Birch>MDF??

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

The no dust should make it an automatic win anyways.

I hate cleaning up mdf dust

 

[slick rick 10+ year member]

Didn't it start cause TCAB? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

I hope not. I got the idea from some guys over at the ole SI.net years ago. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[95bat 10+ year member]

...They don't. Completely different uses.

Don't people use fiberglass for subwoofer enclosures?

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Yes they do. But a tank and a Ferrari are both modes of transportation...just used completely differently. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[95bat 10+ year member]

While I understand your analogy, I don't understand the reasoning behind it

 

[Jared530 10+ year member]

the reason why i was asking this was because im going to build a new box for my xxx. And my MDF box by itself was a talk, it lowered the back of my carat least 3 inches. I wanted something lighter. If birch was almost identical strength compared to MDF then im going to get it, i dont mind paying the extra 15-20$ for it.

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

Its considerably lighter, almost 1/2 the weight

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

If you don't mind paying the money, then go for it.

95bat, what I'm saying is that you wouldn't use fiberglass in the same situation where you could use actual wood. You use fiberglass when you need to get the most space out of your car, or when you want to try something innovative. Wood enclosures are just the industry standard, and aren't particularly special unless it's a different kind of enclosure.

 

[bjfish11 5,000+ posts]

Basically, when all said and done, the only differences you will notice between the two is weight and amount of dust left behind. Ive never used Birch for a sub box, but Ive worked with it at work before. I dont totally agree with the "it cuts easier, routes easier" stuff. But then again, I havent worked with MDF in over 3 or 4 years. I use Trupan.

Here is some info I gathered up between Trupan and Birch awhile back (keep in mind Trupan weights approx 80% as a sheet of MDF.)

I gathered up some info on baltic birch 13 ply vs. trupan, and here is what I got.

Weight---

Trupan- 2.25 lbs. per square foot.

Birch- 2.16 lbs. per square foot

Price (my cost)---

Birch is roughly $.25 more per square foot.

The reason I compared square footage is because the Brich I have easy access to comes in 5x5 sheets (which sucks to handle) vs. 4x8 sheets.

In case your wondering, a 4x8 sheet of trupan weights in at 72 lbs and a 5x5 birch weighs 54 lbs.

Im gonna stick with using trupan. I dont feel the price is worth the very minimal weight difference you will get. However, if its wanted for a build, I would be more than happy to get it.

 

[Shyne151 10+ year member]

Basically, when all said and done, the only differences you will notice between the two is weight and amount of dust left behind. Ive never used Birch for a sub box, but Ive worked with it at work before. I dont totally agree with the "it cuts easier, routes easier" stuff. But then again, I havent worked with MDF in over 3 or 4 years. I use Trupan. Here is some info I gathered up between Trupan and Birch awhile back (keep in mind Trupan weights approx 80% as a sheet of MDF.)

I gathered up some info on baltic birch 13 ply vs. trupan, and here is what I got.

Weight---

Trupan- 2.25 lbs. per square foot.

Birch- 2.16 lbs. per square foot

Price (my cost)---

Birch is roughly $.25 more per square foot.

The reason I compared square footage is because the Brich I have easy access to comes in 5x5 sheets (which sucks to handle) vs. 4x8 sheets.

In case your wondering, a 4x8 sheet of trupan weights in at 72 lbs and a 5x5 birch weighs 54 lbs.

Im gonna stick with using trupan. I dont feel the price is worth the very minimal weight difference you will get. However, if its wanted for a build, I would be more than happy to get it.

Is trupan available at home depot or lowes? i have to build a box for my new car soon, and i don't want the *** end to sag like my monte did.

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

No, you need to go to a high-quality lumberyard to find it. It comes in two weights as well.

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

meh, in car. mdf for the win.

in home, and stained, birtch. etc. ftw

 

[tommyk90 5,000+ posts]

The only real benefit that MDF has over GOOD birch is the cost savings.

I've worked a lot with both, and for a person like me who has to move around heavy boxes all the time for SPL testing, birch is a lifesaver.

For example, i had a 4 cube box for a pair of 10's. Because of the dimensions, it was nearly 3/4 of a sheet of 4x8 MDF. With the subs in, the whole package weighed well over 100 pounds.

For my single 15" box (the sub weighs more than both the 10's i had combined), i used birch. the box was about the same size, and only half the weight. Made things MUCH easier to move around.

But I agree with everyone for the most part. If weight isn't an issue, then there's no real point to getting birch. For my teammate joe's box, since his box needed 3 sheets of wood, we used birch for it and saved well over 100 pounds.

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

Ive never seen birch in 5x5 sheets, you must have a weird distributor.

 

[joetama 5,000+ posts]

Hmmm.... I'm thinking about trying birch in my next box now just for the damn weight savings......