Paint grade or specific species? What I find at big box stores if I am painting, I will still buy stain grade birch or whatever is lower priced and remove the top 2 or 3 sheets, and usually under the scavenger picked sheets there are some decent ones.

 

The big box stores usually carry inferior imported panels.

Look up your local hardwood lumber dealers.
They will carry many varieties of quality, made in the USA, cabinet grade plywoods.

The downside is some only sell wholesale and won't deal to the general public, YMMV.

 

In my area (SW PA), my local hardwood dealer (Mars Lumber) carries quality ply. They sell retail.

 

I get my wood from this place. I shop in person so I don't know anything about their shipping rates. They are located in Massachusetts just outside of Boston.
https://www.boulterplywood.com/

 

I hate to say it, but HD stocks a nice Columbia Forest Birch for paint. No voids, nice 7 ply. But their inventory system is worse than pathetic and availability is hit or miss even when they tell you online they have 40 sheets. You'll get there and won't be one

 

I hate to say it, but HD stocks a nice Columbia Forest Birch for paint. No voids, nice 7 ply. But their inventory system is worse than pathetic and availability is hit or miss even when they tell you online they have 40 sheets. You ll get there and won t be one

- 1thumb

Think what you really mean to say is they "carry" it , or have it listed for ordering. That's something entirely different from 2000+ stores having it in stock - or even shelf space allocated for it.

They're online inventory system is actually pretty good. It may not be entirely accurate with regard to numbers because it isn't real time; but it's pretty darn accurate with regards to what is available at a particular store.

FWIW - In my neck of the woods, right next the big orange's world headquarters - Columbia ply products are practically non existent in stores. They're happy to order in what you want though.

Not the same as "in stock" though.

 

Have you asked the hardwood dealer what they can order? Often they'll be able to order just about anything you might want.

I would not look into getting something shipped unless I was dealing in very large quantities and wanted a whole pallet of plywood.

PA has tons and tons of good hardwood dealers, and I'd imagine just as many decent sources of plywood.

 

Think what you really mean to say is they "carry" it , or have it listed for ordering. That s something entirely different from 2000+ stores having it in stock - or even shelf space allocated for it.

They re online inventory system is actually pretty good. It may not be entirely accurate with regard to numbers because it isn t real time; but it s pretty darn accurate with regards to what is available at a particular store.

FWIW - In my neck of the woods, right next the big orange s world headquarters - Columbia ply products are practically non existent in stores. They re happy to order in what you want though.

Not the same as "in stock" though.

- xedos

I've bought 100 sheets of Columbia ply from HD over the last year or two and their inventory system is horrible. What is your point?