Sander Marechal wrote: | ||
Thanks for the compliments and tips!
Any idea if a shield made out of fir or pine is as strong as one made from birch? When I was in the hardware store I mainly chose the birch plywood because it had nice, even layers. The fir plywood and a very thick and light coloured inner layer and two very thin outer layers. Almost as if it was veneer instead of plywood. |
I feel the fir/pine plywood is stronger than birch, but that is just my opinion without any tests. In the USA, anyway, Birch plywood is constructed as "furniture grade" (used for cabinets, furniture, etc.). This is one reason why the birch plywood has nice even layers so the edges look nicer when finished. Fir/pine plywood is construction grade used to build houses (roof, wall and floor sheeting). Fir/pine plywood is constructed more for strength than looks. Not sure how plywood is graded in the Netherlands, but here (USA) you want to use something like an AC or AB grade fir/pine plywood.
We are not talking night or day differences here. Birch plywood is lighter (maybe not as strong), but much harder to bend and snaps back a bit more. Fir/Pine plywood seems stronger, is heavier, but bends much easier for more curve.
If you look at the bottom of my shield press construction page, I have a closeup photo of the layers of the fir/pine plywood. I swear I could run my car over this shield and it would not hurt it :>)
Ron