Which is stronger?

[Daydreamer1]

A neighbor was discussing a cabinet he wants to build for his kitchen. His wife wants "real" wood, but he wants to go with MDF with a veneer.

I like MDF because it seems less expensive than going with solid wood. I have also heard tha tit is stronger than most natural wood.

Is this true, or are there inexpensive woods, meaning much less expensive than Teak, that can match MDF in durability?

 

[Moondance]

Rumor has it that MDF is actually stronger, probably because it is made up of fibers that don't follow a grain, giving more "cross support" in the material itself.

It is pretty easy to apply veneers and finishing trims.

 

[heretoday]

Stronger?

A furniture maker/refinisher I hang out with has told me the same thing, he said that there are much less likely to be flaws than there are in real grained wood. He said that the flaws can hide until stress is put on them.

 

[katharina]

Rumor has it that MDF is actually stronger, probably because it is made up of fibers that don't follow a grain, giving more "cross support" in the material itself.

It is pretty easy to apply veneers and finishing trims.

This is *very* good to know! We have a kitchen project coming up... my cupboards are horrid and have been since we bought this house. To use something maybe even better than "real wood" but costs less would be ideal!

 

[Trigga09]

Real wood

Hey I know real wood is a bit pricey, but i feel that the overall finish really makes up for it. Plus there is the issue with durability. Just my personal view, but I think that you can't go wrong with real wood.

Trigga09

 

[WoodChuck1]

As far as looks go I don't think there is anything that compares to the look of real wood cabinetry. However, I would think the sheer weight from using real wood might make a difference in how sturdy they were- at least how much work it took to keep them sturdy.

 

[woodpecker]

Though MDF is made out of wood wastes, it is stronger, more even, and more uniform than real wood. Moreover, it is cheaper, more durable, holds paint better, and is great for your kitchen cabinet. So, unless you have certain sentimental feelings toward real wood, better go in for MDF.

 

[Taggart]

I'd have thought it was stronger than real wood, too.

I remember as a kid gluing a broken hockey stick blade back together and hearing that the stick would be the strongest at the point of gluing.

 

[alaine]

What all is in MDF. Is it just wood scraps?

I think real wood looks much nicer.

I'm also skeptical about a lot of the building alternatives. Many of them are horribly toxic.

 

[oldnamvet]

MDF is a lot heavier than most woods. Picking up a 3/4" sheet is quite an effort. It also tends to split when driving nails or screws into the edge so a pre-drilled pilot is critical. I'd build the cabinet out of MDF and then use real wood for the doors and face frames. One big advantage of MDF, it is dead flat. Not twists, warps, etc. that you see in even the best grade plywood.