Wanted: Local supplier for .4mm plywood

[rtfm]

Hi,

 

So far, this forum has proved invaluable in sourcing tools, wood and services. Thank you.

 

However, I am now looking for a local supplier of .4mm plywood. I have found supplies of

 

0.4mm Birch Exterior AB/B 3 ply 1220mmx1220mm plywood from Boatcraft Pacific, but I'm not wild about the price ($124 AUD/sheet) nor about the (AB/B) quality, although my experience of this plywood is (as of now) non-existant - so it might well be fine. At 1200x1200 I would need 36 sheets. That's a lot of money.

 

I'd prefer 2400 x 1200 sheets, and I'd also prefer both better quality and a more competitive price.

 

My hope is to build composite wing skins using Ply/3mm Airex/Ply in a female mold. Other possibilities are:

 

(1) Ply/Airex/Glass

 

(2) Glass/Airex/Glass

 

(in this order of preference)

 

Any advice? Any possible sources?

 

Regards,

 

Duncan

 

 

[JimG]

Have you tried DMK Forest Products | Marine Plywood, Aircraft Ply, Structural Ply wood Suppliers

 

JimG

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

0.4mm is very, very thin, a single veneer is usually 0.5mm so the price is no surprise. You could call around the timber / board importers but that thickness is quite a speciality item.

 

 

[SAJ]

Try www.misterplywood.com.au they have 0.4mm ply but they show a price

 

 

[Kyle Communications]

I have here .4mm plywood used to build Mosquitos and Vampires by the CAF dates on the ply is 1940 or 50 from memory..its unreal stuff. I bought it for modelling RC aircraft about 20 years ago. it is magnificent stuff. Only have a few sheets but sorry wont sell it.

 

Wouldnt have a clue where to get it from though

 

 

[Raytol]

Hi Duncan,

 

Try using the "marine" ply. The A-A marine has very similar allowances for manufacturing faults and has an A bond glue

 

the only difference I could find is that the product is not heat treated to kill a bacteria in the wood ( which only exists in

 

wet cold countries anyway!) Best ask a more expert person than me!

 

Be careful using "Airex" foam. Ask the supplier if it is a "crosslinked" PVC foam as some of their foams are not crosslinked.

 

The beauty of this system is that you can pre-bend or shape the foam with heat ( as in boat hulls, etc) but means the wing

 

will sag on a hot day. Yes, I speak from experience!

 

The best foam I have found for thin sections is called Rohr foam and it is mail ordered from Singapore.

 

They use it in speaker cones.

 

Ray

 

 

[Raytol]

I forgot to say,

 

The biggest advantage is that Marine ply comes in 1200 by 2400 sheets.

 

Ray

 

 

[Markproa]

Hi,So far, this forum has proved invaluable in sourcing tools, wood and services. Thank you.

However, I am now looking for a local supplier of .4mm plywood. I have found supplies of

 

0.4mm Birch Exterior AB/B 3 ply 1220mmx1220mm plywood from Boatcraft Pacific, but I'm not wild about the price ($124 AUD/sheet) nor about the (AB/B) quality, although my experience of this plywood is (as of now) non-existant - so it might well be fine. At 1200x1200 I would need 36 sheets. That's a lot of money.

 

I'd prefer 2400 x 1200 sheets, and I'd also prefer both better quality and a more competitive price.

 

My hope is to build composite wing skins using Ply/3mm Airex/Ply in a female mold. Other possibilities are:

 

(1) Ply/Airex/Glass

 

(2) Glass/Airex/Glass

 

(in this order of preference)

 

Any advice? Any possible sources?

 

Regards,

 

Duncan

I've been looking for aircraft ply lately myself. You won't find Okoume ply that thin so will have to go birch whiçh is relatively heavy and only comes in 1200 x 1200 sheets. And it ain't cheap. Another supplier is Marine Timbers.

 

 

[rtfm]

Gentlemen,

 

Your comments have been very helpful. Thank you. It's a pleasure posting questions on this forum.

 

Duncan