What are the main uses of MDF?

What are the main uses of MDF?

Mdf wood is currently used quite a lot in furniture products. However, for many wood consumers Mdf is still quite strange. In the process of designing and constructing furniture An Viet House often receives customers’ questions related to wood MDF: What is Wood MDF? Wood MDF is good? How to distinguish wood MDF? Advantages and disadvantages of wood MDF?

MDF is an extremely versatile building product, chosen for its strength, affordability, durability, and consistency. An engineered material, made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into fine particles, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and pressing it with high temperature, it’s commonly used in many home and professional projects, including:

• Furniture

• Cabinets and shelves

• Flooring

• Decorative projects

• Speaker boxes

• Wainscoting

• Doors and door frames

• Tradeshow booths and theater set construction

Advantages of MDF

*Generally more cost-effective than plywood or wood.

*Is consistent throughout so doesn’t have voids or splinters.

*Has a smooth surface that is perfect for painting.

*Is easily cut with a router, scroll saw, band saw or jigsaw with no splintering, burning or tear-out.

Disadvantages of MDF

*Takes in water and other liquids like a sponge and will swell unless well sealed.

*Is very heavy.

*Cannot be stained because it will soak up the stain, and has no wood grain for aesthetics.

*Due to its makeup of small particles, doesn’t hold screws well.

 

MDF comes in thicknesses from 1/4 in. to 1 in., but most home center retailers only carry 1/2-in. and 3/4-in. Full sheets are oversized by one inch, so a “4 x 8” sheet is actually 49 x 97 inches.

MDF Tips

Don’t use a hammer

MDF is extremely hard, so nails bend unless you pre-drill a hole, which is a bit impractical. Use a trim nailer to shoot nails into the surface, and a putty knife to scrape off the tiny bumps that result before filling the nail holes.

Don’t let it get wet

When exposed to water, MDF will swell to twice its thickness and will crumble if consistently exposed to water and damp conditions. There are moisture-resistant MDF products , that can be used in areas with humidity such as bathrooms and laundry rooms, but no MDF is waterproof.

Protect your face

MDF work produces a sandstorm of fine, powdery dust that infiltrates everywhere and everything, so try to cut and rout MDF outdoors. If working indoors, drape sheets of plastic over furniture, doorways and air vents. Wear a tight-fitting dust mask and eye protection.

Keep an extra saw

MDF tends to dull saw blades quicker than most woods or plywood so have an extra saw blade handy.

Sand your edges

Cutting MDF creates sharp, open edges, so you will need to sand all cut edges, which can usually be accomplished with a fairly light-grit sandpaper, such as 150 grit.