| Author |
Message |
David Axt, AIA, CCS, CSI
Senior Member
Username: david_axt
Post Number: 1082
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 22, 2010 - 07:15 pm: |    |
Has anyone had any experience with Russian Birch plywood? Is it the same as Baltic Birch plywood? |
Steven Bruneel, AIA, CSI-CDT, LEED-AP
Senior Member
Username: redseca2
Post Number: 220
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 22, 2010 - 07:45 pm: | |
My understanding is that the russians created the reference standard generally in use, or at least the only one I have found, but we still call it Baltic Birch in the specs:
"...conforming to Russian Export GOST 3916.1-96 standards; composed of multiples of 1-mm birch plies; Grade B for single exposed faces; Grade BB where both faces are exposed".
I avoid foreign references like the plague, but I couldn't pass this one up and haven't had an issue with it. |
Jonathan Miller, FCSI, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: jmma_specs
Post Number: 17
Registered: 04-2009
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 - 05:02 pm: | |
Be careful you do not run afoul of the Lacey Act (illegally sourced timber) when sourcing from Russia.
Hopefully you also have FSC sourcing language... even though that may be suspect for Russian timber as well. |
John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: bunzick
Post Number: 1173
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 11:43 am: | |
I have always assumed that a lot of this material was made in Russia, even back when it was part of the USSR (and I used it in my cabinet shop). Who would have bought it if it was called "Soviet birch plywood?"
I don't see how the buyer or specifier of this product could be prosecuted under the 110-year-old Lacey Act, since you have to "knowingly" engage in the practice of using restricted timber. It is so far beyond what the specifier can accomplish. Even if we had any way at all to check on this, which we don't, we are NOT the policemen of the construction industry. |
Amanda Hamilton (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 02, 2010 - 11:57 am: | |
My people tell me that "Baltic Birch" is a generic term for any nice sandwiched plywood, most of which seems to be sourced from Scandinavia. |
T.J. Simons, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: tsimons
Post Number: 16
Registered: 08-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 05, 2010 - 01:48 pm: | |
This sounds like what we've specified for drawer boxes for the last 15 years or so. I've heard it referred to as "Baltic Birch", "Fin-Ply", and "9-ply Finland plywood". |
Wayne Yancey
Senior Member
Username: wayne_yancey
Post Number: 314
Registered: 01-2008
| | Posted on Friday, March 05, 2010 - 02:00 pm: | |
There is also Apple Ply Plywood, Hard Maple Face, 9 ply, Grade C2, 1/2" thickness, 4' by 8' sheets, $93.58/sheet.
States Industries (Eugene OR; 800-626-1981)(Mocksville NC 888 203 4910)
Not certain if Baltic Birch (as sold by Rocklers stores nation wide) or Russian Birch (as sold by Dunn Lumber in the PNW) are FSC Certified. |
Wayne Yancey
Senior Member
Username: wayne_yancey
Post Number: 315
Registered: 01-2008
| | Posted on Friday, March 05, 2010 - 02:04 pm: | |
Link to ApplePly
http://www.statesind.com/prod/ind_2a2.html |
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