"blueman" wrote in message
...
Still trying to minimize sag and tearout on my bookcase project.
Doubled-up 3/4" plywood sides and shelves with 46" inch span and shelf
pins.

I am trying to choose now between Baltic Birch (13 plys) vs. Natural
Birch with poplar core. Baltic Birch is almost 2x the cost.

Questions:
- Will Baltic Birch give significantly less deflection?
- Will Baltic Birch be less susceptible to tearout on the shelf pins
under heavy weight?

I am going to be painting the shelves.
Still any difference in terms of surface hardness or paintability?

Overall, is Baltic Birch worth the cost typically?

Thanks

Are you using anything on the face edge of the shelf as a stiffener? With a
46" span, either plywood is going to deflect. Baltic less so.