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| [POLL] - MDF or Plywood |
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| vidmouse:
I was surprised that MDF wasn't MORE popular, the way some folks talk about it. Then again, I hated the dust on mine (geez, it's STILL around my workshop) from when I built mine. |
| brandon:
does MDF have any of the moisture problems that particle board does? Granted, your cabinet isnt going to get wet... but.. just curious. |
| ChadTower:
Much less but it is still susceptible to being soaked. All wood is to one degree or another, even hardwoods. |
| Zebidee:
I just restored a small retro cabinet that had been left in the rain for several months. All the external MDF had to be ripped out and replaced, and I had to re-seal any internal MDF with PVA glue (mixed in water to create a 'paint' that would soak in). By comparison, all the external plywood w/ woodgrain finish (you know, that 70's-80's stuff, not the laminate) was still in good, sturdy condition, just needing a lot of elbow grease for sanding/filling/sanding/painting/sanding/refinishing :) Sooooo .... a good hardwood plywood is 'water resistant' and will only really absorb moisture if it is left soaked in water. However, even modern MDF will still absorb moisture from rain like a sponge. MDF is really just glorified cardboard. |
| theCoder:
When I first started in this hobby, I read about all the issues associated with MDF. Nasty, unhealthy, hard to remove dust; Heavy; Won't hold screws; Expensive. Call me old school, maybe even naive, but I've only worked with plywood. As shardian points out, it is also good to recycle an old cab (my 1st and 4th/current are referbs). My 2nd & 3rd were made from 3/4", 10 ply cabinet grade plywood. Disadvantages: Rough surface - dealt with extra coat of primer; splinters & hollow spots when rounding over edges - dealt with watered down wood putty. Advantages: Cheaper, lighter, holds screws, structurally strong, wood grain finish possibilities. For what it's worth, I prefer plywood. |
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