The only Wreck reference I find mentions that it may stink, but the thread was from 2001. Anyone with recent experience? Kitchen cabinet boxes a good use for this stuff? I understand it's very smooth on both sides and a lot cheaper than say birch ply. Anyone know what this is made from and why it would be considerably less expensive. Imported? Thanks, Mike
According to Google, it's a slang name for a wood called 'Meranty'. 'Red' Meranty seems to be the most popular type, comes from Indonesia. Google the name 'Meranty' and you'll get tons of info.
Jay
I use it all the time. I can get contractor birch for $25 and Lauan for $21 and unless I just want a cream panel I'll use Virolla. Most of the time it has a nice red tint. My hardwood supplier list Lauan and virola as two different species but most places stock it as the same wood. It's one of 28 to 32 species from the Indonesian part of the world. It does have a smell sometimes. That's the phenolic glue that's used.
It is a South American - not Indonesian - hard wood similar in appearance and properties to "Luan" or "Phillipine mahogany" (which is actually a term for a melange of various trees).
I wouldn't exactly describe it as "smooth" as the wood is quite open, just as is Phillipine mahogany. It tends to be splintery on the edges. All that I have ever seen has been rotary cut...looks innocuous but not bad.
I wouldn't hesitate to use it for your intended use but if you want to cap the raw edges you may have trouble finding lumber to use that is similar in appearance.
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I don't think I've seen Virola but Lauan has a huge variation in appearance. I made some footlockers from 3/4" Lauan that had a bold grain and used red oak edge banding on it--it matches well, believe it or not. Other Lauans are more fine-grined and cocao-colored and would be well-matched with mahogany edge banding.
Home Depot and Lowes have carried this plywood for a few years now. It splinters easily on cross cuts but on occasion, you find some pretty interesting grain patterns on one side.
It's fine for shop grade stuff and with a little care, could be used for kitchen cabinets.
dadiOH wrote:
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