Cant find 5/8th MDF to save my life.

[barrel_hopper]

1 Lowe's and 2 Home Depots' no such luck. Called a HUGE lumber supply yard called Ropers that everyone around here said would have it for sure and they did not.

I would use 3/4th but even thought the difference between 3/4th and 5/8 is small it is too noticeable to me.

What is a boy to do?

[somunny]

What is a boy to do?

1.  Find a place that will special order it for you.

2.  Use a size other than 5/8".

[theob42]

thats very odd. I dont see why some ppl are having trouble getting 5/8 mdf I got mine from home depot.
but i'm in Canada so maybe they have different stock over here

[IA1NY]

What is a boy to do?

1.  Find a place that will special order it for you.

It's very rare that a supplier will special order for anything less than a pallet's worth.  They would already have it in stock (or backordered) if it was profitable to supply in your area.  If you're interested in between 50 and 100 pieces special ordering is great, but I have a feeling that you aren't.

You could also order it yourself from a supplier far away and have it shipped in.  $$$$$  But that probably won't help you.   

I would:

2.  Use a size other than 5/8".

1/2" MDF plus 1/8" hardboard (Duron or Masonite) is a fine combination.  Laminate them together and they are an excellent way of making 5/8" material.  The two together will cost less than special ordering anything or even having it shipped.

[paulscade]

Haha!... check this out:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77408.0

I ended up ordering from 84 Lumber.  It cost me $28 per sheet... and it took 2 weeks to get.

As a matter of fact... I'm waiting for a friend that's going to be pulling up any minute.  My wife decided to surprise me... and she picked up the MDF (friends pick-up truck).

The project starts tomorrow!! 

[Xb0x3r]

Yeah I went to my local lumber yard like 5 minutes away and they sold half sheets and full sheets of 5/8" MDF. I am in Canada.

Pretty strange that it's hard to find in the US, you normally cant get anything here 

[barrel_hopper]

I found and 84 lumber like 30-40 min away. I will call them tomorrow

[jhabers]

please excuse my ingnorance but why not just use 3/4'? thats what im using. Gonna laminate it with formica on both sides where the t-molding will be and use 13/16" t-molding. the lexan im using for the CP is just under 1/8" so that should match up nicely

[barrel_hopper]

3/4th looks way to huge for the Nintendo style cabinet I am trying to replicate. If I was building a Ms Pac or Galaga replica 3/4th would be perfect.

3/4 is very very thick looking even though the diff from 5/8th does not seem like that much

[mountain]

I was at a specialty woodworking store yesterday looking around and noticed they had 1/8" MDF all the way up to 1". Try searching your area for a specialty store that caters to woodworkers (not carpenters) and you may have some luck.

[CheffoJeffo]

Have you considered using plywood at 9/16" instead ? It's lighter, more authentic to what you want and, hopefully in your area, easier to find.

I would be careful chosing to laminate material to make certain that you can get the slots for your t-molding cut properly.

[paulscade]

Just for reference... I just walked out the the garage and weighed one 4x8 sheet of 5/8" MDF using the bathroom scale.  The result: 83 pounds.