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Is BauBuche actually worth finding/getting?

3K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  OleCuss 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Yesterday I got a woodworking plan which I'd purchased. They used BauBuche as the material and allowed that one could use plywood instead.

Well, I didn't know much about BauBuche so I did a bit of searching and know a little more but not enough to be convinced I should be trying to buy it.

Here's a link to the site for the manufacturer: https://www.pollmeier.com/en_US/Products/baubuche-about

The stuff is apparently made only from Beech. Those trees are apparently quite plentiful in Europe as they've been fairly well-managed for a very long time. Reportedly quite straight grain. They report you can use it as an economically acceptable substitute for softwood and use dimensionally smaller material because it is hardwood.

So far as I can tell it is a Beech version of Baltic Birch plywood. In some cases,however, they seem to prefer going with many, many layers in order to make beams. The net effect is that most of what you see is the lamination and then the top and bottom are a nice Beech veneer. My guess is that what the manufacturer really likes is that if you aren't getting the plywood version they don't need to use a really good veneer over much of the surface.

What little I could find of pictures of it having been used for woodworking I didn't like. It looks to me like what they are doing in woodworking results in looking like incredibly laminated plywood with the edge showing. OK, not overly ugly but not a look I've ever really desired, either.

As best I can tell, no one around here (Central Valley of California) seems to actually have the stuff so maybe it's mostly an European and East Coast thing?

Since I've never even touched the stuff I don't know if it might be worth pursuing. If I could get the stuff in plywood form I might be interested. But maybe the stuff is a pain to deal with?

If someone has better insight I'd be interested in knowing and might work to find a supplier if it is great stuff. If it is as good as Baltic Birch and I can get it cheaper I'd find that quite interesting.

Thank you.
 
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#2 ·
Interesting.
Never heard of it.
Have seen the same look used on restaurant furniture in EU once or twice?

Did you try contacting the USA Sales office to see if anyone sells the stuff near you?
From website: https://www.pollmeier.com/en_US/Company/locations

8100 SW Nyberg Street Suite #250
Tualatin, OR 97062 USA

Tim Wooley
North American Sales & Marketing
501 868 9580
870 820 6963
tim@pollmeierusa.com

Watching out of curiosity…..
 
#5 ·
Interesting.
Never heard of it.
Have seen the same look used on restaurant furniture in EU once or twice?

Did you try contacting the USA Sales office to see if anyone sells the stuff near you?
From website: https://www.pollmeier.com/en_US/Company/locations

8100 SW Nyberg Street Suite #250
Tualatin, OR 97062 USA

Tim Wooley
North American Sales & Marketing
501 868 9580
870 820 6963
tim@pollmeierusa.com

Watching out of curiosity…..

- CaptainKlutz
I actually did request location information and their site said they would respond very quickly. Given that it was before I started this thread - I don't think I'm going to get any information from them.

I'm guessing they have no vendors anywhere near the West Coast of the USA and figure that as someone into woodworking they just figure I'm not worth responding. They may be right.

Since it is made only at a single plant in Germany (IIRC), getting the Baubuche to me would likely mean a ride through Germany to the ocean. Then a trans-Atlantic voyage, and then either shipment by truck across pretty much the entirety of the USA or going through the Panama Canal and then up the West Coast and then from the port to my location. This really isn't a recipe for inexpensive lumber for me but if it really were remarkable maybe worth it.

For those on the East Coast it is more likely to be an affordable solution.
 
#6 ·
In the US LVL is probably going to be easier to source, appears to be similar enough.

https://www.woodsolutions.com.au/wood-product-categories/laminated-veneer-lumber-lvl

I know back when she was starting out as a writer at Pop WWing Megan made a bench from it. Let s say it was far better to make beams for a home, than as a woodworking wood.

- therealSteveN
That LVL does look interesting and like it may have some similarities.

Since they don't talk about the timber used to make it one may not be getting the same uniformity as with the Baubuche. But for all I know it may be as good. I couldn't get their dealer locator to show any suppliers in the Americas (it could be my failure rather than theirs). It may be primarily an Australian distribution although I did manage to find one location which is probably in Southeast Asia.

Interesting that their laminations typically have the grain oriented in the same direction in all layers. This may not be so good for tabletops and such. I think some Baubuche is the same.

I'm betting that your suggestion that the LVL is not a great choice for woodworking is correct and I'm betting Baubuche is similarly not ideal as well as being Unobtainium (for me).
 
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