HVHC Plywood

Just a quck question for anyone who knows about this stuff. I'm rebuilding the base of my dob and because of the Krige and Berry book I'm looking for HVHC plywood. I've called a few lumberyards and a specialty hardwood store and nobody knows what I'm talking about. Any help finding some of this stuff localy (St. Louis, MO) would be very appriciated. Thanks in advance.

Rick Riley

Rockler Woodworking sells "Finnish Birch" which is a high quality hardwood core plywood. I see they have a store in St. Louis. They sell it only in 24" x 30" sheets or smaller. I used it for an equatorial mount; it's beautiful material and well worth the high price.

I'll second the motion for a trip to Home Despot! Here in Idaho anyway, they carry 2'x 4' (and larger) sheets of birch plywood that has very few voids and about 11 layers of wood - very close to an applyply look. Technically this is HVSC (hard veneer, soft core) but it really finishes very well, is PLENTY strong enough for a Dob Base and is cheaper than baltic birch or applyply.

I know this because I was on the same quest you are now,for the same reason, only about 6 to 8 months ago. My dob base is much better than the original my dad and I built in '82.

Don't be suckered in by Dave Krieg's "only the most expensive will do" attitude. (Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Mr. Kreig's engineering and designs but he has expensive tastes) I believe John Dobson said "build them out of junk so you can repair them with junk". Somewhere between these two extremes are an awful lot of very good telescopes.

All the lumber yards in Boise had never heard of Applyply and only one can get Baltic Birch in 5'x5' sheets. There are a couple of stores that sell it in 30"x24" sheets at just STUPID prices. Rockler's prices weren't bad.

As a professional cabinetmaker, I get Finn birch, also known as Baltic birch ply. In the 1/2" thickness it comes in 5' X 5' [metric sizing] sheets, and is also available at most wholesalers in 8' X 4' sheets [the grain runs the SHORT direction, so it's cross-sanded]. Either way, it's nice to work with, hard and stiff, and resists weather well. You should pay around $1.50 a square foot for it, or less.

Appleply comes in 4' X 8' sheets, and is, I believe, a domestic product, also 9-ply in 1/2". It has a nicer surface, IMO. I think both products are available in other thicknesses.

Many wholesalers will sell to the public. You have to call them and find out.

Thanks for the replys guys, I just got home with a big 5'x 5' piece of Baltic Birch and it is a heck of a piece of wood. I checked out Home Depot but the only stuff they had didn't look to good to me so I just sprang for the good stuff. Thanks again.

Rick Riley