The colour of plywood.

[inexperienced_woodworker]

I bought some 18mm plywood a while back, not sure where from but it would have been either a local timber merchant or B&Q. The face was a nice pale wood colour.

I’ve been to get some more to build some shelves/cabinets and the faces are a much more red colour. It’s not unpleasant, just not what I was expecting. Does anyone know why this is? I’ve got some veneer samples and the closest in colour is the cherry wood. I was expecting the faces to be more of a birch or ash colour.

Is this the standard for basic hardwood ply now or will I get lighter veneers elsewhere?

I’ll probably be oiling it when done and have ordered some samples to try out so interested to see what colour it comes out with a bit of coloured oil.

The budget for the project is fairly set in stone and I can’t afford £100+ sheets for speciality ply but would if possible like a lighter coloured sheet.

If anyone has any information or ideas I’d be pleased to hear it.

 

[Bingy man]

Plywood will vary from one supplier to the next , also the different grades also play a major role in what the finished product looks like. As you say if your budget is set then my advise would be to visit as many suppliers as you can within your area and see what’s available. It’s fair to say though you get what you pay for ..

 

[artie]

Around here basic plywood used to be a yellowish colour. Better quality hardwood plywood was a reddish colour, better quality and more expensive.

As the years rolled by almost all of it save the very cheapest became reddish and of various quality. It took a while to realise the modern red was just the old yellow with a tint, half as good, for twice the price

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Ply is made here, there and everywhere - what it's made of often depends on what is available in large amounts cheapest at the time. If you ever cut the stuff, get used to getting a bit of abrasive and taking the arrises off quickly - sometimes the small splinters are horrible if you get them under your skin. It doesn't happen often but it's a habit to cultivate - if you get a bad case of it you'll know why. The dark coloured ones are the worst.

 

[inexperienced_woodworker]

As you say if your budget is set then my advise would be to visit as many suppliers as you can within your area and see what’s available. It’s fair to say though you get what you pay for ..

Thanks. I’m going to thornbridge tomorrow to see what they have. I’ve had a look online and can see beech veneered plywood is available for not much more per sheet so I may investigate this.

It took a while to realise the modern red was just the old yellow with a tint, half as good, for twice the price

This doesn’t surprise me at all! I’m really reluctant to buy any wood online just because I don’t know what I’m getting based on a couple of stock photos.

sometimes the small splinters are horrible if you get them under your skin. It doesn't happen often but it's a habit to cultivate

Thanks! I’ll take that on board.

 

[Bingy man]

Thanks. I’m going to thornbridge tomorrow to see what they have. I’ve had a look online and can see beech veneered plywood is available for not much more per sheet so I may investigate this.



This doesn’t surprise me at all! I’m really reluctant to buy any wood online just because I don’t know what I’m getting based on a couple of stock photos.



Thanks! I’ll take that on board.

Be careful with online suppliers as often what’s advertised or shown is nothing like what you will receive and if you accept the delivery you are effectively saying you’re happy with the goods . The delivery charges can also be extremely high..