Posted May 28, 200817 yr 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.
May 28, 200817 yr 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.
May 28, 200817 yr 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.
May 28, 200817 yr 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
May 28, 200817 yr 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
May 28, 200817 yr 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
May 28, 200817 yr 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,MarkThe 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.
May 28, 200817 yr 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
May 28, 200817 yr 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...
May 28, 200817 yr 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.
May 28, 200817 yr 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 problemI 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
May 28, 200817 yr 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.
May 28, 200817 yr Author 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.
May 28, 200817 yr why would you want something more flexible? by that reasoning wouldn't it be better to use veneer?
June 1, 200817 yr MDF makes for talcum powder sawdust. Takes months to get it cleaned up, and I do mean months.
June 1, 200817 yr 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.
June 1, 200817 yr MDF makes for talcum powder sawdust. Takes months to get it cleaned up, and I do mean months.MDF dust is a nightmare
June 1, 200817 yr 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.
June 26, 200817 yr 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, 200817 yr by theabunai
June 26, 200817 yr 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.
June 26, 200817 yr depends where u go..lowes mdf is nice and smoothmenards mdf is grainy and chips really easy...Birch looks nice all around, but is mroe expensive
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