Baltic Birch Plywood availability in the UK

[Ccrewz]

If I am posting this in the wrong area I am sorry but I have done a search of the forum and not found the information I am looking for. :apologetic:

I am looking for a supplier of Baltic Birch Plywood in the UK. Not the poor quality "Baltic Birch" availabile in B&Q or Wicks or Jewson's etc etc but the GOOD quality stuff like Ikea uses for there products.

If you follow this link you will see a child's kitchen play set and the page has a built in magnifier which will allow the viewer to see the quality of the Baltic Birch:

DUKTIG Mini-kitchen - IKEA (http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S49874533/)

I know that it is available here in the UK however I am having trouble finding a supplier.

I want to make some doll cribs and children's rockers for auctions to support my granddaughters ongoing cancer treatment; I am not going to post a link to her page because I am not trying to use this forum incorrectly but if anyone doubts why I am after quality Baltic Birch please send me a pm and I will give you links to prove what I am doing it for.

ANY help would be gratefully received; I need to get these done ASAP!

Thanks in advance,

:peaceful::peaceful::peaceful:

[martin54]

Have you spoken to any of your local Timber merchants? If it were me I would go visit a couple of them rather than search the net. May find that they stock it but it's not listed on a website or if they don't stock it they can order some in for you. If they know what you want it for you may also find they help out a bit if it's for a good cause, not all but some local businesses will do that so it's worth a shot.

[Tenson]

Does it need to be Baltic? PB Plywood look like they have some good stuff especially under the veneered plywood (they do birch veneered birch plywood, lol).

[JAZZCNC]

I want to make some doll cribs and children's rockers for auctions to support my granddaughters ongoing cancer treatment; I am not going to post a link to her page because I am not trying to use this forum incorrectly but if anyone doubts why I am after quality Baltic Birch please send me a pm and I will give you links to prove what I am doing it for.

Bugger them post the link nobody's going to complain about helping a little girl with Cancer and if they do then they better get ready to be flamed grilled darker than a black hole.!!

Sorry can't help with plywood.!!

[Jonathan]

post the link nobody's going to complain about helping a little girl with Cancer

I agree entirely.

[Ccrewz]

OK I will take a chance:

https://www.facebook.com/AnyaBenthamAppeal

Neuroblastoma Alliance UK is fundraising for Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance (http://www.justgiving.com/appeal4anya)

I have already been around to the local suppliers asking them about the sort of plywood I am after and unfortunately the response is not too encouraging. Frequently they say:

"Yes I know what you mean but I do not know where to get it, sorry."

Or they simply look at me as if I have 2 heads...

Then I re-explain that I want to make things for children and therefore it must be quality plywood to make it safe and then they say:

"OH I see, but I don't know where you can get it."
I am also planning on making some cradles and Rockers to donate to Alder Hey's Ronald MacDonalds. Without that facility the parents of sick children would be completely lost.

ANY help is going to be greatly appreciated.

[Ccrewz]

I have just emailed PB Plywood to ask them if they can help.

I don't expect an answer until Monday and I will post an update.

Thanks to everyone, if we keep at this I am sure that between us we can find a supplier. You never know when more of us might need a supplier of this grade of plywood.
:peaceful::peaceful::peaceful:

[Clive S]

Hi try http://www.lathamtimber.co.uk/icmeditor/HTMLEditor/images/Literature/Latham%20Brochures/Birch%20Plywood.pdf or Holdex Plywoods (http://www.holdexplywood.co.uk/)

I think the type for toys is grade one Hope this helps. Clive

[JAZZCNC]

OK I will take a chance:

https://www.facebook.com/AnyaBenthamAppeal

Neuroblastoma Alliance UK is fundraising for Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance (http://www.justgiving.com/appeal4anya)

Come on Lads here's the link so instead of another packet of fags or 6 pack beer put it to some good and help out.. . Justify how you like.? Call it payment for all the help you get here what ever like just give something PLEASE.!!

[JAZZCNC]

Doh.!!. . . Bloody hell just remembered I have a friend who owns a wood yard so I'll call and see him on Monday.!

If you need any of this stuff cutting via CNC then just drop me a line.

[John S]

Doh.!!. . . Bloody hell just remembered I have a friend who owns a wood yard so I'll call and see him on Monday.!



You mean you have more than one friend ?

[Ccrewz]

Thanks for your offer and your support JAZZCNC and everyone else!
I have the cutting files that I need and I have the CNC machine, I am just lacking the quality Birch Plywood.
and I think that I will have that next week if this site thread keeps turning up gold like it has done so far.
Thanks everyone!!!!

[phill05]

Here you go have a look here Birch Plywood Suppliers & Distributors UK (http://www.dhhtimber.co.uk/birch_plywoods.htm) I used to use the multi layer Riga ply for kitchens should do everything you want.

