Plywood Sheet for a Door?
I want to make a large sliding door based on a single sheet of 3/4″ plywood. The problem is, the sheet would ideally be 6 foot x 8 foot. I understand that the standard size is 4×8. Do 6×8 sheets exist / are they available without paying stupid premium? Where would I get one? If…
I want to make a large sliding door based on a single sheet of 3/4″ plywood. The problem is, the sheet would ideally be 6 foot x 8 foot. I understand that the standard size is 4×8. Do 6×8 sheets exist / are they available without paying stupid premium? Where would I get one? If I were to bolt together 4 sheets of standard 3/8″ & cut down to 6×8, would i have any issues (would it be better or worse)?
FYI, the door I am considering putting in is a barn door style, framed with 1 3/4″ wood with the plywood covered in 1/2″ industrial felt on both sides.
Thanks
CGmodern, That is how I usually do it as well (with solid core slabs) but they don’t come cheap at 8′ tall.
If you need extra heavy duty barn door hardware, Greschlers on 5th avenue sells 12′ lengths. I picked up a set this week for a shop project and I was surprised how inexpensive it was.
we did this same thing (large sliding barn door) using two hollow wood doors we got from BuildItGreen for super cheap. Then smoothed over the seems with veneer…or thin wood (my hubby did it…can’t remeber). We were concerned about the weight of the door on the track so we wanted it as light as possible.
Plywood is bad for this application and solid wood edge glued is even worse.
Rosenzweig Lumber sells a product called lite ply that is made up of cross-banded basswood with 1/8″ Italian poplar faces and 1/8 ” between layers. The piece that I am holding in my hand is 1.5″ thick that is made of three layers of basswood (3/8″) thick and four layers of Italian poplar.
Because it is cross-banded (the strips of wood alternate directions) it is very stable and flat. The basswood is very light as well.
Pingpong tables are made from flake or mdf. 5×10 is a stock size in the industry- just not at home depot.
If you use solid wood you can join pieces very firmly using biscuits. Ply really isn’t good for your application.
Ping pong table plywood is 5 ft by 9 ft. I think. Not sure where to buy in the city.
Yes, alternatively, screwing together overlapping sheets of 3/8″ that are perpendicular to each other will create a much stronger door. Use glue too.
It’ll look a whole lot nicer and actually be more rigid (the plywood will eventuually warp) if you make it out of tongue & groove 1 X 6 boards framed on 4 sides and with an X cross brace across the back (framed & braced with 1X6), all preferably cedar. it’ll also weigh a whole hell of a lot less than pressure treated plywood.