Best material for box.

[CRAZYCORNUTS18 10+ year member]

like stated before its either birch ply or glassed

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

The best all around material that can cost anything is a contradictory sentence //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

The best all around material for building would be MDF, 3/4". It's strong, dense, cuts easily, and is the best value for the amount you get.

The best around overall would have to be baltic birch, 13 ply though. If you're in a store and it looks expensive, then it probably isn't baltic birch. You have to go to a high quality lumberyard or cabinetry business, and is usually around 60-80 per sheet (not 4x8 either). It cuts like a chainsaw through butter, holds like grandma and looks beautiful when finished.

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

I have yet to have any form of birch cut easier than MDF. I hate how I keep reading that everywhere; it really makes me fell ripped off. It does cut nice but I've had some MDF that slid through the table saw like it was already cut -- no strain on the motor and no hold ups at all. And yes, I've used the $65 5x5 sheet of 13 ply, no void, baltic birch.

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

MDF does cut easily, but if done correctly, plywood is smooth sailing throughout. It also routes cleaner as well. But note: I only use birch for home audio purposes.

 

[skinnymofo 10+ year member]

anyone tried bamboo? its prpetty **** strong and fairly light, but around here atleast, it only comes in strips and not sheets

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Bamboo. Are you ****ing kidding? We're not making rafts here; this is enclosure construction.

 

[skinnymofo 10+ year member]

what? too far outside the box to build a box?

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

for the crap box's people make, MDF is fine and easy to work with.

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

what? too far outside the box to build a box?

Are you talking about bamboo itself, or bamboo flooring. Either way, it's far too narrow.

 

[Paul73 10+ year member]

'nother vote for Trupan here. BB is great too but I think Trupan mills easier.

 

[skinnymofo 10+ year member]

i was talking bamboo plank. which i have seen in 1" thick 12x8 planks just like regular carpentry/woodworking material.

it would be a fair amount of work glueing it all together and whatnot then cutting it down and or planing and whatever.

i just like woodworking and using unusual materials to build things :/

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Then I apologize, I thought you meant taking bamboo flooring which is like 3" wide.

 

[fwb_1234 10+ year member]

Then I apologize, I thought you meant taking bamboo flooring which is like 3" wide.

lol at that.

I was also thinking bamboo flooring, which, on second thought, might be a wonderful covering for an MDF box.

 

[Immacomputer 10+ year member]

MDF does cut easily, but if done correctly, plywood is smooth sailing throughout. It also routes cleaner as well. But note: I only use birch for home audio purposes.

Explain, "done correctly" please. I've tried it cutting against and with the grain and it's never as easy as the dark MDF that Home Depot usually carries. The lighter MDF doesn't cut as nicely as the dark but it still cuts easier than MDF. Birch does route easier though.

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Explain, "done correctly" please. I've tried it cutting against and with the grain and it's never as easy as the dark MDF that Home Depot usually carries. The lighter MDF doesn't cut as nicely as the dark but it still cuts easier than MDF. Birch does route easier though.

Done correctly means having the proper blade teeth and height. Otherwise, you can burn the wood or chip the veneer.