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1/2" vs. 5/8" vs. 3/4" MDF

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MameMe:
Okay so the strapping is not mainly for support, but its for connecting the front & back to the sides of the cabinet?

Maybe its better safe than sorry and buy the 3/4" MDF.  I don't want 1/2" to break/crack down the road.  But darn those sheets of 3/4" are HEAVY.  I'm going to need some help carrying those bad boys. :o

BldnACab:

--- Quote from: MameMe on March 23, 2004, 02:57:23 pm ---Okay so the strapping is not mainly for support, but its for connecting the front & back to the sides of the cabinet?

Maybe its better safe than sorry and buy the 3/4" MDF.  I don't want 1/2" to break/crack down the road.  But darn those sheets of 3/4" are HEAVY.  I'm going to need some help carrying those bad boys. :o

--- End quote ---

I grabbed a piece of 1/2" MDF for my Control Panel. I could not imagine making a cabinet out of it unless you had a good internal frame work made out of 2 x 4's like http://home.austin.rr.com/shumate/unicade/introduction.htm. I think with the 3/4" MDF you do not need such internal support.

I have a friend who is only attaching the 3/4" MDF with 1 x 1's where the pieces meet.

BldnACab

DeathDealer:
I'm Using 3/4 Birtch Plywood, I like the way it looks and not that hard to work with.

allroy1975:
I made both my cabs out of 3/4 inch wood.  The first one was MFD the second was Birch.  You definatly need to be more careful with the birch.  It doesn't seem to take being dropped on the corners as well as the MDF did.  I've been using 2x2s (some cut to 4" some to 7" inch and some probably a foot and a half) to support everything from the inside.  Maybe I'm lucky but with my drill and drill bits and #8 2" screws, I put the 2x2 where it should be, drill in as far as I can and just go to town with the screw, haven't had one push out of the other side yet.  Or had one come out.  

I vote for 3/4".

Allroy

SeanFu:
I used 3/4 MDF for the sides, 3/4 ply for the base, and 1/2 for all other panels.  With no frame, and 1x2 molding for (probably spruce or something, not pine) jointery, it is rock solid.

However - I have a friend who is on his 3rd cab using only 1/2 inch MDF and angle brackets to join everything and the cabinets seem solid.  I don't know how they will stand the test of time, but they are a lot lighter.  He did use 1/2" T-molding.

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