MDF or birch

[solobarric 0]

What material do you think is better to build with MDF or birch. I seen alot of builds using birch, but I have never used it. Does it hold up as well as mdf or better? What are the advantages of useing birch over MDF? Just want some input before I start building, thanks.

[ramos 2]

Either or. Birch offers some weight reduction over mdf. But the weight reduction comes at a price. Good birch ply is more expensive than mdf.

[vladd 26]

and in most cases the weight difference is not enough for you to ever really notice in vehicle. It won't make your car faster, more gas efficient, etc. Of course lifting the box will be much easier.

[mrogowski 6]

Interesting topic actually. I did a fair bit of research on this awhile back, and found that laminates (read plywood) provide much more structural strength than MDF. Each laminate is glued together 90 degrees opposing each other, so you get strength in all directions and not just the two directions you see on the outer layers.

MDF as it stands offers no directional strength whatsoever. Its use has proliferated the cabinet industry due to its ease of forming and finishing. And of course, it is cheaper than ply.

So, to answer your question, plywood would be the choice to use. It would however, cost a few bucks extra.

Best,

Mark

[manbeer 0]

What would the weight difference be on a 4x8 sheet? I am trying to keep the rear as light as possible, so if i can save 10-15 lbs on the setup, 2.5-3 cu ft box and spare tire amp rack the cost difference might be worth it

[vladd 26]

if you want to save weight go fiberglass and choose your sub wisely.

[manbeer 0]

if you want to save weight go fiberglass and choose your sub wisely.

yeah, i was going to but i dunno, fiberglass has a "different" sound to me. i've been in a bunch of cars with fibergas enclosures and i have never really like the sound, but maybe it had nothing to do with the material

[ANeonRider 3]

I'm going to say it didn't have anything to do with the material.

[ramos 2]

Interesting topic actually. I did a fair bit of research on this awhile back, and found that laminates (read plywood) provide much more structural strength than MDF. Each laminate is glued together 90 degrees opposing each other, so you get strength in all directions and not just the two directions you see on the outer layers.

MDF as it stands offers no directional strength whatsoever. Its use has proliferated the cabinet industry due to its ease of forming and finishing. And of course, it is cheaper than ply.

So, to answer your question, plywood would be the choice to use. It would however, cost a few bucks extra.

Best,

Mark

The good stuff is biased 90 degrees with each layer. There is a lot of crap out there right now that is simply thrown together and heat pressed with no regard for bias. Messed up part is the stuff is still more expensive.

[ramos 2]

I'm going to say it didn't have anything to do with the material.

Winner winner chicken dinner . IF you hear a difference, somebody did a half ass job

[JimJ 11]

I went with ply for the BIB's because I was staining them, and I didn't feel like painting MDF...

The size of the enclosure might also play a role in what you choose - real birch ply doesn't come in 4x8 sheets, but smaller square sheets...so if you have something with larger sides than that...

[manbeer 0]

I'm going to say it didn't have anything to do with the material.

Winner winner chicken dinner . IF you hear a difference, somebody did a half ass job

It seemed like maybe they didn't apply enough deadening/damping material, sounded a little like when i kick the side of my bathtub.

[ramos 2]

I'm going to say it didn't have anything to do with the material.

Winner winner chicken dinner . IF you hear a difference, somebody did a half ass job

It seemed like maybe they didn't apply enough deadening/damping material, sounded a little like when i kick the side of my bathtub.

That sounds like the problem

I don't really use a lot of deadener on glass enclosures. Usually only takes a layer or so. If you take the time to lay some rope in between a couple layers it goes a long way

[mrogowski 6]

I went with ply for the BIB's because I was staining them, and I didn't feel like painting MDF...

The size of the enclosure might also play a role in what you choose - real birch ply doesn't come in 4x8 sheets, but smaller square sheets...so if you have something with larger sides than that...

If memory serves, you are referring to Baltic Birch. Nice stuff - light, very strong, but expensive.

[solobarric 0]

thanks for all the replies, I am going to look into the birch. But depending on availabilty and price I might end up useing MDF. Was just thinking about tryin something different.

[Kovemaster559 1]

use birch its lighter and more flexible and it holds up realy well

[vladd 26]

why would you want something more flexible? by that reasoning wouldn't it be better to use veneer?

[audio-neon 34]

birch is much nicer to your tools. MDF eats saw blades.

[helotaxi 46]

MDF makes for talcum powder sawdust. Takes months to get it cleaned up, and I do mean months.

[vladd 26]

MDF makes for talcum powder sawdust. Takes months to get it cleaned up, and I do mean months.

damn near as long to get it out of your nose too. and ears, and god forbid you should be sweating when you cut it.

[Adrian_D 520]

MDF makes for talcum powder sawdust. Takes months to get it cleaned up, and I do mean months.

MDF dust is a nightmare

[helotaxi 46]

MDF makes for talcum powder sawdust. Takes months to get it cleaned up, and I do mean months.

damn near as long to get it out of your nose too. and ears, and god forbid you should be sweating when you cut it.

I actually ended up in the ER with an allergic reaction to the formaldehyde in the MDF from sweating while cutting.

[theabunai 3]

Hmmm Any of the experienced guys please chime in...

Taking away the account of the weight of Baltic Birch vs MDF.... What (if any) advantages in sound does it have ?

I've heard a difference in particle wood vs MDF... I have not heard any difference in MDF vs HDF... will i hear a difference between MDF and Baltic Birch ?

All thing being equal.. is a layer of Baltic Birch as rigid as a layer of 3/4" MDF ? I've heard from my local woodcraft guy a layer of 3/4 Baltic Birch is as strong as 1" MDF... T or F ?

Edited June 26, 2008 by theabunai

[helotaxi 46]

MDF is not very strong at all. It's used for enclosures because it is easy to cut and shape, has a uniform density, is pretty acoustically inert and is cheap. Birch ply is lighter and stronger. The good stuff has most of the good properties of MDF as well other than the "cheap" thing.

[djjdnap 78]

depends where u go..

lowes mdf is nice and smooth

menards mdf is grainy and chips really easy...

Birch looks nice all around, but is mroe expensive