What is the wood used in the CnC kits temp frames

[Capt UB]

What is the wood used in the CnC kits temp frames and bow molds.

I'm cleaning up the store room and don't like throwing out such nice looking ply! Don't know what type of wood it is and will it work for birdhouses (outside)?

Birdman Bob

[Jaysen]

If you don’t mind a bit of dulling and a need for touch up every couple years, seal the wood with shellack. It’s safe, fast drying and will make garbage wood last a bit outside. It doesn’t like water but a 4 coat finish lasts over a year.

[Aripeka Angler]

The stuff in my kit looked like virola. Hard to say what yours is, it could be Chinese birch.
Anyway, it could last for years outside if you keep it covered with paint.
Most interior plywood now uses exterior type glue due to low formaldehyde requirements.

[Jeff]

Guys, It is something that my distributor calls Meranti Light!! Good for molds but not for anything else!!! Jeff

[Reid]

We have used several different materials throughout the years for our mold materials. Originally we used MDF sheets then switched to the Chinese Birch as AA said. We didn't use the Chinese Birch very long b/c we found it had a tendency to warp. We now use Meranti Light (term from our plywood distributor). It is light weight, doesn't seem to warp, and is easy to work with. I wouldn't see any issue using it for bird houses and other misc. projects. You would definitely need to seal the wood if it is going outside though.

Reid

[OrangeQuest]

It can't be as bad as the stuff, or it could be the same stuff , I have been getting at the furniture warehouse down the street of our warehouse. It is used to protect table tops when shipped here from over seas. Lots of voids and it absorbs moisture and doesn't take much to just fall apart. But it is free so I use it for templates, shelves for the warehouse, away from moisture and to cover my work bench repeatedly. I also throw a sheet on top of a folding table to cut cloth.

You can get a eco friendly preservative from Home Depot that will treat the wood for rot, mold and insects but will do nothing for cheap glue that is not water proof. I built a big kayak rack out of regular, non treated lumber, a few years ago. Left it out in the weather, after treatment, for a few months before putting it into the storage space. It turns the wood a dark grayish color but still holding up great.