Bin Materials... OSB Vrs Plywood

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 5:05 pm

OK... I'm getting to the point of putting sheathing on my bin walls. The studs are 2 by 6, 16" on center. I don't mind spending extra to "do it right", but then again, if something cheaper is fine I'd just as soon save the money. So, is 7/16" OSB OK for the walls, or should I be using 1/2" plywood? I am going to have a hopper bottom and had planned on 3/4" plywood for that, but would also entertain suggestions for that also.

Thanks!

Fred

orvis · Post by **orvis** » Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 5:49 pm

My experience with OSB is that is swells up like a dead guppy when it gets wet. If you coal has water in it...

Whats the price diff, 5$ a sheet? You need 10 sheets lets say, so $50 is what you saved by not burning 12 gallons of oil?

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 7:13 pm

Ahhhh, good point on the OSB. The price diference is more like $16 a sheet around here, but, hey, at this point I'm not going to cheap out unless the "cheap" is correct. I'm looking at 8 sheets of 1/2" and 2 or 3 of 3/4". So, $100 diff... I'll just skip buying the wife a Christmas present this year.

vtec350 · Post by **vtec350** » Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 8:37 pm

Freddy wrote:I'll just skip buying the wife a Christmas present this year.

At least you'll be warm when she throws you out in the garage

I'd use the plywood, you could always put a couple coats of paint on the OSB, but then you're still doing more work and not to many like to paint.

Dave

gambler · Post by **gambler** » Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 8:53 pm

I used OSB and some cheap barn paint and let my 7yr old son go to town with the brush. It doesn't look real pretty but he had fun and the inside of the bin is covered in paint and I didn't have to do it. The OSB was not painted last year and I had some really wet coal but if it did swell up it was not much and it will dry out. Maybe I have 3/4 inch now instead of the 5/8 that I had purchased.

ceccil · Post by **ceccil** » Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 10:37 pm

Freddy, I used OSB on my bin and have not had a problem as of yet. At the time I built it, $$$ was a bit tight. If this wasn't the case I would have gone with plywood. As long as your using plywood for the hopper portion, I would just go the distance and do the whole thing. Just my opinion.

Jeff

Scottscoaled · Post by **Scottscoaled** » Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 11:29 pm

I have left a piece of osb and a piece of plywood out in the elements and the ply didn't fare so well. It curled and delaminated after the first rainstorm. The osb didn't change much at all untill I turned it over so the rain hit the other side. The shint or smooth side repels water pretty good. If it is a worry just paint it

Scott

Post by **Richard S.** » Sat. Oct. 04, 2008 11:33 pm

Either would probably be fine . Pea coal drains out quite quickly and since yours is just sitting there its going to be that much dryer. You will undoubtedly have to add water to it when you move it or you're going to have a lot of dust in the house.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 6:37 am

Thanks for all the help. Plywood it'll be.

Maybe I can make the wife something this yr.... a shiny black necklace of strange faceted nuggets, Hmmmmm
yaaaaa, that'd be nice.

Post by **Richard S.** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 6:51 am

I made tie pin once. The GF thought I was nuts until she saw it. Guess she though it was going to be some big chunk of coal. Truthfully it wouldn't make bad jewelry if you have the right type and I'm pretty sure it's been done in the past. I know they make trinkets and other things out of it. There's is quite an ornate altar in Wilkes Barre's King's College that weighs like 2 ton but I can't find a picture of it.

sterling40man · Post by **sterling40man** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 8:21 am

Freddy,

Have you looked into the "enhanced" OSB? One brand is TopNotch. It's mainly used for subflooring and is very strong. I installed this product, on the exterior walls and roof, when I built my garage last year. It was 5/8" thick and all tounge and groove. Very nice stuff. I had purchased it for $11 a sheet in Feb '07. In July '07 the price went up to $14. Regular 7/16" OSB was selling for $7 a sheet then. 1/2" plywood was $16. Take a look at this link: http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/wfiles/W176.pdf This analysis was done in '06. The price has gone down since then. I'm sure that either Home Depot or Lowes has this stuff. Just my $.02 worth, and probably worth about that much.

GO RED SOX!!!

coalkirk · Post by **coalkirk** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 8:32 am

OSB holds up better than plywood in wet conditons. That comment is based on actual experience with both materials when they get wet during construction. You'd want to protect both materials from the elements but as far as wet coal on the inside...non-issue. Save the $16.00 and buy your self some beer!

rubicondave33 · Post by **rubicondave33** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 8:04 pm

The OSB will work out better than plywood when it gets wet.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 8:32 pm

Geee, gosh, at Lowes today, OSB is $8.18, 1/2" plywood, $24! Maybe I will go with OSB. I can get ot at the local lumber yard for $7.38. My coal won't be drenching wet anyway. The hopper bottom I do think I'll use 3/4" plywood, but only need a couple of sheets for that.

TimV · Post by **TimV** » Sun. Oct. 05, 2008 10:56 pm

Freddy
Your in maine.
When in Maine do as the Mainers do!
Your in White Pine Capital of the USA.
Go to a local planner mill and get some good selected sound tight ship lap and you wont need to worry about that glued garbage coming apart(former planner man) and you should save a bundle of $$$ for more coal

As I remember trees outnumber people 1,000,000 to 1. Miss all the nice views from Bangor to Ashland and the 10 foot snowbanks in January TimV