Baltic birch is not a particular species of birch but is a general designation of plywood from Russia,
Finland, and neighbouring Baltic states. Quality can be variable as with any natural wood product.
However, Baltic birch plywood is generally considered to be of superior quality in contrast to regular
birch plywood.
In a nutshell, Baltic birch plywood is made completely from birch plies, with no softwood or filler
plies in the center. In addition, the plies themselves have a tendency to be a lot more thinner,
allowing for more plies for a given thickness, and greater stiffness and stability.
Let us now take a quick look at the reasons you are supposed to mull over Baltic birch plywood in
your specifications for fixtures and cabinetry.
The hardwood core is almost free from voids, and thicker face veneers and the multi-ply
construction leads to a panel that performs impeccably when machines or used on CNC equipment.
In addition, it is ideal for the exposed edge designer look.
The construction of Baltic birch plywood can have more than thirty percent more plies as compared
to conventional domestic plywood. The combined result of birch hardwood fibre and the multi-ply
construction make for a panel that is exclusively designed to tolerate heavy loads or high impact
from poles, ski boots, sis, tennis rackets, golf clubs, and golf shoes.
For instance, a ¾ inch piece of regular plywood may have six or seven plies, and Baltic birch plywood
of the same thickness may have thirteen layers. This structure makes plywood that is harder and less
vulnerable to variations in humidity that can result in the wood to bend or move.
Made from totally birch hardwood and components virtually free from voids, this material is
popularly known to provide specific gravity and excellent hardness. This makes Baltic birch plywood
amongst the strongest and most dimensionally stable panels available.
Baltic birch plywood is a premium grade of plywood that comes from both FSC-certified and non-
certified forests in Russia and other nations situated around the Baltic Sea.
The premium quality of Baltic birch plywood signifies that it has more applications in woodworking
as compared to several other types of plywood available in the market.
Voids are the bane of regular plywood. They lessen the strength of the wood, resulting in cracks and
chips that are unattractive and can compromise the strength of the wood. More plies and a
homogenous composition of all-birch signifies that Baltic birch does not have such dreaded voids. It
even signifies that the plies have a steady amount of adhesive joining each layer, creating a stronger
board.
One more benefit of Baltic birch is the capability of holding screws. Traditional hardwoods have
softwood layers and voids that create weak spots that do not satisfactorily hold screws. For the
reason that Baltic birch is made totally of hardwood, with no filler or softwood, it holds screws well.
There are also no voids to cause issues. In addition, the thinner plies create a denser material that
better holds screws.
Even though Baltic birch is by no means waterproof, however, it does better resist water in contrast
to other types of plywood. This is for the reason that waterproof adhesive is used. This does not
signify it can be utilized for outdoor woodworking projects, but it signifies the layers are less
susceptible to pulling apart when used in environments with high moisture levels.
Traditional plywood has a thin outer veneer that can chip fairly effortlessly at corners and edges
when cutting, joining, or sanding. It makes it tricky to use for furniture, cabinetry, and other types of
finish carpentry. With an outer layer that is two times as thick as the outer layer of traditional
plywood, Baltic birch will not chip as easily, making it much simpler to work with and a lot more
suitable for cabinetry and furniture.
For the reason that Baltic birch makes use of the entire birch and has no voids, you do not essentially
need to cover the edges with edge tape. While the different wood species and voids make leaving an
exposed edge on regular plywood an unattractive choice, the edge on Baltic birch plywood can be
sanded to a smooth finish and sealed, creating a striking appearance for certain types of furniture.
More layers also mean a less susceptible board to warping or bending because of moisture. The
cross-banding of layers offers a balance of forces that help to keep the board level. Of course, as in
regular plywood, the thicker the board, the flatter it will remain.
With more plies per board as compared to regular plywood, Baltic birch is more rigid and stronger in
contrast to other types of plywood available in the market. This makes it a sensible choice for joinery
that necessitates more strength for complicated dovetails and rabbit joints since it is much less
probable to chip or have voids, creating a cleaner joint.
Even though it may share the same general design principles as other types of plywood, Baltic birch
plywood is popularly known to offer a higher level of quality. With double the layers of other
plywood that make it firmer, thicker veneers that make it more tough, and a solid birch core that
makes it sturdier, Baltic birch is perfect for cabinetry and furniture.
Simply take into account that you will pay more than two times the cost of regular plywood for Baltic
birch plywood.
