Is it just me or has the price of Lauan, like everything else, skyrocketed to the point where it's no longer affordable? I'm pricing out a relatively straight forward build but I'm struggling to find 1/8 lauan anywhere and 1/4 lauan is taking up almost half of my set budget! At nearly $30 for a 4x8 sheet, I really don't find it to be an affordable option for a school building sets on a $1000 budget. Is there something that people are shifting to that will be as workable and durable for our needs but still affordable on a tight budget? Also, where do people get 1/8 lauan anymore? My local lumber suppliers only carry it in 1/4.
I have a project with requires about 70 pieces of 1/8" thick wood, 5.5"x7.25", plus a few other pieces. Basically, I need a 4x8 sheet's worth of 1/8" wood.
Home depot sells 4x8 sheets of 1/8" thick hardboard which would work but wouldn't be as nice. I could redesign the whole project to use 1/4" material but that would be a pain and it would end up larger than I'd like.
So, is it possible to find sheets of 1/8" wood? If so, where should I be looking? Or should I just use hardboard? Is MDF an option?
Cost is a factor. Also, I don't really know what I'm doing so feel free to make other suggestions.
Thanks!