Thin (3/8") boards available anywhere?

[leehljp]

One thing that I am missing in the USA that I had abundant access to in Japan was thin butt-joint laminated boards. On several occasions I have wanted some thin wood boards but not plywood. But I have not seen any in the US. They were plentiful overseas.

They are somewhat like these, only half the thickness: https://www.lowes.com/pd/24-in-x-3-f...nel/1000894038
(I call them project boards.)

Anyway, below is a lap board I have used for eons for my laptop. You can see the size, the thickness (slightly less than 3/8) on the bottom pict and the fact that it is not plywood. I used that type of wood fairly often overseas and now I miss it. I certainly don't want to re-saw boards and couldn't for the size shown.

BTW, I have it on my folding "walker" that was made into a desk. LOML got tired of me fixing or repairing things on her dining room table, so I made a portable table for small projects


now

[LCHIEN]

Lowes and home depot and I suppose hobby stores sell 3/8" thick boards called exactly that, hobby boards or craft boards in 2 and 3-ft lengths. Not sure about 8" wide... But easy enough to joint together two or more 6" pieces. They're usually pretty flat and straight. I found them good for making small boxes with finger joints or butt joints where 3/4 material was way too thick and I didn't want to have to resaw them on the bandsaw. Don't ask me why the description says "square". Maybe the corners are cut square and the boards are flat.

[cwsmith]

Over the years, I only found one lumber yard that sold 1/2-inch stock (like 1-inch stock is 3/4, 1/2-inch is 3/8, or so it was there) and that was in Corning, NY. Except for the shorter and narrower stocks of hobby pieces at Lowes and Home Depot and those pieces are usually #1 class pieces that are priced as such.

I suppose you could always run the normal stock through a thickness planer, but that seems to be such a waste, at least from my narrow point of view.

CWS

[leehljp]

I haven't noticed the thin boards before, but will look the next time I am in HD or Lowes. I can just butt them together and glue them (hopefully) for wider boards. I have a 9 inch thickness sander, so I can glue them and make the joints smooth.) I am thinking about making some wood boxes and re-making some drawers for my router table. I have, in the past, just used 1/2" plywood, but it sure looks nice to have "wood" instead of plywood. Plywood Dovetails showing on the side of anything but shop drawers is a little distracting, but without thin boards, we have no choice.

Thanks

[Jim Frye]

A long time ago, I built a project that I designed that called for 1/2" and 3/8" maple parts. They were wider than the BT3K would resaw, so the logical solution was a Ryobi 13" planer. Hey, the reasoning worked with SWMBO!

[capncarl]

As prone as Lowe’s wood is to warp, it would be hilarious if they stocked 3/8 x 6 x 8’ pine! It would like an octopus climbing off the shelves!

[LCHIEN]

Short pieces at Lowes, usually clear pine, knot free and definitely not free.

[LCHIEN]

1/4" thick small boards at Hobby Lobby up to 12" x 5-1/4"

https://www.hobbylobby.com/Crafts-Ho...1-4%22/p/26208

3/8" "appearance boards" at Lowes

https://www.lowes.com/pl/3-8-in-x-3-in--Appearance-boards-Lumber-composites-Building-supplies/3010501795810?refinement=4294392850

[leehljp]

Thanks Loring. I found this at my Lowes online: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Common-3-8-...ard/1000075027

That should do for some drawers and boxes I will need in the next few months.

Ahh - No Wonder I haven't seen it - They don't stock it at my nearest store.

[cwsmith]

I've used a few of those for drawer sides.

CWS

[leehljp]

Lowes online says the local store doesn't stock 3/8. I went by HD and they had 1/4 and 1/2 but did not stock 3/8".

I have noticed that the Big Box stores here in the mid-south have very little wood other than general construction pine, poplar and oak. If I want specialty wood, I have to go to Springfield MO where my daughter is. Menards had some thin boards a couple of weeks ago but I didn't think about it or check to see what thickness it was. I did by some 1 x 6 x 4ft aspen. Beautifully white.

[LCHIEN]

HD doesn't list anything 3/8" boards on-line. Lowes does. Mine usually has the 3/8" boards.

P.S. today (3/21/2021) I was at HD and they had lots of stock of 1/4 and 1/2 poplar boards. The 1/2 looked OK, but the 1/4 all looked to be warped.
2 and 4 foot lengths and widths of dimensional 2", 3" 4" and 6"... the 6 inch dimensional real size is 5.5"

[leehljp]

I will be in Houston Sunday . . . for about an hour layover! Not enough time to go to Lowes Houston. I will keep my eyes open though. I know what to look for. Thanks!

[LCHIEN]

Yeah, I'm 45 minutes from the airport. But Lowes is five minutes closer to the airport!

[LCHIEN]

Pictures of the 3/8 and 1/2" thick wood at Lowes.

Comes in 2 and 4 foot lengths.

Clean and clear as you can see the sample attached pictures (click to view)

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