# Sources/prices of large size plywood
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 10, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992 "2009-11-10T02:58:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/1 "2009-11-10T02:58:40Z")
I’m working on a project that would work out easier if I was able to use a couple pieces of plywood that are larger than your standard 4X8 size. I’m looking for 5X8 or 5X12. I’ve come across one lumber yard that offers 5X10s, but at $115 per section. I expected they would be a bit pricey, but I was hoping for something cheaper than that.
Have any of you used these sizes in projects and, if so, where did you get them and how much did you end up paying?
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### Author:  [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/2 "2009-11-10T16:31:58Z")
It will almost certainly be much cheaper to use two 4x8s and throw away the excess.
What is the project? If it is necessary to have a single unbroken piece, plywood not be the best choice for various reasons. For example, I wouldn’t want plywood to cover a large unsupported span because it will warp.
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### Author:  [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/3 "2009-11-10T16:38:10Z")
Depending on the application, you might try buying 2-3 4x8 sheets of 1/4’’ plywood and overlapping the joins (the whole thing would end up 1/2’’ thick). You’d want to use something like Liquid Nails (and lots of weighting) to stick them firmly together.
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/4 "2009-11-10T18:13:21Z")
Are you building a boat? If we knew what you were up to, we probably know some work-arounds.
The exhorbitant cost comes from being such a weird one-off item - the mills are tooled for making thousands of 4x8 foot panels 24 hours a day, and every so often, some daft person wants 5x12, requiring most everything to be reset for a tiny nuisance order.
Likewise, that lumber yard that has the 5x10 for $115 had to buy a full bundle when someone needed to buy just a couple sheets. Now it’s a nuisance to them to store the stuff while they wait for someone else to come along and need more of it.
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### Author:  [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/5 "2009-11-10T19:37:50Z")
Where are you, by the way? I happen to know a good plywood place just outside Boston that carries all kinds of crazy specialty stuff.
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### Author:  [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)
#### Post date: [November 11, 2009, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/6 "2009-11-11T07:32:53Z")
You might be able to buy some from a local manufacturer of [Structural Insulated Panels](http://www.sips.org/), or SIPs. They start with larger sheets, although most of them are made with pressboard.
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### Author:  [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/7 "2009-11-12T21:10:10Z")
Aren’t ping-pong tables too big to be made from 4\*8 pieces? Maybe a maker of those? Or even a cut up old table?
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/8 "2009-11-12T21:32:17Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#):
>
> Are you building a boat?
My thoughts exactly - I looked for extra-large ply when I was building a boat - it is available in larger sizes than 8 x 4, but perhaps only in a limited range of types and thicknesses.
Butt joints are easily done - scarf joints are a little harder, if a flush join is required…
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### Author:  [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/9 "2009-12-28T22:38:46Z")
Sorry about not replying! This thread sunk like a stone at first and I didn’t think anyone was going to respond. The project is building a teardrop trailer. The plywood is for the walls of the trailer. The frame is 12 feet long. I will probably end up joining some 4 x 8 pieces then covering them with aluminum, but I was toying with the possibility of finding 4x12 pieces, finishing them nicely, and not covering the sides with aluminum.
If you know some ways to make joints that are nice enough to not require covering with aluminum, that would be good to know too.
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [December 28, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/10 "2009-12-28T23:00:33Z")
About all you can do here with regular 4x8 foot panels would be to edge-join panels with splines or a whole lot of biscuits, in effect, making your own tongue-and-groove joints.
Pre-made T&G ply exists, but I don’t think it comes any thinner than 3/4" for use as flooring. This may be more strength and more weight than you need for a trailer.
If you’re a masochist, you could scarf the joints - this is essentially just cutting the two mating edges on a bevel, bonding them with epoxy and figuring out how to clamp something that big together while the glue cures. It’s a popular technique in building boats, and[this page](http://www.boat-links.com/scarf_bevels.html) probably has enough information to scare you away from that idea.
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### Author:  [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/11 "2009-12-29T01:11:17Z")
My gf wants a teardrop trailer as well so I’ve thought about it a little. I’d do a lap joint with a router and a really good marine epoxy type glue. A 7/8" lap on 3/4" ply would be nice and strong.
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### Author:  [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/12 "2009-12-29T01:12:18Z")
My gf wants a teardrop trailer as well so I’ve thought about it a little. I’d do a lap joint with a router and a really good marine epoxy type glue. A 7/8" lap on 3/4" ply would be nice and strong.
I’d also use some aluminium backed foam insulation board on the inside.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [December 29, 2009, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/13 "2009-12-29T10:40:47Z")
> [@MikeG](#):
>
> My gf wants a teardrop trailer as well so I’ve thought about it a little. I’d do a lap joint with a router and a really good marine epoxy type glue. A 7/8" lap on 3/4" ply would be nice and strong.
I’d go with this - careful matching of the adjoining grain and care with the depth of the lap joint cuts should make for a fairly pretty joint. The inside (non-visible)face can be reinforced with an epoxy glued strip of ply or a bit of glass tape if the lap is too narrow to be able to trust for full strength.
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### Author:  [@UncleFred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleFred)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/14 "2009-12-30T03:26:46Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#):
>
> Where are you, by the way? I happen to know a good plywood place just outside Boston that carries all kinds of crazy specialty stuff.
I’m not the OP but I am in the Boston area and would like to know about your source. Who are they and where are they?
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@misterW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misterW)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/15 "2009-12-30T15:32:50Z")
> [@Sal\_Ammoniac](#):
>
> Where are you, by the way? I happen to know a good plywood place just outside Boston that carries all kinds of crazy specialty stuff.
I’m in upstate NY so Boston is within range. What is the place?
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### Author:  [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)
#### Post date: [December 30, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/16 "2009-12-30T19:10:03Z")
[http://www.boulterplywood.com/](http://www.boulterplywood.com/)
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### Author:  [@EagleArts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EagleArts)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sources-prices-of-large-size-plywood/516992/17 "2011-11-16T22:04:39Z")
\*\*Hello,\*\*[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/images/smilies/smile.gif](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I need Jumbo Plywood…I’m in the middle Tenn area
Stumbled across this post when searching for large jumbo plywoods…i am a Wall Mural Artist…I need some of this 5x10 or 5 x 12 plywood so I do not have to piece my art together…where can I get it? is it smooth and primed, ready to paint on?
also, any know where i can get heavy duty canvas at 10 feet or 12 feet tall by 50 feet long or more to pait on…prefer it already primed for oil paints.
Thanks
Nathan Gassman
[nathangassman@gmail.com](mailto:nathangassman@gmail.com)
[http://www.nathangassman.com](http://www.nathangassman.com)