolson [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:03 am ] |
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Oh, heck yeah! If you don't believe me, buy one of those 2x4 cut sheets they have and make a few rip cuts in it. Voids, Voids, Voids. This is the stuff I was saying is good for the doghouse. Baltic birch is sold in 5x5 sheets (it's metric but am too lazy to figure what that equates to). Can usually be had in finer woodworking supply stores and lumberyards. Note, if they sell it in 4 x 8 sheets, it's not the right stuff. |
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| Author: | Rod True [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:11 am ] |
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[QUOTE=Pwoolson] Geeeez, I really need to read more carefully. Sorry about that last post. I thought it said necks, not neck blocks. [/QUOTE] Sure Paul, you just wanted to show off your wares. Very nice by the way, is that Lacewood? |
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| Author: | Pwoolson [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:13 am ] |
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Yes, vanity is my middle name. No, sycamore. |
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| Author: | Shawn [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:50 am ] |
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The biggest difference between a birch plywood you would get from a home center and baltic birch play you would get from a hardwood dealer or woodworking supply house is the number and quality of plys. Most birch plywood is called veneer core if made of separate plys. In lesser quality birch plywood the plys will be a lesser quality species different than the face veneer, usually Shorea (known as luan mahogany), alder or basswood. In the finer birch plywood which used to be refered to as Finnish (thats is Finns not finish) birch plywood all of the plys are the same as the face plys, have no voids and even the glue used is a better grade. |
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| Author: | PaulB [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:04 pm ] |
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What about marine grade ply? It's made to british standard BS1088 which means no voids at all. The marine grade stuff I can get pretty easily, in fact the locally made stuff uses Fijian cedar which looks very nice, but I've never seen baltic birch ply around here. Is the baltic birch stuff lighter and therefore more suited to guitars? |
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| Author: | Darin Spayd [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:46 pm ] |
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Paul Sycamore Woolson? 
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| Author: | Brock Poling [ Tue Jan 17, 2006 1:49 pm ] |
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[QUOTE=John Kinnaird] But anyway Brock, that sure is a pretty picture and worth a post and a second or third look. John[/QUOTE] huh? |
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| Author: | Bobc [ Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:19 am ] |
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Hey Brock I'd like a second look too.
Paul I think John was referring to your sycamore. More pic's please. 
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