Since when do they put metal inside plywood?

sooby, Oct 2, 4:51am
howdy,

Was sawing thru some plywood and heard the saw change pitch for a second, took a closer look and saw what looks like a nail or thin piece of metal embedded between the layers of ply.

here's a photo:
https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/full/652507582.jpg

I've never come across this before, has anyone else?

The ply is of unknown origin as it came with the house, nice enough tho with what looks like a cedar decorative outer layer. Bit hesitant to keep using it if its going to dull all my saws!

smallwoods, Oct 2, 5:22am
They don't.
But some workers drop things when manufacturing it.

golfdiver, Oct 2, 5:26am
What about a flitch beam?

smallwoods, Oct 2, 9:02am
Since when have they been plywood GD?
They are laminated, yes.
This looks like 27mm ply with a veneer.
What size beam are you talking about?
Smallest is normally 40mm.

zak410, Oct 2, 9:42am
Keep using it and worry if you find a second bit of metal.

sooby, Oct 2, 6:29pm
Yeah, looking thru other pieces of ply I've cut there were more pieces of metal there too, Grrr!

docsportello, Oct 2, 6:41pm
Maybe they were stapling two veneers together for postioining beforeloading into glueing machine/press?

golfdiver, Oct 2, 8:03pm
Plywood is laminated timber is it not? But yes, I’m taking the piss.

trade4us2, Oct 2, 10:19pm
Run a stud finder over the plywood.
However the metal is quite small. A tungsten carbide blade cuts through nails very well without damage to the blade.

smallwoods, Oct 3, 1:06am
Different glues used, but the same principal.
Not like you to piss take?

smallwoods, Oct 3, 1:08am
Unless running the same way, been there done that.
In the centre of a log, 6" nail perfect line with bandsaw blade.

golfdiver, Mar 15, 9:12pm
Very rare