Composite plywood alternative?.

[Keithmac]

Hello all, I'd like to find an alternative to 9mm or 12 mm plywood to make some parts for my car (spare wheel/ boot floor cover etc).

Is there any plastic / compsosite sheet material with similar properties to plywood that are easy to work with?.

Any recommendations welcome.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Is there any plastic / compsosite sheet material with similar properties to plywood that are easy to work with?.

I believe there are some composite panels available for just work...but ain't cheap unfortunately.

 

[bourbon]

Try these guys https://www.flightcasehardware.co.uk/ I've used them when I made, well, a couple of flight cases

 

[Bullet2012]

Nidaplast

Composite panels and honeycombs for industry

Need a solution for the production of your composite sandwich panels? Nidaplast deploys a whole range to meet your needs: lamination, rtm, infusion, bonding, fire protection, etc.

www.nidaplast.com

https://grpukltd.com/product/nidaplast8-15mm-sheet-2-5mt-x-1-22mts/

 

[frank horton]

I rather ike the Rihno board, like used in trailer beds......still plywood tho but almost bomb proof........
Horrendus money tho......
nothing is easy to cut if u want a good finish.....other than use machines with SHARP blades.....
Hand saws n plywood dont mix if u want a good finish/edge....

 

[Smallfry]

Sheet HDPE ? Comes in various thicknesses, and is easy to cut with a jigsaw. Obviously water and rotproof

 

[RWD3M]

Of no help to you, but I used ply for just that very thing:

Stuff you have made today

Made some stair treads out of some floor grating, bolted up to stringers, handrails to do now Make sure you’ve got all the proper stuff for access stairs, it can be a minefield

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[cheb]

What about the stuff that coach boot floors are made from? It might be rhino board, but it wasn't when I had an old coach years ago.

There's a campervan conversion company near me that makes it's own recycled hdpe panels from old fish boxen and the like.

And finally I've got some old fish farm cage walkways that are made from a very rough recycled plastic. I heard the word stockboard bandied about but haven't researched it.

 

[gaz1]

Hello all, I'd like to find an alternative to 9mm or 12 mm plywood to make some parts for my car (spare wheel/ boot floor cover etc).

Is there any plastic / compsosite sheet material with similar properties to plywood that are easy to work with?.

Any recommendations welcome.

i wouldnt use what your thinking of

id use plastic clading to create a sheet if im making up a floor cover thats strong
for light weight and not strong soffit board

 

[bigegg]

GRP sheets come in 4-12mm thicknesses.
Messy to cut, though - very dusty/itchy and you'll need specialist jigsaw blades or an angle grinder.

You could always cut a piece of 3mm ply and laminate it with GRP?

(Or, bodge job: cut a panel out of a Wheely bin)

 

[Mark 5]

Me, I would just use some 9-12mm waterproof ply, cut to requirements and three coats of decent varnish to all cut edges and surfaces.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Scaffodeck is used as a lightweight alternative to plywood for flooring. They even do a welding rod for it so you can make up boxes etc.

There are also the grp coated panels with honeycomb or foam cores. These have replaced the grp coated ply that was used on lorry sides etc.

I've done a few horseboxes with them. They cut to size ok using wood saws etc but the grp is hard on the blades. I use a tct tracksaw for most of it then suff like window holes with a tct jigsaw blade or a router. The surface scratches easily but you can polish it.
You need some sort of load spreader if you are putting bolts through although special bolts/fixings are available which make the job easier.

I've not seen it in thicknesses under 14mm though.
Might be available, it's a fracion of the weight of ply.
Only issue you might have with something like a boot tray is its hard to fix into the edges of the board. I've done it using glue and plates or studding but I wouldn't say it's particularly strong..

 

[ajlelectronics]

Foamboard is what I use. Otherwise GRP panels would be my second option.

 

[Agroshield]

...the grp is hard on the blades. I use a tct tracksaw for most of it...

I do not know if you aware that it is possible to buy a PCD (poly crystalline diamond) blade for a tracksaw. Lasts a lot longer on abrasive materials (laminate flooring with glass-like anti-scratch coating).

DeWalt EXTREME Fibre Cement Diamond Tooth Circular Saw Blade 165mm x 20mm 4T - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Ideal for cutting through cement fibre board and other dense composite panels. Polycrystaline diamond teeth offer long-lasting and effective cutting edge. Blade can also be used on laminated and melamine surfaces, soft and hardwoods, MDF, plywood and chipboard...

www.screwfix.com

 

[hotponyshoes]

I do not know if you aware that it is possible to buy a PCD (poly crystalline diamond) blade for a tracksaw. Lasts a lot longer on abrasive materials (laminate flooring with glass-like anti-scratch coating).

DeWalt EXTREME Fibre Cement Diamond Tooth Circular Saw Blade 165mm x 20mm 4T - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Ideal for cutting through cement fibre board and other dense composite panels. Polycrystaline diamond teeth offer long-lasting and effective cutting edge. Blade can also be used on laminated and melamine surfaces, soft and hardwoods, MDF, plywood and chipboard...

www.screwfix.com

I did try something like that but had issues with the plunge cuts (windows etc)
Mostly kickback I think but I have got a stop for the rail since then so I might try it again..