1/2 inch MDF

[tyroneshu]

I saw a Midway Multigame cabniet at walmart the other day made of 1/2 inch MDF.  Has anyone made a cabniet out of 1/2 inch and if so where do you find 1/2 inch t-molding?

[Organic Jerk]

If you really needed to go 1/2 inch I would imagine using furniture grade plywood would probably be your best bet for strength rather than mdf.  Not only that, but you would REALLY have to make sure you have excellent support all around, like 2x4's and construction thick L-brackets.  Although truthfully I'm speaking from theory and there are more experienced users here that could offer advice on that front.

As far as the purchasing of T-molding, for 1/2 inch it seems to be rare, but they have a few listings at t-molding.com...

http://www.t-molding.com/cart/customer/home.php?cat=7

[prOk]

Only use 1/2 inch MDF if you plan on using a 13 inch tv set just like that walmart game

[nostrebor]

If you are building a mini-cabinet (4' tall pacman clone maybe?) then using 1/2" or 5/8" MDF can be acceptable for part of the assemblies. I personally would use 5/8" minimum on any cabinet. I would not use it for the base or for support for your monitor and such, but sides, top, back, front can be ok. The load-bearing parts like the base really should be 3/4" plywood.

If you are building a full size cabinet, and have no woodworking experience, use 3/4" materials.

I actually use a lot of different materials for constructing a cabinet. MDF for sides, interior supports and front, plywood or MDO for parts that do the brunt of the heavy lifting. I also use different thicknesses as I feel the need to lighten or strengthen components. Of course I tend to keep scraps and partial sheets from other non-arcade projects, so those get used up in framing a cabinet or whatever else I'm building.

[Brumaz]

I would have thought MDF is pretty strong stuff. its denser than some hardwoods.
i plan to use 16mm  for the sides and control panel, and 18mm (3/4") for monitor supports and base. It would cut out a little of the added weight of 18mm (damn MDF is heavy!) 

[Texasmame]

I plan on using the 1/2 MDF for my next cab.  HOWEVER, as a card carrying member of Overbuilders Anonymous (I framed out Girlcab with 2x4), the strength issue of it shouldn't be an issue.  DO use 3/4 ply for the floor, no matter what, tho.

 

[tyroneshu]

I went out and purchased some 1/2 inch MDF and plan on building a cabniet with "the famous" Lucid plans in mind.  I hope to have some pitures real soon...   

[tyroneshu]

Here are a couple pics of my progress of the 1/2 inch Cabniet

[Stobe]

You did that in 2 days?  You run the risk of being banned for being too efficient.  j/k

Looks good so far.  How sturdy does it feel?

-Stobe

[DrewKaree]

I would have thought MDF is pretty strong stuff. its denser than some hardwoods.

Denseness has nothing to do with strength.  The reason for the higher weight is all the resins and fillers pressed together.  The holding power (for screws/glue) and shear strength of MDF isn't as good as plywood.  The plies are what give plywood its strength, whereas MDF has nothing but the binders to keep all that material together.

Think of it as the difference between that white-bead pressed-together insulation versus the pink foam sheets.  The pink stuff is "stronger", so to speak, because it isn't relying on the bonding agent the white-bead stuff has to use to keep all those beads together in a sheet.

[BackAgain]

I built a cab using 1/2" plywood.  It holds up very well, and I did use additional bracing to keep it from flexing.  But even though it is solid and won't break under the stress of a rousing game of Mortal Kombat, it really is too lightweight.  The whole structure bounces and moves around too much for my liking.

[tyroneshu]

Not really efficent  It took 2 days to Cut , nail , and screw all that together.  I was hoping to get further then that because the wife was gone.  I still have a lot to go its only a shell right now, but at least it looks like something now. 

[tyroneshu]

update ,  finally got to the control panel! 

[rdowdy95]

I am using 3/4" Birch Plywood, and I like it!  I need to upload some new pics in the Project Announcements.  It is strong.  It holds a heavy TV.  70lbs.

[shawnzilla]

I'm in the process of building my second cab. 1st one was a Lucid-type using 3/4" mdf and is sturdy as a rock. I accidentally bought 1/2" this time around and was already cutting it before I bothered to double-check the thickness. I plan on using a lot of reinforcement here.