Any flaws to birch?

[THXdts 10+ year member]

I built my last box outta MDF, but for my next upcomming box I wanted to use birch. Is there anything bad about it? Using it insted of MDF? Thanks.

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[jeepintn 10+ year member]

often times, because it is lighter, i have found you need to add additional bracing to help from getting flex. and the price :-\but other than that, i absolutely love it

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Nice to work with compared to MDF. Just check the sheet over good to make sure it's not full of voids. The HD stuff is hit and miss, but I've had good luck with it.

 

[THXdts 10+ year member]

Nice to work with compared to MDF. Just check the sheet over good to make sure it's not full of voids. The HD stuff is hit and miss, but I've had good luck with it.

What should I look for? Just knots and stuff?

 

[tEh koRnDog 5,000+ posts]

What should I look for? Just knots and stuff?

knots, but at home depot there always tends to be big chunks or dents. So look it over for that.

 

[CrazedCat 10+ year member]

are you referring to solid birch or birch veneer plywood?

 

[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

probably the ply birch, thats what i see people use, never used it myself. I like to use Cedar for my boxes cause it makes my woofers smell like my grandmas quilts

 

[THXdts 10+ year member]

Yeah I am going to use 13 ply birch...that's what I see people use...

 

[kombat96 10+ year member]

use a nice sharp blade also, ive heard that birch my chip easy.

 

[bk12321 10+ year member]

make sure you get 13 ply and yes it looks AWESOME when done right.

 

[SHiZNiLTi 10+ year member]

What should I look for? Just knots and stuff?

Yeah I am going to use 13 ply birch...that's what I see people use...

Just so you know they only have 11ply birch at Home Depot, Imapimp**** (forgot his full name), but he has used double 11ply all the way around for his wall that houses (2) RE HC 18's and its solid.

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

Well, also MDF is the ideal material for a box, straight wood is not, even high end home speaker makers use MDF or HDF then use real wood veneers, none use solid wood boxes and the reason is warping. Real wood has a much great tendency to absorb moisture in the air and lose moisture to it causing warping and flexing issiues which over time will lead to cracked seals and joints plus change the box dimensions, MDF is the way to go.

 

[newusername 10+ year member]

Well, also MDF is the ideal material for a box, straight wood is not, even high end home speaker makers use MDF or HDF then use real wood veneers, none use solid wood boxes and the reason is warping. Real wood has a much great tendency to absorb moisture in the air and lose moisture to it causing warping and flexing issiues which over time will lead to cracked seals and joints plus change the box dimensions, MDF is the way to go.

Be careful how broadly you use that brush to paint. MDF has significant storage issues compared to most void free ply's and is favoured by many people in the high end home audio world. There are a few very large topics discussing this on diyaudio.com, if you're interested in having a read.