Carrying plywood is incredibly simple with a simple length of rope.
Family Handyman
A Length of Rope is the Ultimate Extra Hand
Carrying a sheet of plywood by yourself is awkward and hard on your back. The best method I’ve found is to make a loop from an 18-ft. length of rope and wrap it around two corners. Now I can use the rope as a handle. – Ken Porter
Watch this video to learn how to tie five knots every DIYer should know:
Next, check out our ultimate guide to plywood core options:
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Family Handyman
Veneer Core
Veneer core is made up of many layers of hardwood bonded together. The layers are assembled with alternating grain direction, called cross banding. This makes a strong, rigid, lightweight sheet with excellent screw holding capability. Because of these qualities, veneer core is my first choice in most cases.Check out these 16 Tips to Get the Best Plywood for Your Buck.
Family Handyman
MDF Core
MDF core has a few advantages over veneer core. The thickness is more consistent, and MDF gives a smooth, even surface for the face veneer. It’s also more stable and it’s typically flatter. However, MDF core isn’t as strong as veneer core, it doesn’t hold fasteners as well and it’s heavy. But if I’m making one-piece doors, I’ll choose MDF core every time because of its flatness and stability. We take the mystery out of the plywood grading system and show you what you will get in each grade. The higher the grade the better quality you should expect.
Family Handyman
Particleboard Core
Particleboard Core is the least expensive option. Like MDF core, it’s flat and stable with consistent thickness. But particleboard core options are a bit worse in the screw holding category. Also, it’s a special-order product, at least from my lumberyard, whereas MDF core is readily available.
Family Handyman
Combination Core
Combination Core weds the best attributes of MDF core and veneer core. The center cores are cross banded hardwood, providing strength, light weight and screw-holding capability. The outer cores are MDF, giving a flat, uniform surface for the face veneers. However, combination core is a compromise: It doesn’t have the screw-holding capability and rigidity of veneer core, or the flatness and stability of MDF core. The Family Handyman DIY expert, Spike Carlsen, will show you how to cut construction grade plywood and finish grade plywood with a circular saw.
Family Handyman
Lumber Core
Lumber Core consists of edge-glued strips of wood, usually basswood. On both sides of the core, there’s a cross banded veneer, then the face veneer. Like veneer core, it has excellent screw holding capability, strength and rigidity. But it’s considerably more expensive and harder to find than veneer core, so I almost never use it. However, it’s a good choice for long shelves.
Family Handyman
Baltic Birch and Appleply
Baltic Birch and Appleply are top-notch veneer core plywoods, which you’ll only find at a lumberyard. Their 1/16-in.-thick core options veneer offer better stability than typical plywood with 1/8-in.-thick core veneers. The raw edge is attractive when finished and often used as a design element. Baltic birch or ApplePly is my first choice for drawers and shop jigs. ApplePly is available in thicknesses from 1/4 in. to 1-1/2 in., and in many face veneer species. Check out our guide to Plywood Veneer: This is Why the Cut Matters.
Originally Published: March 07, 2019
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