On 7/7/2011 4:52 PM, Existential Angst wrote:
> I'm looking to make a 4 ft x 6 ft base for some apparatus, out of 1/2"
> plywood, for outdoor use. It works well indoors, but I'm wondering if
I can make it
*truly* waterproof for outdoor use, with enough coats of
poly, epoxy, or some clear plastic
> coating-type finishes I've seen.
Wood is pretty much waterproof already, glue not so much. Outdoor
plywood uses water resistant glue, so it won't come apart so easily.
Marine plywood uses a good quality water proof glue and has no gaps in
the veneers for water to hide in. Marine plywood is rather pricy and
probably not needed for "some apparatus", whatever that is. I have
bought 3/4 wolmanized plywood at my home depot, and used it for the
walls on my swimming pool. It has held up fine w/o any finish. If I
were making a "base for some apparatus" I'd likely look into the 3/4"
wolmanized stuff. I would not likely use 1/2 inch for a base.
> Not that familiar with wood/coatings, beyond having done my floors
with a water-based poly+catalyst, with mixed results.
The nice thing about the wolmanized stuff is there is no need to try to
protect it with finish. You can finish it for looks,with paint or
stain, but that is up to you. Actually, I guess that's true with any
quality outdoor plywood.
> Also, I know there's HD 1/2 plywood, which you can break across your
> knee, and there is real 1/2 ply, from a lumber yard.
All plywood is "real".
> Are there even harder/stiffer grades? I'm not necessarily looking for
> furniture-grade plywood, but maybe that is indeed the stiffest
Yeah, 3/4" is stiffer, but really, there are a myriad of grades of
plywood, and all sorts of different cores for different purposes.
furniture grade is not what you are looking for outdoor use for an
"apparatus" base.
. Cost, bang for the buck is a factor.
My home depot often has great quality plywood at great prices, but not
all the time. Right now they have some sort of "heat treated" stuff on
sale I've never seen before. It's red-ish stuff, I think outdoor.
I'd look into it if I were building an outdoor base for an apparatus.
--
Jack
Got Change: Democratic Republic ======> Banana Republic!
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