MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) Uses

Unlike particleboard, with which it is sometimes confused, medium density fiberboard (MDF) cuts well and has a smooth surface that is ideal for painting. (Particleboard, by contrast, makes use of ordinary sawdust rather than fibrous wood, and as a result, is less water-resistant and offers less structural strength than MDF).

 

What Is Medium Density Fiberboard?

Medium density fiberboard, or MDF, is a manufactured product composed of wood fibers mixed with resin and wax, and pressed into flat panels under high temperatures and pressure. It is used as a building material in residential and commercial buildings.

 

MDF is a very dense product and, therefore, is considerably heavier than plywood or dimension lumber. Keep this in mind when building with it. Other than this slight drawback, MDF is an excellent building material, as it accepts glue bonds very well and joins securely with nails and screws with minimal chances of fracturing. 

 

Working With Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)

It is best to cut MDF outdoors, as it creates a lot of dust. It is also smart to wear a respirator when cutting or sanding MDF, to avoid expose to fine dust and to the resins used in manufacture. When exposed to moisture, unfinished MDF can swell and lose strength, so in applications where moisture expose is a possibility, exterior-grade plywoods are a better choice. 

Because MDF accepts paint so well, it is often used in visible applications, such as in cabinet carcasses that will be painted. Particleboard, on the other hand, does not accept paint very well, and so is more commonly used in hidden locations, such as for underlayment for carpeting or other types of flooring.