Three-ply Lauan | SouthernPaddler.com

Three-ply Lauan

funbun

Well-Known Member
Sep 11, 2007
214
1
Alabama
I visited Home Depot today. I noticed that their lauan now has three plies as opposed to on the single thick layer with super thin veneer. Has anyone else used this? It seems like a big upgrade from the old style lauan.
 

jdupre'

Well-Known Member
Sep 9, 2007
2,327
40
South Louisiana
Funbun, I hope you're right and I'm wrong, but that luan might have FIVE plies instead of three. Them sneaky so and so's have been putting a paper thin veneer on both sides to make it appear better than it maybe is. I'm using the stuff on my kayak and so far the wood behaves well. Only thing is the top veneer is way too easily sanded through if ya look at it too hard. :roll: Other than the thin veneers, it's a pretty good value for the money.

Joey
 

oldsparkey

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2003
10,479
123
Central , Florida
www.southernpaddler.com
The Oak plywood ( 1/4 inch) that I am using in the Bayou Skiff is three ply and the outside layers are quite thick. I located it at Home Depot when looking for the wood to make the boat from.
It has thicker ply's in it then the Luann I normally use but it is also a lot heavier per sheet.

Chuck.
 

woodchips

Well-Known Member
Mar 29, 2010
85
0
55
Montgomery, Alabama
That 3 ply (5 ply) stuff from Home Depot ... I used it on a pirouge I built last year. I just got through sanding all the paint and primer off. Above the water line, but below the rail I found a few places where I apparently had not gotten sufficant saturation. It started to decay and weaken. After digging that out and filling it back with; 1st thin epoxy ( till almost cured ), then thickened epoxy ( like a paste ), sanded smoth, and hand rubbed a coat of epoxy all the way around like a thin film. Just finnished with the oil base primer, and 2 coats or oil base enamle, think I am going to put on one more coat before I apply a wax coat to that. There was no problem in any of the cloth ( 6oz. ) covered areas or any place that was covered sufficantly by epoxy. The inside was fine and it only has tape at the chines but it is all coated verrrrry well, and stained, and UV protected. My others I have made from this ply were clothed completely on the outside, ( bottom and sides, including under the gunnals)
They were painted inside and out and have have no problem with checking or delamination.
I don't like the how flimsy it is on the bottom between the frames.
( I expect to get blasted by someone for this one ) but when I cut my bottom frame I build in a 3/16 crown to frame #2 and 1/8 in #1 and #3. That realy gives it life.
And I still call it a flat bottom. Come on 3/16 over 2 feet. Thats not enough to call it any thing else.

Let me add I only do this for mine and with the luan on my pirogues. I would never sugest that you change your plans, or any kits to incorporate the use of cheap ply.
My Glouchester Dory recomends nothing less than 1/4 inch exterior ply and that is what I am using and I will not be altering from Mr. Bogler's design.
Same will go for the Selway Waterman and Pete, when I get to them.