Phill

[Shinobiwan]

Plywood from one of UK`s leading specialist suppliers. (http://www.avonply.co.uk/Client%20Area/ASP/Plywood.aspx)

[wilfy]

i dont know what the difference is between baltic birch and the birch i know as regular birch... but you know bnq sell it, maybe only in their bigger stores usually the ones with the wood cutting machine.. but they certainly sell quality birch ply the only thing i can think that you would need to do to make it kiddie safe is the varnish it once cut.

oh and last time i looked it was around £28 a sheet

[D.C.]

Hello Ccrewz try reading this

http://www.lathamtimber.co.uk/icmeditor/HTMLEditor/images/Literature/Latham%20Brochures/Birch%20Plywood.pdf

Plywood comes in different grades, you can get crap quality or amazing quality plywood from just about any county that grows wood, it is the grade that counts. Obviously the higher the grade the more expensive it is...

If this stuff is going in a hospital or somewhere that will be doing some hardcore cleaning you might want to get exterior grade so it doesn't start to delaminate when the cleaners start scrubbing it. (exterior grade plywood uses a water resistant glue, not as good as marine grade glue but better than interior grade glue)

As you already have plans and a cnc machine it might be worth spending a couple of days on the phone ringing around all the timber yards and cabinet makers you can find and ask them to keep a pile of good sized offcuts for you or to give you a free sheets for free in exchange for engraving their logo somewhere.

If you do have a problem getting hold of plywood you can always consider using a plastic laminate or veneer something like formica/melamine or even fablon on top of cheapo plywood/chipboard/mdf.

Take a look here:

d-c-fix Sticky Back Plastic - Birch - 67.5 x 2m from Homebase.co.uk (http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=246376)

Cheap, waterproof, easy to clean, comes in a million different designs and you can stick it on top of just about any old crap ...

[Ccrewz]

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts, info and links. The problem with the "Baltic Birch" that B&Q sell is that it is closer to "construction" grade then it is to what I need for what is a "toy" or "Children's furniture". Also my large B&Q store only stocks 18mm which is too thick. I have already made a couple of cribs from a sign making material called Forex for my granddaughter, 1 for her house and 1 for my house when she comes around. I used the Forex for 2 reasons; 1. I had it in stock 2. Being the type of plastic it is we could easily wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe when her immunity is low.
8037
Above you can see both cradles on a table; one assembled one waiting to be assembled
8038
Here is another shot from a different angle.
She absolutely adores here cradles because throughout her treatments in hospital she has carried 3 things as her essential survival pack:
1. Her Doll
2. Her blanket
3. her drinking cup
If she has those 3 items she can tolerate anything they need to do to her. So her being able to "put her dolly to bed safe and sound" makes a lot of sense.

I have looked and using various grades of plywood and applying a variety of different vinyls but the bottom line is that if you make something for a child there must no be splinters!

This is why I am looking for the same grade of plywood that Ikea have used on this sort of thing:

DUKTIG Mini-kitchen - IKEA
(http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S49874533/)
I am planning on contacting a number of people/companies that have been mentioned in this thread on Monday to ask if them if they can supply me with the grade of plywood I am after and I would WILLING ask any timber yard or cabinet maker in my area; North Wales/Chester area, for a supplier or off cuts however the timber yards near me don't seem to have what I need and as yet I have not found any cabinet makers near me.

Over Christmas Anya was feeling pretty good for a few days and we were over at her house playing with her and I videoed her playing with my wife. You can see that she just wants to play like any other little girl; here is the link to the video:

Video0027 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHJGS_ekBA0)

Thanks again for all the info and support in my search.

[BedlamRik]

Come on Lads here's the link so instead of another packet of fags or 6 pack beer put it to some good and help out.. . Justify how you like.? Call it payment for all the help you get here what ever like just give something PLEASE.!!

So very true,
Donated.

[JAZZCNC]

You mean you have more than one friend ?

John Jealousy is a very destructive emotion so your going to have to control it and Accept I do have other friends I can't exclusively be yours.!! You'll always be my special friend.!! Thou such shame it's special needs.!!. . :joker:

[motoxy]

Ccrewz
Just quick thought. Chat to your local ikea and explain the situation. Then if that have any damaged parts with reasonable amount of suitable flat timber maybe they could give you first dibbs before it goes into the bargain basement. Worth a call.

bruce

[Ccrewz]

Great idea Brian and if I wasn't such a long drive from them I would do just that.

I have found that there is a local company who panel out the insides of transit vans and the like with plywood so I am going there tomorrow. You never know they just might be using the right grade and or they might have some off cuts which I could use.

