Plywood

[pilotbiker]

Hello everyone, I am new here and this is my first time starting a thread. My question is what type of plywood is the best, (Birch, Mahogany, Basswood), for my LEXL project and what grain orientation should I be getting? I have a friend building an Osprey and his spar plywood is Birch with a 45 degree grain orientation. I can see how that is like miniature  45 deg. diagonals in a truss structure. I am a metals guy and quite new to the wood thing. Maybe it's on the plans and I missed it. What do you guys know?

Thank,
Mark.

[Tom XL-7]

Mark I bought the straight grain birch. This has been discussed and the 45 degree is not called out or required. Welcome and have fun. 
Tom XL-7

[Vince Carucci]

I bought the 4 x 8 full sheet of Mahogany plywood. 

Nice stuff but it taint cheep...

[leshoman]

I used a combination of birch and Mahogany, The Mahogany sheet was lighter in weight than the birch,  not always the case.  I know of one eagle that is made entirely using the birch plywood.

[pilotbiker]

Thanks guys, it's starting to make sense. Les, I am thinking the same thing, use Birch for structural (spar webs), and a lighter type for the rest. What do you think about the Basswood plywood I see on the ACS website for the non critical pieces? Or should I just get Mahogany and call it good? Always thinking about weight.

Mark.

[leshoman]

i wooukd stick with birch or maghonay. bass wood has its uses but none i can think of on LEXL or LEUL

[pilotbiker]

Ok, cool. Les, I have spent many late nights flying along with you on the chase cam, keep em coming. I see you live in NorCal (sort of close) to me, and hang out in Rio Vista sometimes. I live in Woodland and am going to have see your bird some day.

Mark.

[leshoman]

i fly out of Oakdale.  September 22nd we are having the 5 annual northern california legal eagle gathering at Rio Vista. get to medt builders, pilots and Legal Eagles projects and flying machines

[pilotbiker]

That sounds very cool! I am only an hour from there, and I plan to come.

Mark.