What are the current types of plywood?

If anyone has ever had a childhood with a plywood desk, that time was wonderful and memorable. After more than a century of formation, how diverse are the types of plywood today?

Learn about plywood

• Define

Plywood is a material manufactured from thin layers or “plies” of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another.

• Structure

A plywood panel will have 3 main parts:

Filler part: Consists of thin natural wood slices (made from pine, acacia, eucalyptus, cajuput…)

Glue part: Helps to bond the filling layers

Surface: Natural wood layer

• Production process

Closed production process, large scale, and using many modern technological machines.

Step 1: Natural wood is cut into pieces, ensuring smoothness and uniformity, then peeled into thin layers, meeting size standards; the cut wood layer is usually 8 x 2 feet, and the core layer is thinner about 4 x 2 feet. Check the elasticity of the wood through specialized industrial machinery.

Step 2: Dry the wood with advanced technology, keeping the ideal moisture content of about 7% (or ranging from 6% to 8%).

Step 3: After drying, the wood is sprayed with glue and pressed through the machine to form plywood panels as required.

Step 4: Continue to be put into the pressing line with standard temperature and pressure to ensure optimal adhesion and firmness.

Step 5: Cut the wood into rectangular panels and treat the surface to achieve smoothness and uniformity.

Step 6: Continue to spray glue and stick the wood surface under heat and pressure 4 more times. Finally, cut into plywood sheets with the required size.

Types of plywood today

• Softwood plywood

The most common and affordable type. This type is made from redwood, cedar, or pine, 4 x 8 inches to 5 x 5 inches in different sizes, adjusted according to its application, and mainly used for covering sub-layers, walls, and roofing of beautiful 2-storey tube house models, frame shells.

• Hardwood plywood

Furniture processing including tables, chairs, cabinets or musical instruments, and sports equipment, is made from ash, oak, maple, mahogany, walnut, poplar, or other hardwoods with a smooth and attractive finish. Sleek, sturdy, professional appearance. Hardwood plywood has AB grades.

• Water-resistant plywood

Often used for making outdoor furniture, including benches. Designed to withstand high humidity environments, weather, and extreme temperatures. The exterior is coated with a waterproof glue with the same construction method as other plywood. The layers are bonded with the highest-performance boiling waterproof glue to prevent the plywood from creating core gaps, cracks, or knot holes. One of the highest grade plywood, grade B or better, including Douglas fir and other “premium” woods. APA graded to prevent rot and mold; surface treatment with pressure-preservative coating is recommended to improve longevity.

• Wood core plywood

Mostly found in the production of imported panels, often incorporated as the core material in the production of cabinets. Almost exclusively 18mm thick panels consisting of veneers glued together in different directions. Three-ply plywood is made of basswood on the inner layer and hardwood on the outer layer. Its inner core helps hold screws because it has good adhesion. However, most wood core plywood has voids that reduce its strength.

• Particleboard

Extremely popular but not suitable as a building material. Particleboard is mainly made from a combination of wood shavings, sawdust, and other small wood particles. They are mixed with strong glue and then pressed to form a uniform board. Because it is made from wood chips, it is considered the weakest type of plywood of all types, mainly used to reinforce the top layer of the construction, or to press table tops and shelves, then trimmed with a solid wood surface.

• High-strength plywood

This is expected for a more high-end project with a sophisticated and modern look, a great choice on the market today. This type of plywood is very strong, durable, and highly resistant to different environments. Made from high-quality wood such as birch or mahogany and with thin veneers for increased flexibility. Mainly used in heavy-duty projects such as boat building, aircraft, and furniture.

• Coated plywood

Similar to regular hardwood plywood but with a more perfect and prominent look. Made from wood panels glued together with veneers that have a durable coating to resist water or other harmful particles from sticking to them. The exterior finish is not only aesthetic because the manufacturer bonds the exterior fabrication process through a high-pressure and heat process. Panels considered high density are coated with more resin, which affects the price they sell on the market.

Plywood is not only environmentally friendly but also an “approach” to every home, there is no reason why we should ignore this material.