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Someone name a different material other than MDF to build a cabinet out of
wizkid32:
I'm not much of a carpenter, but I built my cab. out of Pine Boards. Not a particularly good choice, though. It turned out looking pretty good, but took entirely to much sanding and we'll see if it paints up well...
Cynicaster:
I went with 5/8” MDF.
Pros:
- Reasonable price
- Fairly easy to cut
- Nice smooth surface for painting
Cons:
- Heavy as all living ---fudgesicle---
- Dust EVERYWHERE IN MY GARAGE (and presumably, my lungs) after cabinet project
- Screws pull out of it too easily
- Susceptibility to water damage
I nearly killed myself trying to get 4x8 sheets up onto the sawhorses by myself. It took 4 guys to get my damn cabinet from my garage to my basement. On the flip-side, the large mass is a good thing when you have two full grown men playing an intense round of co-op DoDonPachi because it keeps the cabinet stable.
bkenobi:
--- Quote from: SirPeale on February 12, 2004, 02:46:44 pm ---Butter. No, wait: goldfish. Not the cracker kind, real goldfish. No wait...Coke cans.
--- End quote ---
I prototyped a fortress wall in my office a while back based on pop cans. My research showed that when the cans are interlinked and stacked closely, they do a venerable job at providing a physical/visual barrier. However, they do not provide sufficient protection from rubber band attacks. I suspect that performance could be improved with the addition of a fastening mechanism between adjoining cans, but that was out of the scope of my research. I suspect that this building material may be prone to failure given the stresses imposed during an intense SF session.
RandyT:
--- Quote from: Cynicaster on December 07, 2011, 10:00:09 am ---I went with 5/8” MDF.
--- End quote ---
MDF is a very good choice for cabinets and panels, for all of the reasons you note. 5/8" is good to keep weight down, but may not be as easy to find as 3/4".
Some tips I have found while using the stuff:
ALWAYS wear a dust mask. The dust generated is very fine and it's very bad for you.
Cover anything in the room you don't want to get coated with dust. It goes everywhere.
Seal all of the surfaces and edges with at least two coats of a quality sealer, such as Kilz primer, and sand between coats. This is especially important if it's going someplace where it will be damp.
Never screw directly into the edges of the stuff. If you must make an edge connection, consider using the special cabinet hardware one usually sees supplied with ready-to-assemble furniture. Even with special hardware, you never want to make an edge connection on any panel which needs to bear any significant load. MDF is very weak in that direction, and will split easily. Always better to use a framework, or blocks, and screw directly in the face of the panels.
Consider using edge or corner protectors on any panel likely to get banged around, particularly the bottom. Little is more heartbreaking than having a corner break off (and it will) when you accidentally bang your freshly built project on something while moving it into it's final resting place.
RandyT
yaksplat:
--- Quote from: RandyT on December 07, 2011, 11:46:05 am ---Consider using edge or corner protectors on any panel likely to get banged around, particularly the bottom. Little is more heartbreaking than having a corner break off (and it will) when you accidentally bang your freshly built project on something while moving it into it's final resting place.
--- End quote ---
That right there is enough of a reason for me to use plywood. And the dust...the dust is so bad. It gets everywhere, and then it gets tracked everywhere. You can brush plywood sawdust off your shirt. MDF dust leaves a brown streak since it's so fine. I'm sure i'll move a tool in 10 years and still find some MDF dust.
+10,000 for Plywood
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