Plywood query

[Neil Powell 1Participant @neilpowell1]

Hi all,

I finished bait boat v3 earlier this year and i'm already planning for version 4 which will be a much improved design taking into account all the lessons i've learnt with the previous 3 models.

I used lite ply last time and was really disappointed with how warped the sheets were despite coming from a reliable supplier. It was fine for planking but the hull formers were a nightmare. Am i missing a trick with this stuff or is there a better product out there.

Thanks all

Neil

[Neil Powell 1Participant @neilpowell1]

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Not missing a trick but it's horses for courses. For hull formers I'd use birch or laser ply and if weight is a concern cut out as much as you can from the middle or use open formers.

Chris

[Neil Powell 1Participant @neilpowell1]

Posted by Chris Fellows on 23/05/2020 09:25:20:

Not missing a trick but it's horses for courses. For hull formers I'd use birch or laser ply and if weight is a concern cut out as much as you can from the middle or use open formers.

Chris

Thanks Chris. I just had an issue with it not laying flat and having to score it to make it go flat. Is birch ply less prone to warping?

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

To be honest I've rarely had a sheet that is completely flat, even the thicker 6mm stuff and have had to be selective where I cut larger items like keels from. For formers/bulkheads it isn't usually a problem as a slight warp isn't much of an issue, even visually.

But if you have had to score it then your ply must have been seriously warped! Trouble is, particularly with Liteply you are reducing the strength by doing that, which isn't that great in the first place compared with other types.

Chris

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Neil

I have used birchply for building my boats for years, the secret to avoid warping is having a good solid frame and plenty of fixings or good glue, then when the hull is finished ensure that it is fully sealed.

I will use anything up to 15mm thick ply for frames and keel and 2 or 3mm for skin (4mm on larger hulls) when I need a particularly bendy ply I will invest in a sheet of aircraft ply.

Paul

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

To be fair, Doc, most of the model boats you build are at least four feet long and have big strimmer engines in them. That ain't no place for liteply.

You can't just substitute liteply for birch ply. You have to design the stuff into a model from the start – like Depron or cardboard. One day I might write "The Book of Liteply", but it's not likely to be soon.

Dave M

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