Again I want to thank everyone one the forum for their support in this quest, just think once we find a supplier for me then you will all know of a supplier....

[JAZZCNC]

How about furniture grade pine board 14mm thickness 500 x 1500mm.? I have access to a pile FOC.

[John S]

How about furniture grade pine board 14mm thickness 500 x 1500mm.? I have access to a pile FOC.

How much for 20 sheets.

[JAZZCNC]

How much for 20 sheets.

Check emails.!

[Philly]

Check emails.!


Would you be willing to sell to anyone else? :)


Ccrewz, where in the Northwest are you, there's a timber yard in Ellesmere port that usually have a good range of stock.

[Ccrewz]

Ellesmere Port is about 20 minutes away; I am just across the English / Welsh border in Connah's Quay.

What is the name of the Timber Yard you are thinking of?

Thanks

[Philly]

Chipboard, Marine Plywood Sheets. Mdf Sheets & Pin Boards - BookerTimber.co.uk (http://www.bookertimber.co.uk/sheet-products.html) looks like they sell it, there's a good timber yard up here in Birkenhead too Birkenhead Building and Roofing Supplies LTD (http://www.bbrs-building.co.uk/)

[Ccrewz]

I have just sent Booker Timber an email and I will be dropping in on them tomorrow to see what they have in stock/can supply.

Thanks to Philly and everyone trying to help me and I will post tomorrow night once I have some more information.

[Ccrewz]

Well everyone I have some good news! :joyous:

today I went to Bookers Timber Ltd in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire and had a chat with them and saw some of their BB grade Baltic Birch plywood and I also spoke to Steve Caddick from their Sales office at their Warrington office.

Steve was VERY helpful and he clarified the Baltic Birch plywood grading system for me.

If you look on their site: Chipboard, Marine Plywood Sheets. Mdf Sheets & Pin Boards - BookerTimber.co.uk (http://www.bookertimber.co.uk/sheet-products.html) you will see that S grade is the highest quality and BB is the next rating down.

Steve explained to me that the ONLY difference between S grade and BB grade was the number of knots/defects/patches in the outside layers of the plywood. The inside structure and the quality of the plywood is not different.

Therefore after talking to Steve we both agreed that the BB grade Baltic Birch plywood his company supply would be suitable for my needs. Of course I will need to get a couple of sheets after I get paid and try them for myself. Once I have done this I will of course post some pictures and the overall results.

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful help you provided

[Philly]

Glad to hear, they've never failed to help me in the past, even my dad used to use them. Wish I still lived there :D

[Pauliusm]

Hi,
We do import of Russian birch plywood. Different sizes and thickness. Good for flooring, furniture and any kind of contractions works. Please email me.

[Tenson]

I assume this got sorted out. However for future reference I get my Birch Plywood from Morgan's Timber in Rochester. They stock BB/BB grade but have mentioned they can order in other grades. Also check out SL Hardwoods for online ordering.

http://www.morgantimber.co.uk/

http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/products/sheet-material/wbp-plywood

[Pauliusm]

I assume this got sorted out. However for future reference I get my Birch Plywood from Morgan's Timber in Rochester. They stock BB/BB grade but have mentioned they can order in other grades. Also check out SL Hardwoods for online ordering.

http://www.morgantimber.co.uk/

http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/products/sheet-material/wbp-plywood

What sizes you usually use? We have B, BB, CP grades and may offer you better price and quality match.
You can email us [email protected] ([email protected])

[Tenson]

Thank you, if I need something special I may contact you. However in general I like to support my local timber yard - Morgan's is a huge timber processing facility where trees come in off the boat at one end and come out as beautiful timber at the other. Still owned and managed by Mr. Morgan and has employees who have worked there most of their lives. It's less than 30mins drive from me.

[Armstrong]

Have you found any yet? Lathams Timber would be my suggestion as they offer a wide range of sheet materials. They do a mega range. They may not sell direct to you but you could order though your regular timber or builders merchant as most would have an account with Lathams.

Hope this helps.
Wayne
armstrongsupplies.co.uk

[JAZZCNC]

Have you found any yet? Lathams Timber would be my suggestion as they offer a wide range of sheet materials. They do a mega range. They may not sell direct to you but you could order though your regular timber or builders merchant as most would have an account with Lathams.

Hope this helps.
Wayne
armstrongsupplies.co.uk

You serious.? . . . He asked in 2013 . .Lol

[Nealieboyee]

Amazing. His only posting is suggesting a timber supplier that would use himself as the merchant. The clue is in the signature...

[Clive S]

Amazing. His only posting is suggesting a timber supplier that would use himself as the merchant. The clue is in the signature...

I agree but have to say it is a good company to deal with