OSB: More than Paper mache with splinters?

[tkarlmann]

Just tried OSB, first time material for me. Lots of splinters! Anyone find this stuff useful for anything? Does it stay warp free well? It saws up easily. Not sure about the dust though, (cough).

What happens if I apply finish to it? Will it warp? Noticed that one side is ... corrugated, the other fairly smooth, so thought finish might penetrate unevenly.

I'm just using it for some gauge boards to align my jointer tables -- I'm too cheap to use Baltic or something real.

Your thoughts?

P.S.: Well, ok, I'm not going to dovetail it, but wondered what the consensus of the material is from you guys.

[cabinetman]

I've used it for some interior projects and not a fan. It's supposed to be useful for flooring, roofing and wall sheeting. I would say for some applications it would be OK, I just prefer plywood even though it costs more.
.

[Pappy]

It is intended to be used, as C-Man says, as sheathing. I have a guy on my route that builds furniture/art of the stuff. Neat looking stuff but I can't say how funtional it is.

[LCHIEN]

its just really cheap, bulk wood boards made of recycled wood scraps glued back together - has some of the characteristics of wood, but lacks other key properties. Good for specific uses like sheathing and flooring and maybe crating where its hidden and looks don't count.

Not intended for finishing of any kind, or outdoor exposure, I'm sure. (doesn't get along well with being wet or damp).

[jackellis]

I've seen it used in an REI (backpacking, skiing) store for the counter and it adds to the rustic atmosphere. I've used it for a couple of projects (lumber cart, storage cart) where appearance does not matter much and I like it for those applications because it's cheap.

So long as it is dry, it's fine. If it gets wet along a cut edge, it swells. Since it uses recycled waste (I think), good material to use if you're "green".

[jziegler]

It works OK for utility shelving as well as the intended uses, but that's all that I have used it for. I don't have plans to use it for anything else either.

Jim

[Bill in Buena Park]

I've seen OSB used for utility shelving, bins and carts in some of the bins, usually painted (since true flatness is not an issue), but usually with exposed edges, which get wrecked through abuse.

I used OSB to build my lumber cart, but banded the edges for durability. I may spray something on it someday to seal it from moisture, but since its in my very dry garage, it hasn't been an issue.

I've toyed with the idea to use it for other shop cabinets and tool carts if I decide I'm too cheap to use ply, but haven't crossed that bridge yet.

I've had luck with taping my cut lines to reduce tearout (splintering edges).

[billwmeyer]

I once saw it used as paneling in a restaurant with a clear finish on it. It looked surprizingly good for that. I only use it as sheeting or underlayment.

Bill

[crokett]

I have it on the walls and floor of my shop. I agree that cutting it is rough. It is not as strong as ply but is stronger than MDF at least for lateral loads. It can be rated for exposure, it depends on the glue they use. I got an old cheap small shed for free that is my kids' playhouse and the sides are MDF. There is a company I forget the name of that rates their OSB for 50 years exposure. I would not build cabinets out of it. I would use ply or MDF first. All the OSB panels I've seen have some warp to them so no, I don't think it stays warp free all that well.

[RAFlorida]

OSB is very strong when nailed/screwed

to supporting members. It's main use is as others noted, sheathing. Suprisingly, it holds up well to moisture. Simply put, it's a better sheathing than the old particul board.

[buckeye95]

Every floor in my house (built in 1987) is OSB. Every bathroom had some sort of toilet leak due to cheap seals (instead of wax rings they used some foam seal). I have redone all 3 bathrooms now, and ended up having to replace the floor around the toilet in each one (used plywood the second time around). Once it gets wet, it swells, and stays that way even if it is dried out.

Not my favorite material in the world

Pete

[tkarlmann]

Thanks, so far for everyone's input, plus my observations ...

Based on your comments, I have a few ...

I had no trouble cutting it with my BT3100. Ripping, I was surprised, it cuts faster and smoother than a lot of other materials.

I have bored some holes in it, that went fine too.

Although the materials I selected from, a 2'x4' pile at HD, were all very straight by eye; I did find something odd when I was drilling -- my clamp needed adjustment from one end of a 45"x 4" piece to the other! I think there may not be a close thickness tolerance to this material! (as of course there is with plywood, I hope.)

It does, however pass my "fingernail test": If I press in the center thickness of the board, can I indent? Can I scratch out material? If I can, it's cr@p. OSB passes, but the thickness issue and the splintery nature remain.

Do any of these observations correlate to your experiences?

[tkarlmann]

Every floor in my house (built in 1987) is OSB. Every bathroom had some sort of toilet leak due to cheap seals (instead of wax rings they used some foam seal). I have redone all 3 bathrooms now, and ended up having to replace the floor around the toilet in each one (used plywood the second time around). Once it gets wet, it swells, and stays that way even if it is dried out.

Not my favorite material in the world

Pete

Hello Pete:

I'm just using the stuff around my shop as a cheap ply substitute. Have not tried finishing it yet -- I'm concerned it might warp it.

As far as the ends go, I would apply a solid wood edge if I were building anything -- and I would probably put something in the end grain to try and stave off moisture. Gotta be careful here -- making the provervial silk purse out this stuff is likely more time & $$$. Could be cheaper in the long run just to use a good grade plywood!

I do think the stuff MIGHT be preferable to particle board or pressed wood -- at least for holding screws.

[cgallery]

All the OSB panels I've seen have some warp to them so no, I don't think it stays warp free all that well.

+1.

And it doesn't make sense to me, either. The stuff should be more stable (I'd think) that plywood.

But the stuff I've seen has also had one side that has a little shine to it. So maybe they spray one side for some water resistance, and thereby guarantee that the sheets are going to warp?

[tkarlmann]

Sanded OSB

I got a little further with my small OSB project. I tried sanding the surfaces. It seems to sand rather well. It holds screws well too -- I would much prefer OSB to particle board for any application.

My conclusions -- OSB requires a drum sander if one is going to use it in any semi-serious WW application. Also, it will require some sort of sanding sealer to hold all the wanna-flake-off bits in place. Then more sanding! Thinned varnish? Anyone tried a finish on OSB?