The invention of Plywood goes back to around 3500 BC, where in Ancient Egypt wooden articles were made from thin layers of finely grained wood glued together crosswise. This was originally done to overcome the shortage of fine wood. Thin sheets of high quality wood were glued on top of lower quality wood for cosmetic effects.

Advantages of using Plywood for Cutouts

High uniform strength: Wood is 45 times stronger along the grain than across the grain. Plywood which is made from crossing the adjacent sheets tends to equalise the strength in all directions.

Flexibility in use: Solid woods allow movement across the grain but not much shrinkage or swelling along the grain.

Non-splitting qualities:  Plywood can be nailed or screwed near the edges without damage from splitting.  Solid wood splits fairly easily along the grain.

Availability of relatively large sizes: Though 8 ft*4 ft is the most common size, Plywood is avialable in various sizes up to 6 ft * 25 feet. The width of the timber is relatively small.

Cheaper than Timber

Easy to make curved surfaces

Light and easy to carry