If you are planning to build something out of wood, then plywood is always a good option to consider. With that being said, there are many different kinds of plywood out there, each with its own selling points and drawbacks. One specific kind is known as ACX plywood.
This is what we are here to take a closer look at today. This article will examine what ACX plywood is, what it excels at, and what is commonly used for.
What Is ACX Plywood?
First of all, let’s take a quick look at what plywood in general is. Plywood is a specific type of engineered wood. Very thin veneers of lumber are taken, laid side by side to form a sheet, and multiple layers are then created.
Each layer has the veneers perpendicular to the last. This creates a so-called cross-grain pattern for great strength and durability. These layers are then glued and pressed together. Plywood can usually be made out of either softwood or hardwood.
ACX plywood is a very specific type of plywood. This plywood is generally made out of softwood, such as pine. Douglas fir is another very commonly used type of wood to make ACX plywood.
It is generally considered to be one of the very best types of softwood plywood out there. It’s a very good-looking plywood that can be used for both structural and aesthetic purposes. Let’s move on and figure out exactly what those letters stand for.
ACX Plywood Specifications: What Sizes and Grades Does It Come In?
OK, so if we are talking about the specific grades of plywood, both the A and the C in ACX plywood designate exactly what grade it is. Plywood generally comes in four different grades. This includes A, B, C, D. A is the highest grade of plywood, and D is the lowest.
Grade A plywood features absolutely no holes, knots, or voids, and looks very nice. Grade D plywood on the other hand has plenty of holes and knots, and although it can be used for structural purposes, it is definitely not pleasing to the eye.
When it comes to ACX plywood, the first letter, the A, means that the face of this plywood features the highest grade of veneers. The exterior that you can actually see is the highest grade, which does make it look very nice. It’s also very smooth and super easy to paint, not to mention structurally sound.
The second letter, the C, of course, means that the rear of this plywood features grade C veneers. This means that it’s definitely not quite as pleasing to the eye, although it’s still fairly structurally sound. The final letter, the X, means that exterior grade adhesive was used to glue everything together. This, therefore, allows ACX plywood to be fairly weather resistant.
Simply put, ACX plywood does not come in various grades, because ACX is the specific grade that it comes in. In terms of sizes, you can find ACX plywood in more or less any and every size that a regular sheet of plywood comes in. They vary both in terms of square footage and in terms of thickness. In terms of size, it’s actually quite a versatile type of plywood.
Advantages of ACX Plywood
Now that we know what ACX plywood is, let’s figure out what its benefits are. It does actually have quite a few areas in which it excels.
1. One Side Looks Great
One big benefit of this type of plywood is that one of the sides, the face, looks very nice. Of course, the face is grade A plywood, which means that it doesn’t have any holes, knots, or gaps. In terms of aesthetics, it is very pleasing to the eye. For this reason, it’s often used for its looks. This is why it makes for great furniture, walling, and other interior projects. Simply put, it looks nice.
2. It Is Easy to Paint
Yes, this is related to the above point, but there’s more to it than just looking nice. Because the face of this plywood does not have any holes, knots, or gaps, it’s also very easy to paint. It’s smooth face makes it very easy to paint, sand, and stain. It’s really easy to achieve a super clean and good looking finish no matter what kind of paint you apply to it.
3. It Is Relatively Cost-Effective
Another benefit that you get by using ACX plywood is that it is relatively cost-effective. Now, it’s not the cheapest type of plywood out there, but it’s definitely not the most expensive either.
You might think that this type of plywood is extremely expensive because it’s high grade, but it is, however, made out of softwood. Softwood plywood is generally quite a bit cheaper than hardwood plywood. If you’re looking to save a bit of money and still want to have high-grade plywood, ACX is a good option to consider.
4. It Is Fairly Sustainable
What’s also worth noting about ACX plywood is the fact that it is fairly sustainable to produce. The reason for this is because it is made out of softwood, it’s not quite as dense, and therefore less wood is required to make a single sheet of it. It’s much more environmentally friendly than using hardwood.
5. It Is Water Repellant
One of the biggest benefits of ACX plywood is the fact that it is very moisture and water-repellent. Of course, the X stands for exterior grade adhesive. This means that a specific type of adhesive was used that is designed to resist outdoor conditions, mainly high levels of moisture and water.
This is one of the things that makes this type of plywood so attractive, as it looks nice enough to be used indoors, yet is also durable and moisture resistant enough for many outdoor applications.
6. It Holds Screws Well
As is the case with most types of plywood, ACX plywood also holds onto screws very well. That cross-grain pattern it features works really well for holding onto screws and nails.
7. It Is Generally Structurally Sound
The other thing that stands out about ACX plywood is the fact that it is quite durable. It’s not the most durable type of plywood in the world, but it is typically considered very structurally sound. This means that it has the ability to bear a good deal of weight.
Disadvantages of ACX Plywood
Despite all of its selling points, ACX plywood does have a couple of disadvantages that need to be talked about.
1. It Is Not Totally Waterproof
One disadvantage of ACX plywood is the fact that, although it is water-resistant, it’s not totally waterproof. Therefore, while it can be used for applications that involve frequent moisture exposure, there are often better options out there, like marine-grade plywood.
2. It Is Not Flexible
The other disadvantage of this type of plywood is that it’s not very flexible. You can’t use it for anything that requires you to bend the plywood to achieve a certain shape. On that note, it’s not the most impact-resistant either. A big impact may cause this type of plywood to snap.
3 Common ACX Plywood Uses
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most common uses of ACX plywood.
1. Interior and Exterior Walls
Due to the fact that ACX plywood is fairly structurally sound, moisture resistant, and looks nice too, it can be used for both interior and exterior walls. Wall paneling is perhaps the number one most common application for ACX plywood.
2. Furniture and Cabinetry
Because this type of plywood is relatively structurally sound, can bear a lot of weight, is aesthetically pleasing, and is also easy to paint, it makes for a prime option for any kind of furniture or cabinet.
3. Some People May Use it For Boats
Although it’s not 100% waterproof for prolonged periods of time, some people do often use it to make boats. It is a good option for the transom and the hull, as well as the deck. That said, marine-grade plywood is generally the better option for this.
Summary
Now that you know everything there is to know about ACX plywood, you can decide whether or not it is the right kind of plywood for you to use for your next project.
Before moving forward, though, you might also want to check out how it compares with BCX plywood.