MDO questions...

[knave]

I was calling around my local lumber yards and I found a  source for MDO but they asked me if I want one-sided or two-sided. I had no idea.

Which is best suited to arcade cabinet construction?

Also how does MDO take to having a T-moulding slot cut in it?

Thanks to anyone who can shed light on this subject.

[kingflynn]

MDO is generally used on exterior applications, highway signs for example.  Get two sided if you want to paint it inside and out.  If you only plan to finish the exterior, get one sided.  It will route fine for T-molding.

[nostrebor]

One sided has the nice smooth "paper" face on one side, two sided... you get the idea. It is a fantastic produt to use for a cabinet. It has the smoothness of MDF with a plywood core. It also is made using weather resistant materials, so water doesn't turn it to mush so quickly like MDF.

Like plywood, you should look to see that the sheets aren't warped or only 5-ply. Good MDO will be at least 7 or more plys with minimum voids, and flat.

[ScottS]

Other have already explain the difference and reasons for choosing 1-sided or 2-sided. The other thing to ask about is availability. In my area, it tends to be easier to get 2-sided MDO than 1-sided. For me, it's usually worth it to pay the extra $3-5/sheet and not have to wait 7-10 days for it to show up.

One other benefit of 2-sided MDO: since both sides are the same you don't have to worry about making a cut at the wrong angle and ending up with the paper face on the inside of the cabinet rather than the outside.

[bfauska]

For most cabinet designs I think that two sided would be most appropriate, on stand-up cabinets you ususally see both sides of the side panels, since the joinery is simple butt joints with a lip around the edges.

[knave]

Yeah, Now that I picture it in my head I agree.  I'll have to get two sided. Thanks.

[nostrebor]

For those that are still following along I'll follow up with another reason to get 2 sided... long term stability of the material.

Just like when you only laminate one side of plywood, one sided MDO will tend to cup away from the paper face. This is because ambient moisture can penetrate the non-faced side at a higher rate than the faced side. This will cause the sheets to want to cup in the right conditions. If both faces are treated the same way, they absorb moisture at the same rate and the sheet stays flatter.

This effect is more prevalent in plastic-laminated sheet stock, (because laminate basically seals out all moisture) but it can occur in MDO as well.