plywoods

Plywood is a manufactured wood panel product consisting of thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another. This cross-graining construction is what gives plywood its strength and stability. Typically, plywood is made from hardwood or softwood logs. The number of plies can vary, but it is usually an odd number, with at least three plies.

The process of making plywood involves peeling logs into thin sheets, which are then dried, sorted, and glued together under heat and pressure. The type of wood used and the adhesive employed can influence the plywood's properties and intended applications. Common adhesives include urea-formaldehyde (UF) and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins.

Plywood is widely used in construction for subflooring, walls, and roofing. It is also utilized in furniture making, cabinetry, and even in the manufacturing of musical instruments. Its advantages include its strength-to-weight ratio, resistance to splitting and warping, and versatility in size and thickness. Different grades of plywood exist, categorized by the quality of the veneer on their surfaces and their suitability for various uses. Exterior-grade plywood is made with waterproof adhesives and is suitable for outdoor applications, while interior-grade plywood uses water-resistant adhesives.