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[POLL] - MDF or Plywood
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.