I don't want to step of Ken's BB post below, so I am starting this one.
Like others, I have been stung on what I thought was quality Baltic Birch, but wasn't. I have asked around, and looked up a few things, and I am more confused than ever. Here is what I have found. Someone more knowledgeable, please correct any mistakes.
My last purchase was done in a hurry, at the local hardwood supplier. I asked for several sheets of 1/2" BB to make drawers, and he said he had it in 4X8 sheets, so I took it. When I started using it, I had already cut down the sheets to bite size, and I found it had voids, and some delamination's here and there. It was awful light in weight too. I suspect the guy sold me the wrong stuff, but it looked like BB with all the plies.
So, I compared it to some scraps of good stuff I had, and did some research:
There are several forms of multi layer plywood out there, including Baltic Birch, Finnish Birch, Russian Birch, Apple ply, and the mystery junk I got.
Apparently, the real stuff has plies of birch throughout. The junk I got had what appeared to be pine or fir plies inside. Thus the weight difference.
The real stuff has outer plies that are thick enough to sand and machine...the junk had outer plies so thin they shattered when cutting or routing.
The real stuff is 5X5 for sure, and I don't know if it comes in 4X8. The junk seems to come only in 4X8??
OK...that is all I could find out. I know cost is one indication, but are there any experts out there that can tell us how to know when we are getting quality stuff?
Rick Potter