Plywood is manufactured by gluing thin layers of wood veneers bonded together under pressure. The wood layers are laid such that the wood grains on adjacent veneers are perpendicular to each other. This arrangement, known as ‘cross-graining’, improves the dimensional stability, nail holding capacity, and uniformity in strength across the entire area of plywood.
Plywood offers various advantages over wood such as:
- Superior strength
- Resistance to cracking, shrinkage, and warping
- Convenience in forming, machining, and carpentry