Vohringer/Altofina or similiar.

[53]

Does anyone know of any good suppliers of lightweight, 15mm, double laminated, ply for use in furniture construction for a camper conversion? There seems to be plenty of good sources in the UK and Germany but not a lot available here.

Vohringer and Altofina seem to be the go choice in the UK and the choice of finishes is impressive. I've got to believe there is an alternative here, surely I don't have to import wood from 1/2 way across the world!

[Bryn23]

Try these guys as they are NSW based Laminated Panels for Recreational Vehicles and RV Market | Australian Laminators

Frontline uses this product i believe.

There is also Stylite, they do lightweight ply as well,

I'll be most likey using Stylite, as there is a dealer in the same suburb as my industrial shed up here in Brissie.

[BobRonk]

There is a place in Lampton, I will try and find the name...Could be 'Mister Ply and Wood Newcastle'
I bought some 4mm Hoop Pine Ply for boat repairs from there, worth ago.

[Bryn23]

As a Cabinetmaker, some of the plywood that is sold here is only worthy of burning, decent lightweight ply is limited in Australia.

If you do order in double sided lightweight laminated or veneered substrate, make sure they use and supply at least a 3mm packing sheet bottom and top of your order to reduce any panel damage.

[Big Bug]

This stuff looks ok, Premium Decorative Plywood and Specialty Timber Panels Melbourne I think the people who make the Achtung Camper - campervans for sale and campervan conversions in Victoria use it. Have no idea how much it costs and have never seen it but maybe worth checking out.

Bruce CQ

[Bryn23]

Yes they do use maxi film plywood, I've used this in furniture, but it is heavier than lightweight ply, but it was a lot, and i was keen to use it until i saw the weight penalty for a campervan conversion, when the sheets started to add up.

I didn't mention it before as the op was looking for lightweight plywood.

A 2440x1220x12mm sheet is 23 kg, and if i recall i think the Stylelite was 7kg a Sqm, so 3kg per sheet difference, but this is 12mm vs 17mm.

Maxiply don't recommend using it in doors as it can move a little in the thinner stock, but as the doors and drawer front aren't overly big, i don't believe it is a issue in a campervan, but you will have to double up the ply in the hinge area, like what Achtung do, if you want to use normal hinges, as they are designed for 16mm.

They will also ship it from Vic, they may have a NSW dealer, we currently don't have one in Brisbane.

It is a beautiful ply, but i'm bias as I've only used Birch ply since 08 for cabinets and furniture, as it is better than the pine we make here, our ply here is basically construction grade ply.

[Big Bug]

Ok, weight is a problem. I used Gaboon marine ply to make mine and it was a lot heavier than I wanted. I would say the quality isn't all that good but there isn't much choice at home. Might see if I can have a look at the Stylelite tomorrow if I can while I'm in Brisbane.

Bruce CQ

PS Wouldn't want a cabinet maker to look too closely at my cabinetry work.

[Bryn23]

Ok, weight is a problem. I used Gaboon marine ply to make mine and it was a lot heavier than I wanted. I would say the quality isn't all that good but there isn't much choice at home. Might see if I can have a look at the Stylelite tomorrow if I can while I'm in Brisbane.

Bruce CQ

PS Wouldn't want a cabinet maker to look too closely at my cabinetry work.

DMK in Banyo, supply it, they are were Lazaridies Timber use to be, not sure what is in stock at the moment, they only keep the 17mm

The good thing about Stylelite is that you can get the matching 1mm Edging.

Plywood Suppliers | Plywood Distributor | Plywood Manufacturing Sydney & Brisbane

They have a price pdf if i recall on their site.

They also do another lightweight ply, that is just ply and you can laminate it yourself, if i recall it was 370kg a sqm

[53]

Already gave Mister Plywood a go, only ply really no finished panels.

[Seano]

If you've got the coin then check out the Featherlight range of panel products from ATL Composites in QLD. I've seen a whole Ute back camper built of this stuff - some mob from Bendigo. It's epic but not cheap

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Bryn23]

Hey Seano,

That Featherlight FB, the Balsa substrate looks like a good product, so tempting i had to have a closer look at it.

At around 4kg a sqm, it is impressive, although I'm not sure how well a screw fitted drawers would hold in the long term into balsa wood.

It is technically a hardwood due to the grain structure, but i'd be a little worried able them putting on any rough roads, maybe a two pack expoy dipped screw would hold??

As for pricing, you are looking at these exc GST

2440x1220mm sheet

* 9mm $253.28
* 13mm $266.80
* 16mm $277.70
* 19mm $293.80

It is also made to order..

Nice product, but a little to $$ for me at the moment, as i'd also have to laminate it or veneer it as the veneer isn't A grade.

[Seano]

In the camper unit I saw every component join was glued, taped and epoxied...

Like I said... not cheap. The old adage holds: light, cheap strong - pick only two.