MDF vs Plywood: Every Thing You Need To Know
It can be tough to decide what to use for your furniture when there are plenty of options available like MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) and plywood. I am often confronted with questions from people regarding their usage and so I thought it apt to put up an article detailing MDF Vs plywood.
While MDF is generally cheaper, it is not as hard as plywood. Since it does not go very well with moisture, it is better to use plywood for outdoor furniture. Here, I have compared MDF and plywood on the basis of different criteria for ease of understanding.
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What Is MDF?
MDF is an engineered wood product created from wood fibers extracted from breaking down softwood and hardwood. These wood fibers are then glued together and made into panels by the application of high pressure and temperature.
MDF is almost similar to particle board but, is much stronger and denser. As it is made of small wood fibers, it has no wood grain. The fact that it is pressed hard at high temperatures makes it devoid of any voids the way it is in particle boards.
via doityourself.com
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What Is Plywood?
Plywood is created from peeler logs. For this, wood logs are used from which thin layers are peeled. This is done by rotating the woods along their horizontal axis. Doing so results in the production of sheets of veneer that can be cut into different dimensions according to the requirement.
These cut pieces are first dried, patched and then glued together. These are then baked in a press at 140 °C (284 °F) and 1.9 MPa to obtain plywood panel. The smoothness of the plywood depends on its grade. This determines whether it can be used for making interior pieces that look good.
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Comparison of MDF and Plywood
MDF Is Cheaper
The first point of difference would be the cost at which both materials are available. It is already discussed that MDF is engineered wood made from wood fibers. So, it is on the cheaper side. On the contrary, plywood is made from peeler logs making it costlier.
But, the cost depends on the types of wood and the grade of plywood too. Both MDF and plywood also differ in price depending upon their thickness. It is seen that higher grades of plywood cost more as they look more elegant when made into furniture.
Such higher grades display natural softwood or hardwood grains. Lower grades are used in places that are not easily noticeable like the subflooring.
Plywood Has A Lower Tendency To Split
When you try to drive a screw at the edge of MDF, it is observed that the core splits easily. The screw head may snap off before sinking or may push up chips when a countersink drill bit is not used. But when plywood is nailed at the edges, it has a lower tendency to split.
MDF has non-directional grain structure making it good for machining, drilling and cutting without resulting in splinters. As knots are absent in MDF, it is easy for finishing too. The hard surface of plywood makes the furniture made from it durable and strong.
As MDF has a smooth surface, it is mostly used for simple pieces that can be painted and used for interior designing. Both plywood and MDF are easy to use, especially for DIY experts who work with them regularly. Both varieties are used to make affordable furniture.
MDF Is Easily Damaged
When the strength and durability are considered, MDF is softer than plywood and is easily damaged when handled roughly. If too much weight is applied to it, it has a tendency to sag as it is not stiff like plywood. This is the reason why the shelves made from MDF are reinforced. Such shelves do not sag easily.
Plywood has an improved dimensional stability due to its cross graining. Such a structure reduces shrinkage and expansion. As a result, you get consistent panel strength in both directions. The sheets are in odd number thereby reducing warping. A plus point of plywood is that its dimension and strength are not affected by extreme cold.
Uses Of MDF And Plywood
As MDF is easily affected by moisture, it is mainly used for internal paneling and doors and furniture used indoors. Its smooth surface makes it ideal for painting. This also makes way for easy cutting of detailed designs using a band saw, scroll saw or jigsaw.
Plywood finds its use in the construction of interior stairs, framing, external cladding, doors, interior rails, exterior stairs, internal paneling, flooring, timber joinery products, shear walls, and timber portal frames. Plywood is used to create curved surfaces as it blends with the grain easily.
Wrapping Up
With enough details included in the article, I hope that you are now clear about the differences between MDF and plywood and how and where they are used. The list is important because many are confused as to which wood to use for their indoor and outdoor constructions.
I have tried to include even the minute details so that it is easier for you to take a decision the next time you construct something. I would be very happy to know if this was helpful to you. Please post your valuable opinions in the comments section and share the article if you liked it and found useful.
