Wood help

[1mounty]

What would be the best wood to use to build a box? Like would I hear a difference in mdf and hdf and also birch is the only advantage for birch is that it's lighter? Any suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated!

Click to read more...

 

[ashren315]

MDF is the standard "go to" wood for box building. It is strong, doesn't resonate and flex like a lot of other plywoods do, and is fairly cheap and easy to cut.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

What would be the best wood to use to build a box? Like would I hear a difference in mdf and hdf and also birch is the only advantage for birch is that it's lighter? Any suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated!

MDF is the standard "go to" wood for box building. It is strong, doesn't resonate and flex like a lot of other plywoods do, and is fairly cheap and easy to cut.

Funny you say strong and doesnt flex lmfao, complete opposite.

here is a test done by a person testing the strength of wood.

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/206653-an-experiment-in-box-materials/

These are the results of the test where he put weight on the wood so it bends aka deflection. The smaller the number, the less the bend, the stronger the wood, I also included the overall weight for a 4 x 8 sheet of wood.

Baltic Birch .0315" of deflection - 2.36 lbs/square foot = 75.52lbs ~100$+

Arauco .041" of deflection - 1.875 lbs/square foot = 60lbs ~35$

China Pine .0415" of deflection - 2.06 lbs/square foot = 65.92lbs ~30$

MDF .067" of deflection - 2.92 lbs/square foot = 93.44lbs ~30$

OSB .023" of deflection - 2.48 lbs/square foot = 79.36lbs ~20$

BTW there is NO audible sound difference or unwanted resonance whatsoever as long as you properly brace your boxes. Absolute ZERO reasons to go HDF and MDF nowadays, heavy, weak, fragile and dirty with a lot of sawdust. I'd go with arauco anyday. the lighter the better.

PS baltic birch costs 100+ a sheet.

if you see any birch thats 55 dollars a sheet, thats just normal china ply with a a birch veneer so basically you are paying a lot extra for veneer, not actual birch.

 

[ashren315]

I was comparing it to general plywoods. Of course there are other woods that can beat it in certain categories. But for price, strength, flex, and availability, MDF is perfectly fine and is the standard for these reasons.

I never said it was "the best", just that it was a general standard and perfectly fine for just about any build.

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

Papermaker can help. He loves wood.

 

[Nate121]

Funny you say strong and doesnt flex lmfao, complete opposite.
here is a test done by a person testing the strength of wood.

https://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/206653-an-experiment-in-box-materials/

These are the results of the test where he put weight on the wood so it bends aka deflection. The smaller the number, the less the bend, the stronger the wood, I also included the overall weight for a 4 x 8 sheet of wood.

Baltic Birch .0315" of deflection - 2.36 lbs/square foot = 75.52lbs ~100$+

Arauco .041" of deflection - 1.875 lbs/square foot = 60lbs ~35$

China Pine .0415" of deflection - 2.06 lbs/square foot = 65.92lbs ~30$

MDF .067" of deflection - 2.92 lbs/square foot = 93.44lbs ~30$

OSB .023" of deflection - 2.48 lbs/square foot = 79.36lbs ~20$

BTW there is NO audible sound difference or unwanted resonance whatsoever as long as you properly brace your boxes. Absolute ZERO reasons to go HDF and MDF nowadays, heavy, weak, fragile and dirty with a lot of sawdust. I'd go with arauco anyday. the lighter the better.

PS baltic birch costs 100+ a sheet.

if you see any birch thats 55 dollars a sheet, thats just normal china ply with a a birch veneer so basically you are paying a lot extra for veneer, not actual birch.

It actually seems like Arauco isn't that bad of an option

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

I was comparing it to general plywoods. Of course there are other woods that can beat it in certain categories. But for price, strength, flex, and availability, MDF is perfectly fine and is the standard for these reasons.
I never said it was "the best", just that it was a general standard and perfectly fine for just about any build.

Chinese ply is lighter, much stronger and the same price. Easier to work with, no stripped holes, no excessive sawdust so yeah its beaten in every category. Just people are too stuck on traditional thinking and what they originally researched aka hear from old school guys. While theres vastly superior options out there.

It actually seems like Arauco isn't that bad of an option

Yeah that weight to strength to price ratio is amazing. Makes a huge difference in walled builds between stock and upgraded suspension $$$$

 

[Nate121]

Chinese ply is lighter, much stronger and the same price. Easier to work with, no stripped holes, no excessive sawdust so yeah its beaten in every category. Just people are too stuck on traditional thinking and what they originally researched aka hear from old school guys. While theres vastly superior options out there.


Yeah that weight to strength to price ratio is amazing. Makes a huge difference in walled builds between stock and upgraded suspension $$$$

I may go with that, its insanely light, I just have to figure out where I can buy it from.

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Next wood I'm buying is baltic birch. Yes it's more $$ than mdf but beats it in the weight class.

Will be for a tline 8" enclosure.

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Next wood I'm buying is baltic birch. Yes it's more $$ than mdf but beats it in the weight class.
Will be for a tline 8" enclosure.

Beats mdf in any class not just weight lol except price.

 

[JohnKuthe]

Beats mdf in any class not just weight lol except price.

Glad I chose that for my little sub enclosure!

John Kuthe...

 

[big scott]

I may go with that, its insanely light, I just have to figure out where I can buy it from.

i may go with that also.

i wander if home depot sells it.

as i need to start betting my supplies ready for my wall.

 

[Nate121]

i may go with that also. i wander if home depot sells it.

as i need to start betting my supplies ready for my wall.

I dont think anyone around me sells it, so I may just have to go with china pine

 

[big scott]

is this the china pine ??

if not what you think..

Sande Plywood (Common: 3/4 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft.; Actual: 0.709 in. x 48 in. x 96 in.)-454559 - The Home Depot

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

is this the china pine ??
if not what you think..

Sande Plywood (Common: 3/4 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft.; Actual: 0.709 in. x 48 in. x 96 in.)-454559 - The Home Depot

look for the one that has 13 layers, its not shown online, you'll have to check at the store.