Birch Plywood is an ideal material for laser cutting. Unfortunately, it also has a tendency to warp. We will explain what you can do to prevent or to solve this problem. Are you planning to work with birch? This will be useful information for you.
Birch plywood is strong and versatile, and made especially for Lasersheets with a glue that can be used safely in the laser cutter. It is our best-selling material for a reason.
Why Choose Birch Plywood at Lasersheets?
Our Birch Plywood is made specifically for Lasersheets, with a glue that is safe and which reduces the risk of soot formation around the edges. It originates in European forests, and we are proud to say that some of the thicknesses in our store are FSC-certified.
Birch has been our customers’ favourite for years, and here is why:
- B/B quality: meaning high quality, sanded, and not joined. Small pips and natural nuances in colour may occur, as repairs in the visible layers are not permitted.
- Fewer knots: a laser cannot cut through knots in one go. This can lead to ugly markings or it can make parts unusable. That is why our birch plywood contains fewer knots.
- Strong: birch wood is dense and tough, which makes it very strong. Its layers are cross-laminated, which makes it even stronger.
- Consistent: the thickness of the sheets may deviate from their indicated thickness by a maximum of 0.3 mm. This is very consistent.
- Several thicknesses: our birch plywood is available in several thicknesses, which makes it suitable for numerous projects and parts.
Our birch plywood is suitable for decorative purposes. Because it is of B/B quality, no repairs have been carried out in the visible layers. You will be able to cut more out of one sheet. That is because it contains fewer knots, so all parts are cut perfectly at the first go. Birch wood is in itself a very strong type of wood, it does not dent easily, and it can also be used for constructive designs. It is available in several thicknesses, which offer you as the designer many options. The 0.5 mm and 1 mm sheets can be bent and can even be applied as a veneer. At the same time, 3 mm is already suitable for small crates, boxes, etc. With 9 mm birch wood you are able to create furniture. Birch plywood is a reliable type of wood, allowing you to get the most out of your laser cutter.
The only disadvantage of birch plywood is that it can warp when the humidity in the air changes. We have examined this extensively and compared suppliers. Unfortunately, the industry has not reached the point yet where warping can be avoided completely. That is why we are happy to explain how you can prevent and repair warped sheets.
Why Does Wood Tend to Warp?
Moisture causes wood to warp. In plywood this causes tension between the layers, causing them to bend. In fact, this causes a twisted shape, reminiscent of a corkscrew. You recognise this easily, as one corner of the sheet will be off the ground when you place it on a flat surface.
Changes in temperature and thus humidity cause plywood to warp. We do not ship wood that is severely warped already, but it can warp during transport. We do not control the circumstances during transport of the wood. Therefore, it is possible that it warps as a result of a change in humidity between the depots and the vehicles of the shipping company.
If you want to be certain to receive a straight sheet, we advise you to pick it up yourself at our location in Rotterdam.
Do All Thicknesses Warp?
No. Wood with a thickness between 0.5 to 2 mm is so flexible that it does not warp. Warping also rarely occurs in sheets with a thickness of 6 and 9 mm. They are strong enough to keep themselves straight.
It is the 3 mm and 4 mm thicknesses which are at the largest risk of warping.
How Can You Prevent Warping?
Wood is a natural product, which responds to humidity. It is unfortunately impossible to completely prevent warping, but you can minimise the risk of it happening. For that, you use the following tips.
Store your sheet like this:
- Flat (horizontal), never store your sheet upright.
- In a box or other packaging, as this reduces the changes in humidity.
- Under a heavy sheet and/or additional weight.
- In a room with a low humidity, so not in a basement or shed.
The worst you can do is to store your wooden sheets upright in a humid shed. We advise you to store the material flat, packaged, and under a heavy sheet. Are you storing it in a humid space? Wrap it in foil (kitchen foil) and place something heavy on top.
Is Curved Wood Unusable?
No, warped wood is not unusable. There are a few things that you can do.
- Cut it into small pieces. This reduces the tension and straightens them out.
- Use tape, weights, magnets, or honeycomb clips to keep your material straight in your machine.
- Is it too warped to cut? Place it under a heavy sheet with additional weights on top in a dry room and wait a few days.
The tension in a warped sheet is usually released when it is made smaller. If you are planning to cut smaller parts from your sheet, the fact that it is bent does not cause major issues. Your parts will come out of the laser cutter straight.
Was your wood to warped for use on arrival? Contact our customer services immediately upon receipt and we will find a suitable solution together.
Remember that we have a return policy of 30 days. Unfortunately, we are not able to help you after that.
Alternative Types of Wood
If you want to prevent the risk that your material warps, then have a look at the other types of wood that we offer.
- Poplar plywood does not warp and is both lighter and softer.
- Basswood plywood is very flat, and it is slightly softer too.
- Veneered MDF looks like wood, but has the advantages of MDF.
Summarised
Lasersheets’ birch wood is of high quality and ideal for laser cutting. When you are cutting this wood, there is less soot and fewer failures due to knots than with standard plywood. It is also strong and reliable.
Unfortunately, this material tends to warp because of changes in humidity. The best practices for storing birch plywood are: flat, packed, under a heavy weight, and in a dry room. Do not place it upright against the wall in your shed!
Has your wood warped? Then you can store it under a heavy weight until it is straight. You can also cut it into small pieces, releasing the tension. You can always contact our customer services, but remember to do that immediately upon receipt.
Birch plywood is suitable for laser cutting and it has been the bestseller at Lasersheets for years already. It is strong and of a high quality, and this very versatile. What will be your next birch wood project?
