ANSI/HPVA defines hardwood plywood as “a panel composed of an assembly of layers or plies of veneer or veneers in combination with lumber core, particleboard core, MDF core, hardboard core, or of a special core material joined with an adhesive. Except for special constructions, the grain of alternate plies is at right angles and the face veneer is a hardwood species.”
Nicholson and Cates stocks hardwood plywood in all grades, veneers and core types, ranging in thickness from 1/8″ to 1-1/2″. We can also supply you with FSC certified, Moisture Resistant, Fire Retardant, and No Added Urea Formaldehyde (NAUF) hardwood plywood. Our products are used in manufacturing fine furniture, commercial fixtures, high-end cabinetry, and architectural millwork. Common species in stock include birch, maple, red oak and cherry.
Plywood Specialty Products
- Flexible Plywood
- Melamine One Side Panels
- Paperback Veneers
- Reconstituted Veneers
- Exotic Species
- UV Finish
Plywood Core Types
Veneer Core
Veneer Core plywood consists of a center veneer and crossband veneers alternately layered on both sides of the center to the desired thickness producing an odd number of veneers for the core. The weight-bearing strength of Veneer Core plywood is excellent along with its bending strength and screw-hold ability. Veneer Core panels are lighter in weight than any other core type.
MDF Core
Medium Density Fiberboard Core has the most uniform thickness and consistency of any panel core. The face and back veneer are glued directly to the MDF Core without the need for a crossband veneer. The consistency in thickness and flatness makes MDF Core panels the preferred choice for 32mm construction.
Particleboard Core
Particleboard Core panels are constructed similar to MDF Core panels, with the face & back veneers glued directly to the core. Particleboard Core lays flat like MDF, but does not have the screw-hold strength of other cores. Particleboard Core is the least expensive of all core types.
Combination Core
Combination Core consists of a center veneer core and a crossband veneer on both sides of the center with a layer of MDF, particleboard, or hardboard under the face and back veneer. Combination Core can be used when the project calls for consistent flatness and good screw-hold ability, without the weight of a MDF or particleboard core.