mdf or birch

[rosszilla23]

can someone tell me which material would be better, mdf or birch? i've only used mdf for the few sub boxes i've built. in some of the posts i've seen people use birch.what would be the plus and flaws of using this over mdf(3/4)? thanx

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[Bettr n' Revrse 5,000+ posts]

Birch is much stronger and lighter but much more expensive...

 

[elancohen92 10+ year member]

how about 1" mdf compared to 3/4" birch?

 

[MANTI5 10+ year member]

how about 1" mdf compared to 3/4" birch?

Birch still wins in strength and weight. MDF is rather soft being pressed sawdust, it's just used so much in speaker building because of cost and availability.

 

[MANTI5 10+ year member]

itchy posting finger

 

[theMessenjah44 10+ year member]

particle board is pressed sawdust. MDF is an excellent box material as long as there's no moisture. As far as 1" MDF vs. 3/4" birch...there should be little to no price difference if you can even find 1" MDF. I can't find it around here

 

[elancohen92 10+ year member]

i have access to 1" mdf, but i was just asking if birch was stronger than will 3/4" birch be stronger that 1" mdf?

 

[MANTI5 10+ year member]

Particle board is pressed wood chips, mdf is sawdust.

You'll be fine using 3/4 mdf or birch, 1" mdf is great too but really heavy. Just brace and you're good to go.

 

[elancohen92 10+ year member]

still not what im asking, but okay.

 

[MANTI5 10+ year member]

I answered you the first time you asked, look up.

 

[theMessenjah44 10+ year member]

Particle board is pressed wood chips, mdf is sawdust.
You'll be fine using 3/4 mdf or birch, 1" mdf is great too but really heavy. Just brace and you're good to go.

no...chip board is pressed wood chips, particle board is sawdust, mdf is paper sheets. You are incorrect

 

[MANTI5 10+ year member]

Ok, particle board is sometimes sawdust but it is also sometimes pressed wood chips. Look it up. MDF is wood fibers mixed with a resin and wax. There, issue solved.

 

[Ray21 10+ year member]

I like birch because MDF makes a crapload of dust that gets everywhere. And its heavy.

I'm willing to pay more for a more manageable, less messy product.

 

[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

Birch gets my vote. Only issue is that its a good bit more $$ then mdf. MDF 3/4 in $30 a sheet. Birch 3/4 is just a tat less then $50 a sheet. These are my local Lowes prices.

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

Birch over MDF. Lighter, less messy, and more rigid.