PLEASE! Check my math for my box!

[way2sl0 10+ year member]

Hi everyone,

Trying to figure out how much MDF I need to buy.

From what I have calculated, a single 4 foot x 8 foot sheet is going to work

Here is my math proving it, im not sure if I did it right.

Box dimensions are the following:

16.5x13.2 (2)

28x13.2 (2)

28x16.5 (2)

Proof:

434.973 sq in Sides

738.136 sq in Top/Bottom

924 sq in Front/Back

=2097.109 sq in needed

48x96 MDF used

FRONT/BACK>>>>>>---------28x16.5 + 28x16.5 = 56x16.5" Needed for Front/Back--- Remaining = 96-56=40" 48-16.5=31.5" therefore {56x31.5" and 40"x48" Remaining}

TOP/FRONT>>>>>>--------28x13.2 + 28x13.2 = 56x13.2" Needed for Top/Front(Using ONLY 56x31.5 Piece)--- Remaining = 31.5-13.2=18.3= {56x18.3 and 40"x48" Remaining}

SIDES>>>>>>>-----------16.5x13.2 + 16.5x13.2 = 33x13.2" Needed for Sides( Using ONLY 56x18.3 Piece)--- Remaining = 56-33=18.3 and 18.3-13.2=5.1 {23x18.3 and 33x5.1 and 40x48" Remaining)

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[WOT]

Dont forget blade width, you lose that 1/8" for every cut

 

[Slammer 10+ year member]

One sheet of mdf is plenty for that size box. Do this, make a rectangle on a piece of paper. Knowing that the mdf is 48x96, you can draw the individual pieces into the rectangle that represents the sheet. I will usually come up with my box dimensions. Then, I will draw each individual board, along with it's dimensions. Lastly, I will draw the individual pieces to make sure that I am maximizing the mdf. It is possible to have lots of unusable square inches of mdf, depending on how it shakes out. Comparing the total square inches of the proposed box to the square inches of the sheet of mdf is not accurate. By the way, the mdf I use is typically 49" wide, not 48" (even though it is supposed to be 4x8). Hope this helps.

 

[Kold_Killa 10+ year member]

One sheet of mdf is plenty for that size box. Do this, make a rectangle on a piece of paper. Knowing that the mdf is 48x96, you can draw the individual pieces into the rectangle that represents the sheet. I will usually come up with my box dimensions. Then, I will draw each individual board, along with it's dimensions. Lastly, I will draw the individual pieces to make sure that I am maximizing the mdf. It is possible to have lots of unusable square inches of mdf, depending on how it shakes out. Comparing the total square inches of the proposed box to the square inches of the sheet of mdf is not accurate. By the way, the mdf I use is typically 49" wide, not 48" (even though it is supposed to be 4x8). Hope this helps.

and 97" long iirc

 

[7ender 10+ year member]

yup, mdf sheets are an inch wider than an actual 4x8 in both directions to compensate for loss due to cutting.