What Are Standard Sizes of Plywood?
As a versatile, inexpensive alternative to wood, plywood finds many uses in carpentry, furniture-making and boat-building applications. In the United States, plywood typically sells in 4-by-8-foot sheets and in thicknesses of 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 inch. Does this Spark an idea?
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Features and Characteristics
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Plywood is an engineered product made by gluing together thin plies of wood in an odd number of layers with the wood grains positioned perpendicularly to each other in each layer. The odd numbering of sheets gives plywood its stability and balance. Because it is inexpensive, plywood serves as a good alternative to wood in cabinetry and other projects.
Common Sheet Sizes
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In the United States, lumber retailers sell plywood panels in 4-by-8-foot sheets or 5-by-5-foot sheets. Panels come in 2-foot widths, as well, and are available in 60- to 144-inch lengths in 12-inch increments.
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Common Thicknesses
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Plywood sells in thicknesses of 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch. The thicknesses, however, actually measure 7/32 inch for the 1/4-inch thick board, 15/32 inch for 1/2-inch board and 23/32 inch for 3/4-inch board. This mislabeling can cause problems with woodworking projects that measure in 1/4-inch increments. The 3/4-inch pieces are used to cover platforms, while the 1/2-inch pieces are common in furniture-building projects.
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References
- Timber Educational Resources: Plywood
- Pro Woodworking Tips: Uses for Plywood
- "How to Choose and Use Lumber, Plywood, Panelboards, and Laminates"; Mel Marshall; 1979
- "Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking"; Jeff Jewitt, Thomas Lee-Nelson, Andy Raw, Gary Rogowski; 2005
- RuralTechnology Initiative: Veneer and Plywood
Resources
- Photo Credit plywood pattern image by bright from Fotolia.com
