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MDF vs Ply vs MDO? Thickness?
jcroach:
--- Quote from: danny_galaga on June 21, 2005, 09:07:11 pm ---i dont know about latex ( i have a feeling that its something so cheap and nasty they dont use it here), just use acrylic
--- End quote ---
Latex = water based
Alkyd = oil based
Acrylic = type of latex/water based paint. You can have lots of different types of latex paint; vinyl-acrylic, 100% acrylic and alkyd-modified latex. It all has to do with what the actual paint resin is made out of, not the binding material. The binding material is always either water or oil.
Check out this link.
Zakk:
--- Quote from: danny_galaga on June 21, 2005, 09:07:11 pm ---
i dont know about latex ( i have a feeling that its something so cheap and nasty they dont use it here), just use acrylic
--- End quote ---
Or just use good ole lead-based paint. Can't go wrong with lead! ;)
armax:
Everyon who has painted MDF with water based latex without ill-effects, raise your hand, *raises hand*. Latex, doesn't have enough water to swell MDF. There is moisture everywhere, MDF is more susceptible to larger amounts of water than some material. It doesn't mean a drop of water is gonna turn your cab into a pretzel. Plenty of people here have used latex on mdf....
snedger:
Hello
Make sure to use proper MDF primer - 2 coats and lightly sand between applications.
If you don't then the MDF will absorb tons of paint - I made an MDF shoe rack once and painted without priming and it took two weeks for the paint to dry!
The first primer application will raise the MDF slightly and so light sanding will ensure the smoothest possible surface. 2 coats of MDF primer, sand in between, then gloss spray paint might just get you a mirror finish!
Regarding thickness of materials. I suppose it depends on where the machine is situated. If it's in an arcade taking abuse then use thick materials. If it's at home and you can remember not to punch the thing, then a good frame surrounded by even 4mm ply would be ok - although I would still put some thick stuff where your feet could kick. It would also depend on the size of the monitor. An LCD wouldn't need much strength, but a huge CRT would def be better off in a full thickness panelled cab. I would also use thick panels if the cab was being wheeled around a lot.
But then you have to conside that thicker means better sound insulation, but thinner might mean slightly better heat dissipation.
Cheers
snedger