What's the difference between birch and baltic birch plywood?

Birch plywood and Baltic Birch plywood may sound nearly identical, however, they are in fact different forms of wood used in many woodworking projects. If you ever want to do something cool with wooden work, you really need to know the difference between both types of plywood. 

What is Birch Plywood? 

Birch wood is sourced from the birch tree, mainly present in Northern Europe. It is a kind of plywood formed from the bonding together of many thin sheets of birch veneer. What's special about birch plywood is that the grain pattern on these sheets is at a right angle to each other, which is one of the gifts of keeping it strong and stable. 

What is Baltic Birch Plywood? 

Note: The other plywood that is called as Baltic Birch plywood comes from trees grown in Russia, Finland and the Baltic states. The climatic properties under which birch trees grow in these regions, are much less favourable and hence grow with unique properties. Baltic Birch plywood contains more layers or plies than standard Birch plywood as a direct result of the harsh surroundings these trees are found in. That extra few layers is what makes baltic birch plywood sheet a lot tougher and capable of bearing more pressure until damage occurs. 

What Makes Baltic Birch Plywood so Special? 

The great quality of Baltic birch plywood is not a secret anymore. Its fine, uniform grain ensures that it is not only attractive, but easy to work with, too. Baltic Birch is ideal for making everything from cabinets, furniture, and even musical instruments because it is heavier and denser compared to many softwoods. 

Baltic Birch plywood has very unique feature: all layers are banded cross. Each layer gives plywood extra strength. Baltic Birch Plywood is meant to withstand damage better (as opposed to traditional Birch plywood, which has fewer layers). That is why baltic birch plywood is the most common choice for CNC routing and other woodworking tools, it just works and can take the abuse that a lot of these tools deliver and not turn into an origami project. 

How to Choose Between Birch and Baltic Birch for Your Projects

If you are doing various woodwork then understanding the differences between these plywood types is key. Neither is Birch plywood, which may be a good choice for some types of general woodworking, but is not as durable as Baltic Birch. When you want something with LOTS of use and pressure then Baltic Birch is your best solution. 

Any time you need an item to be strong, durable, and stable, Baltic Birch is the best material choice. It is ideal for creating cabinets, drawers, tables, and chairs that need solid construction so won't just fall apart. Birch plywood may be less expensive because it is more widely available, and often used to create toys, panels, and many DIY projects. 

Understand Birch and Baltic Birch Plywood

Speaking of cost, Baltic Birch plywood is usually more costly than traditional Birch plywood. It's more robust, stiff, and durable; this is simply because it has additional layers. It is also a more stable substance, which is part of why it is commonly used for furniture and home fixtures that are meant to be around for a long time. 

In contrast, birch plywood is typically a more budget-friendly option. This is a multipurpose lumber, so it will have many types of applications in your woodworking. Great for all kinds of DIY stuff such as making shelves or other home stuff. Birch plywood has great tonal coloring and contains a really nice grain pattern to stain or leave in natural shape fit to coordinate with your home decor easily.