Chinese Okoume

[Fritz Koschmann]

Has anyone used the Chinese Okoume? Edensaw in Seattle sells it and it is quite a bit cheaper than the other other okoume. Building an 8' pram.

[GregH]

I'd be mighty careful with that stuff- probably loaded with lead!

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

Why endanger your life with Chinese plywood? You can do it more cheaply by buying a tube of Chinese tootpaste.
You will notice that my avatar shows me sailing an 8' pram. Occasionally, when I am more than a mile from shore it occures to me that there is not much keeping my keester out of the water.

[Bob Smalser]

Edensaw know exactly what they are selling and will stand by it. Ask about voids and if it passes their boil test.

http://www.edensaw.com/images/p_images/okoumeinfo.htm


B.S.6566. This is more of a utility grade of marine type plywood. Manufactured using the same specie of veneers, the same phenolic resin glue, and is Okoume thru-out. It is nearly half the price of the B.S. 1088 so it is an extremely good bargain if it fits your needs. It also must pass a water and boil proof test. Its face veneers are graded B/BB.

[David G]

I gotta ask on this one, what part of the plywood making process would benefit from the use of lead?

Resorcinal glue and veneers


Plywood for bottoms. Pre-ballasted

[Banjo]

Plywood for bottoms. Pre-ballasted

Hey I think your onto something there! ;D

[Dennis Rioux]

I bought some sheets (not from Edensaw) a couple years ago that were made in China. They were of distinctly lower quality than other stuff I have used. Lots of repairs on the outer plies and places where the black glue showed/soaked through the outer veneers. Outer veneers were also distressingly thin -- just waving 100 grit paper at it from a foot or two away was enough to sand through. (All this seems consistent with the quote Bob included in his post.) For what I had in mind this was okay, but if you can get samples it might be worth the effort. I might have some scraps left over at home I could photograph if you are interested in what you might expect. Hope this helps.

Dennis

[David G]

Hey I think your onto something there! ;D


You're too kind. Usually, folks think on ON something <g>