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Best type of plywood for layout base?
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I will offer a counter opinion. I think 1/2" is not overkill. I am using 3/4" cabinet grade on my layout. Expensive but nothing moves, sags etc. The question is how will things hold up over time. I used 1/4 and 3/8 on my last layout and had problems with warping and sagging. Sure you can support the heck out of it, but it may be just as easy to go thicker on the plywood. The reason I use cabinet grade is that it is high quality, and has a flat surface. I don't know what has happened to plywood in the last few years but at my lumber yard the cheaper grades are seriously warped, "potato chip" is the term in the trade. <br /> <br />As long as the layout is not large, the cost difference between the good stuff and not so good stuff is minimal. If I were looking at building a portable layout I might take a look at David Barrow's domino idea for bench work. He has done numerous articles on the subject for MR through the last ten years. The basic idea is to build a series of stand alone sections say 2' x 4' that bolt together. It would be a lot easier to move a layout constructed in this manner than say a 4 x 8 sheet with legs...
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