There was a time in Kochi when household furniture including cabinets and cupboards were made of scrap wood from dismantled boats and ships. But that history has nothing to do with the origin of the name 'marine ply'. The material got its name owing to its humidity resistant property.
Marine ply has been a part of our home interiors and furniture for some time now. Marine ply sheets are made from ground wood pulp and marine plywood is readied using hard wood. These can be differentiated into horizontal ones and vertical ones depending on the direction of the grains present on the surface of the plywood. It is by joining two such layers that a board is made. The most commonly used wood for the purpose is Kalpine. Marine ply's advantages are that it is twice as strong and beautiful as traditional wood.
Marine ply can be used in all kinds of weather since it does not expand or contract with change in temperature and humidity. However, since it is made out of wood marine ply is susceptible to termites and it needs to be given a termite-proof coating. The material is resistant to fungi. Thanks to the horizontally and vertically criss-crossing grains, screws bite nice and tight into the marine ply enabling a neat fit.
Veneer may be pasted on the surface of marine ply or it may be laminated.
Boards are available in various trims including in Gloss and High Gloss finish. Marine ply is available in sheets of size 8x4 inches. An 8x4-inch sheet with a thickness of 16 millimetres costs Rs 3,600. Sheets of varying thicknesses from 4-8 mm are available.
For commercial purposes a separate kind of marine ply is used. It made from Eucalyptus wood and is available in thicknesses of 8, 12, 13 and 15 inches. It costs Rs 365/square foot including labour charges.
These boards undergo a process called edge-band binding in which thin teak wood panels are pasted onto the sides of the cabinets, thereby helping them keep humidity away. Flexible marine ply sheets are also available in the market. The grains on their surface run only in one direction. Usually polyurethane paint suits marine ply cabinets the best.