Plywood Prices

[xraymtb]

Hi

I was wondering what forum members have been paying for plywood recently. My local timber yard (next door to my parents with their huge empty garage :lol: ) did me a sheet of 18mm birch ply last year for around £30. I went in today and the same thing is going to cost over £50!!

Did I get a great deal from them in the past or am I getting ripped off now?

 

[OllyK]

Dunno, but I pay £21 for an 8'x4' 18mm sheet of far eastern from my supplier. TP charge £32 for their quality ply.

 

[OPJ]

I know birch ply's shot up in the last couple of years (that's why I don't use it! :wink: ). I've also been paying £30 for a sheet of WBP.

 

[wizer]

I've had to resort to using MDF recently :evil:

 

[hpl]

That probably sounds about right. I haven't asked for a few months but then we were quoted from about £45 to over £50 plus the VAT and we were buying several sheets. Also worth saying that some of the larger nationals were charging more for long grain boards, as standard the grain went across the board. Worth checking.
Last month I bought far eastern instead and wish I hadn't, it was about £25 but the quality of that seems to have gone down, or at least the boards I had were only, I think, 5 ply and old off cuts I have are at least 7 ply. (Not sure if I've remembered that correctly but certainly less ply's now.) Also the boards weren't as flat and straight as the birch ply. Next time I will pay the extra if the quality is important.

Johnny B

 

[The_Stig]

I do know the reason this has happened although I've had a drink and I've left my copy of the TTJ on my desk at work, I will look into it tomorrow and let you all know...

 

[Pete Howlett]

When I was in Finland recently - plywood was the norm including 2" thick!

 

[Jake]

I do know the reason this has happened ...

At a guess - China.

 

[The_Stig]

The article I've got here is about chipboard, they are claiming that they've become victim of the housing slump and contracting economy... I guess you've got to cover your overheads some how so hiking the price up is the first method.

 

[xraymtb]

Whilst I would rather not have to pay more, I understand that prices are rising. I just didn't want to be paying more than I needed to!!

I think I may spend a few hours checking out the local competition.

 

[The_Stig]

Hardwoods have been rising slowly for about the last two years since the Chinese brought the majority of the worlds logs. We've been trying to hold of the rise but its proving harder to do especially since we're now into the second year of the Chinese logs... no wonder the flooring they're importing is cheap.

As a rule we do not buy it but its annoying to think that we can buy something cheaper from China than what we can make in our own machine shop... it all comes down to quality but as with most things and the "credit crunch" people are understandably more concerned with looking after the pennies.

 

[Jorden]

Heh if you think the price rise of ply is scary, don't look at the latest prices on oak 8-[

 

[The_Stig]

That depends who you buy it from :lol: