Birch or Polypropylene?
Posted on 23 November 2011
"What is the difference between birch and polypropylene?"
We get asked this a lot so we put together some specifications, applications and pro's/con's for each. Polypropylene is a lightweight option has a fluted core laminated to an ABS top skin. ABS is the sheet that is laminated to our birch wood. We also carry different types of wood upon request. We can also do different skins such as fiberglass, hexagrip, etc.
Polypropylene's greatest feature is the weight. We typically recommend it for applications where the case needs to be as light as possible, especially when flying or just trying to shave off some weight. Most common uses are guitar cases, pedal boards, amp cases, keyboard cases, etc. Both have their pro's and con's but both are very good materials. On larger cases, we typically recommend birch and usually 3/8" or 1/2" if it is large or bearing high weight loads.
On pedal boards, guitar cases, etc - we would expect to see about 5-8 lbs off, sometimes more depending on the size of the case, with the polypropylene versus the wood. On amp and cab cases, it's often a good bit more. We have a calculator that we input the dimensions and hardware and we can usually get you a figure to the nearest pound of what a case will weigh if you have certain requirements.
Below are some basic comparisons, things we've (and our customers) have noticed. With airline prices, polypropylene can pay itself off pretty quick. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us!
Pictures:
1/4" Birch | 1/4" Polypropylene |
3/8" Birch | 3/8" Polypropylene |
1/2" Birch | 3/8" Stucco |
Basic Comparisons:
1/4" Birch | 1/4" Polypropylene | ||
Weight | Wood is the heaviest | 30-40% lighter than wood | |
Cost | Most economical | Typically $35-50 more than wood | |
Flexing | The firmest material | Flexes more than wood | |
Warping | Possible warping in high heat | Will not warp | |
Impact | Crack before puncture | Will not break but can puncture | |
Cosmetics | Best over time | Can dent in |
Technical Comparisons:
1/4" Birch | 1/4" Polypropylene | ||
Weight/Sheet | 27 | 22.2 | |
Sheet Size | 48" x 96" | 59" x 90" | |
Lbs per/sq. in. | 0.00585 | 0.00418 | |
Thickness | .25" | .28" | |
Tensile Strength | 21,022 | 8,373 | |
Flexural Strength at Yield | 24,572 | 21,068 | |
Impact Strength Falling Iron Dart | 96.4 in/lbf-break | 288 in/lbf-no break |
2 comments
There is a picture with this set of a clear board. What is that material? How much is it? How can I order it?
These pieces raelly set a standard in the industry.