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Why A 4' x 8' Sheet Of Plywood For A Layout?

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  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Sunday, February 16, 2014 6:06 PM

riogrande5761

 BTW, I've noticed at Home Depot and Lowes, the 4x8 sheets of plywood are pretty warped.  I decided to us OSB (Oriented Strand Board) nominally 1/2 inch thick as it has little or no warp and only costs about $8 at my local home depot.

 

Yeah, that sheathing grade stuff can be warped - just have to be picky about what you buy.  Or you can buy the better stuff they have for more money.  I'm not a fan of OSB, but I'm sure it works for a tabletop layout.

Enjoy

Paul

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 369 posts
Posted by JAMES MOON on Sunday, February 16, 2014 10:07 PM

I worked in a commercial lumber yard in high school back in the dark ages and remember only 4x8 sheets of plywood.  Forward many years and while working with Habitat for Humanity building in Connecticut our local affiliate came into a trailer load of 4x9 sheets of 1/2 inch plywood that had been used to board in an outdoor concert venue.  It was nice stuff for sheeting houses as it covered the the rim joist plus the entire first floor wall frame.  It would have been nice for model railroading for 9 or 18 ft benchwork.  

As noted drywall routinely comes in 4x12 lenghts as it makes it possible to do many rooms with no butt seams and only the middle tappered seam at the 4 ft level.  The tappered seam is much easier to finish compared to a butt seam.  

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