Main > Main Forum
mdf or plywood
CIA_Guy:
and another view of the 1/2" plywood cabinet
pocketbikez:
i like working with mdf more than plywood. mdf is easy to sculpt with a sander or router and it stays ultra smooth and silky. the extra heft of the mdf makes the cabinet feel sturdy and the only downside is that it takes a little extra muscle to move the cab.
REBIRTH:
--- Quote from: CIA_Guy on June 08, 2004, 09:57:57 pm ---
--- Quote from: Nefesis on June 08, 2004, 08:27:10 pm ---does anyone know if 3 sheets of 1/2" plywood would work?
--- End quote ---
I'm building with 1/2" since I am concerned about weight more than anything else since I have to move on a regular basis. I've got 1"x2" reinforcements. I'm using a Defender-style design with a 19" monitor and it seems to be sturdy enough. (Two sheets and some scraps were enough.)
Now, having said that, the 1/2" creates another problem -- finding a sheet that is flat to begin with. Sure, it looks flat, but as soon as you cut out the large parts (sides, back door, etc.), you'll start to see warp.
--- End quote ---
Two things:
(1) The thinner sheet will warp more obviously, but if you have to use 1/2 then nothing you can do about that
(2) Looking at your picture it does not look like you are using a birch/maple cabinet quality sheet of plywood. A birch/maple cabinet quality sheet of plywood has very little grain to it - the surface is pretty much a completely uniform color like an MDF. Your picture it looks like you used an "normal" sheet of plywood, which has strong grain to it. I also have made furnature/cabinets with plywood and almost every time I have found that birch/maple cabinet quality wood doesn't warp at all - I mean no warp at all - but standard quality plywood literally almost warps every time. I never usually use that stuff due to the warp. The warping comes a lot from that grain, the grain is normally not completely dry (not that yopu can feel that it is damp, but it is), so it warps often. Again though, a birch/maple cabinet quality (about $40-$45 a 3/4" sheet) I have never had any warp at all. nice Defender style cab though, looks like it is coming along well. Defender rules!
When I was originally deciding between MDF and plywood, I also had trouble finding the right type of MDF - the MDF in the Home Depots by me is not the "correct" type of MDF, at least from reading these boards and what people did/didn't have success with. There are many different types/qualitys of MDF and the Home Depots only carried the low-end type which people found to be troublesome. They make an MDF called Superlight (I think that is the name) that is supposedly much stronger and more durable than standard MDF, and much lighter as well - but when I finally tracked this down it was as much or more than good plywood.
AlexSledge:
For those worrying about the excess expense of plywood, consider how long you plan to own the machine. The small extra expense now ill pay off in the long run. The main reason original machine manufacturer's used MDF is purely a matter of cost, it was cheaper, they made more profit.
Also, if you are going to laminate, or use full side decals, you can opt for the cheaper non-smooth forms of plywood. Though this isn't really an inexpensive hobby to be a part of.
RandyT:
--- Quote from: REBIRTH on June 09, 2004, 07:44:05 am ---
When I was originally deciding between MDF and plywood, I also had trouble finding the right type of MDF - the MDF in the Home Depots by me is not the "correct" type of MDF, at least from reading these boards and what people did/didn't have success with. There are many different types/qualitys of MDF and the Home Depots only carried the low-end type which people found to be troublesome. They make an MDF called Superlight (I think that is the name) that is supposedly much stronger and more durable than standard MDF, and much lighter as well - but when I finally tracked this down it was as much or more than good plywood.
--- End quote ---
I use a *lot* of MDF in my shop and pretty much buy it all at the "depot".
I don't know when the last time was that most here purchased MDF from them, but about 4 months ago the price jumped about $4 a sheet and it's now different.
The color is more of a "straw" color and it's much lighter in weight. It still has great strength, machinability and surface properties.
Based on the price, color and other properties, I think this is the "good stuff". The old material was actually made out of wood fibers and had a darker "hardboard" look to it. The "good stuff" is lighter and stronger because it's made of straw fiber. It's also nicer to the trees because it doesn't use them. Because it's a relatively new process, it costs a little more to produce. But since it uses an easily replenishable material, the prices should come down on it eventually.
But I could be wrong :)
RandyT