- The earliest records of plywood use date back to the Ancient Egyptians.Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
The first records of plywood works date back to around 3,500 B.C. in Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians used the technique of creating plywood for cosmetic reasons. They sawed thin veneers of finer woods and glued them together at 90-degree angle with woods of a lesser quality, to produce a woodwork that displayed the finer woods on the outside while concealing the poorer-quality woods on the internal layers. Ancient Egyptians practiced these techniques to ensure the beauty of their structure and not for structural strength. - Plywood is still used today, although its production has changed.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Throughout history, plywood has evolved to suit the needs of its maker. Today plywood is made using a rotary lathe to cut softwood veneers in thin sheets. This modern technique began in the mid-19th century. Most modern-day plywood is composed of three to 21 layers referred to as "ply." It is common for plywood to comprise an odd number of layers. - Plywood is used in many boat applications.Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images
Plywood is commonly used in boat building. Marine-grade plywood is a special type of plywood made from Douglas Fir or Western Larch wood. It is a grade B wood, which means that it may contain knots but knotholes are not permitted. The veneer is held together with a waterproof glue, necessary for boat hauls and any other marine application, which involve exposure to natural water elements. - Plywood is commonly used in the construction of furniture for several reasons: Plywood is a natural resource and so is friendly to the environment. The static bending strength of plywood is stronger than steel; it gets its strength from the way it is produced. The adhesives used to bond the layers are actually stronger than the wood itself. Plywood is also very durable. In fact, plywood furniture and wood workings can be found today inside museums.
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