1/2 mdf vs 3/4

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

People seem to underestimate .5" MDF. It holds up just fine, and it's my go to material for small home audio enclosures. The problem is that in the end, you usually end up having to use as much space as 3/4", because you need to brace it more heavily. That's really hte only problem besides it's harder to screw into .5" than .75".

 

[Mr Cabinetry 10+ year member]

People seem to underestimate .5" MDF. It holds up just fine, and it's my go to material for small home audio enclosures. The problem is that in the end, you usually end up having to use as much space as 3/4", because you need to brace it more heavily. That's really hte only problem besides it's harder to screw into .5" than .75".

I would agree to the extent that using 1/2" mdf would required some bracing, but not to the extent that it would displace so much that it would be like just using 3/4" MDF and no benefit was gained at all.

For the types of bracing I use for enclosure's the amount of total displacement is no greater than .10 cu.ft., but, to my credit I use 3/8" or 1/2" MDF for those bracing elements as well as for making slot ports.

He!!, that ranger box i designed and will be building is entirely 3/8" MDF, but , I know that it ain't going to come apart.

 

[samger2 10+ year member]

I haven't built very many boxes...but I've never braced any of the boxes I've done. What is included or required to brace a box?

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

I haven't built very many boxes...but I've never braced any of the boxes I've done. What is included or required to brace a box?

All that bracing is is coupling the enclosure's panels together so that vibrations are reduced. Look in Mr. Cabinetry's sig for pics of his boxes' interiors, as he's the preeminent king of bracing on the forum. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif