teak and holly plywood

Discussion in 'Materials' started by Steve W, Apr 6, 2011.

  1. Steve W
    Joined: Jul 2004
    Posts: 1,844
    Likes: 73, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 608
    Location: Duluth, Minnesota

    Steve W Senior Member

    Do any of you folks have a scource in the US for a good quality T&H panel? I am just finishing up a new sole in a customers boat but am pretty fed up with the crap available from most of the usual suppliers, i mean, it looks beautiful but its just superficial, with paper thin face veneers on basically junk plywood. What i would like to scource is a BS1088 panel with at least a 1mm face veneer. Any ideas?
    Steve.
     
  2. CatBuilder

    CatBuilder Previous Member

    I don't know what the usual suppliers are for you, but call Chris Boulter at Boulter plywood in Somerville, MA.

    I think he can put any veneer on a sheet of 1088 Okoume.

    His wood is exceptionally high quality, judging from what I have received from him vs what I have seen in FL (and ordered and returned in FL).
     
  3. Steve W
    Joined: Jul 2004
    Posts: 1,844
    Likes: 73, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 608
    Location: Duluth, Minnesota

    Steve W Senior Member

    Thanks cat,actually the stuff i just used came from Boulter,very poor quality,the T&H face veneer is gorgeous, just paper thin, on a sub standard panel.
    Steve.
     
  4. CatBuilder

    CatBuilder Previous Member

    That's odd. Hmm... I believe you have to tell Chris what you want. Did you specify 1mm veneer on BS1088 panel?

    That's really a bummer the stuff from Boulter wasn't up to the task. There doesn't appear to be a much better source in the USA.
     
  5. fpjeepy05
    Joined: Jan 2010
    Posts: 340
    Likes: 36, Points: 38, Legacy Rep: 31
    Location: Hubert, NC

    fpjeepy05 Senior Member

    I second that. I've got some nice stuff from Boulter. If you want real wood they sell (or at least use to) solid Teak and Holly (maybe maple). 5/8" Boards. I think it was Shiplap, but might have been tongue and groove. Its quality.. but your going to pay for it.
     
  6. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Just buy some thicker veneers and glue it to a substrate. You can do some inlay work with your logo incorporated into it, juts to remind the client that it's not a slap me on the butt job. I have a flitch of live edge, 1/8" teak right here.
     
  7. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
    Posts: 4,862
    Likes: 116, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 1180
    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member



    Not quite plywood, but a month or so ago on BDN Island teak shouted out that they have teak and maple interior decking

    http://www.island-teak.com/interior-decking.php
     
  8. bntii
    Joined: Jun 2006
    Posts: 731
    Likes: 97, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 1324
    Location: MD

    bntii Senior Member

    I am just finishing up a T&H ply job on a 42 sail.
    The panels my supplier provided have as I judge a decent surface veneer that one might get a couple of sand outs and refinishes before it is toast..
    I will check who made them.

    I go with PAR on this- none of the veneer T&H floors will stand up to much before they are trashed.

    One can make up quick flooring by gluing up a plank with a 3/8" 'holly' board over, Surface down to get holly side to 5/16" & resaw to get your veneers:

    floor.jpg
     
  9. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    A live edge is as it sound, the actual edge of the log after it's been sawn. The easiest way to describe it, is to picture one of those coffee tables or wall clocks where they slice a log into a 2" or 3" thick plank, stick some legs or clock face on it and cover the thing in epoxy. You see the whole log in the slice, bark, sap wood, heart wood, everything. The only thing that's cut is the top and bottom (front and back on a clock) faces, the edges are just as the tree was when live (hence the name). Now, most live edge veneer has been de-barked, but the sap wood and log shape are usually still there. Essentially, you're buying sliced veneers that haven't been trimmed up along their edges, which offers more fitting options and can usually save you some money, if bought by the flitch. You still have to cut the edges off, as much of it is waste wood anyway, but you have the option of where to cut.
     
  10. bntii
    Joined: Jun 2006
    Posts: 731
    Likes: 97, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 1324
    Location: MD

    bntii Senior Member

    Thanks PAR- I googled it and remain amazed that I could have spent so many years around wood & still not have this vocabulary..
    The limits of being self taught I suppose.
     
  11. FAST FRED
    Joined: Oct 2002
    Posts: 4,519
    Likes: 111, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 1009
    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    While its pretty, todays teak and holly cabin sole serves no purpose.

    When T&H was used earlier the Holly stood proud , giving a no skid surface,

    ply veneer today is just Boob Bait for the Bubbas, pretty , but pretty useless.

    FF
     
  12. Steve W
    Joined: Jul 2004
    Posts: 1,844
    Likes: 73, Points: 48, Legacy Rep: 608
    Location: Duluth, Minnesota

    Steve W Senior Member

    Thanks guys, Boob Bait for the Bubbas eh,thats a good one Fred,and you are right of course. I have made up my own stuff in years past but these days our customers dont want to spend the money. The thing that bothers me with not just the t&h but teak plywood in general is that they charge a premium price for a substandard panel with a pretty face.We use a lot of BS1088 meranti for general structural use which is consistently good quality regardless of the supplier and is also good value for the money spent, i feel good about it, now if they would only apply a decent thickness veneer onto this plywood it would be great, but no, usually its a paper thin veneer on a panel that that looks like a cabinet grade panel.
    Steve.
     
  13. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Steve you've hit it precisely. The teak and holly plywood panels are cabinet grade, though it may have a WBP adhesive.
     
  14. bntii
    Joined: Jun 2006
    Posts: 731
    Likes: 97, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 1324
    Location: MD

    bntii Senior Member

    The stock I have has a thin surface veneer as well- I got fooled by a bit mahogany lain just under.
     

  15. david@boatsmith
    Joined: Aug 2008
    Posts: 133
    Likes: 23, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 75
    Location: Jupiter Fl USA

    david@boatsmith Senior Member

    Bruynzeel used to make a ply that came with about a mm thick teak and holly veneer. It was VERY pricey. We build teak and holly (maple) soles of solid wood. panels cost $40/sqft. Only high end boats will pay for this quality. But when you drop a can of beans on the sole it can be repaired and refinished. With veneer repairs are not possible.
     
    1 person likes this.
Loading...
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.