For my box for 2 12" xcons I want to something that is lighter than mdf.

What are some other types of wood people use to build light weight boxes? I was looking at Baltic birch 13 ply that can be ordered from my local hardware store at my dads for around 95 shipped there.

At the Home Depot by my house has birch (not baltic) 5 ply. How much better is 13 ply than the 5?

I want to call the flint lumber yard and see how much their 13 ply BB is.

Is there anything less expensive that people use but is also lighter than mdf?

13 ply baltic birch is only about 12 pounds lighter per sheet than MDF

13 ply baltic birch is only about 12 pounds lighter per sheet than MDF

Really?? I thought it was a lot more. Maybe ill just stick with mdf then since it's cheaper.

Marshall, BLACK00, used to use Trupan MDF and HDF, he said it was a lot lighter, check it out.  I never used it though...

Marshall, BLACK00, used to use Trupan MDF and HDF, he said it was a lot lighter, check it out.  I never used it though...

What is HDF?

Ohh yea I remember people saying Trupan MDF. I'm gonna look it up now.

High Density Fiberboard

Thanks!

the birch i used was alot lighter  then MDF

the birch i used was alot lighter  then MDF

Do you know exactly what kind of birch it was?

there are only 2 kinds anyone would normally ever run across.

 

Baltic which is more rare over just Birch sold at lowes or home depot

i doubt it was Baltic. i asked for cabinet grade  it has a few voids but not many

jon, the birch lowes and home depot sells here has several voids too.. Probably just that.

So it was probably the HD or lowes birch then. How did it work out? Better than regular mdf?

 it works great for what i use it for..  its lite its strong, the only thing i had problems with st first was the screws ripping out from the wood on the sub mounts .. but i used bigger more course screws and it fixed that problem

 it works great for what i use it for..  its lite its strong, the only thing i had problems with st first was the screws ripping out from the wood on the sub mounts .. but i used bigger more course screws and it fixed that problem

Okk thanks Jon. Sounds like it's good usable stuff.

lol, hehe..  I use it all the time.. I actually resin steel plating behind mounting holes and bolt all subs in.

lol, hehe..  I use it all the time.. I actually resin steel plating behind mounting holes and bolt all subs in.

I don't think I need to do that. It's gonna be just a daily system

yea i know.. bur for daily.. i've had screws break heads or drive themselves back out.

 

They even left me a note before..

 

It said.. No More! Please...  hehe

jon, the birch lowes and home depot sells here has several voids too.. Probably just that.

My Lowes sells cabinet grade birch that is void free. I used it on my battery box. They do not sell it in full sheets tho and it is fairly expensive.

Aruco ply is another to look into.

I pay 55 for 13ply Baltic for 60 x 60 sheets.

jon, the birch lowes and home depot sells here has several voids too.. Probably just that.

My Lowes sells cabinet grade birch that is void free. I used it on my battery box. They do not sell it in full sheets tho and it is fairly expensive.

Aruco ply is another to look into.

I've heard that stuff is good too.

I pay 55 for 13ply Baltic for 60 x 60

sheets.

I wish I got that price around here! Lol

I have used the stuff from Home Depot with no problems however it is not birch. It is a cheaper hardwood with a birch vaneer.

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna try that stuff. I've been texting frogcase2002 and he's used the HD birch or whatever it is and he says it works good too.

If they have it get the stuff with the oak vaneer. It's a bit sturdier vaneer.

Just be cautious when purchasing birch. Most stores like Home Depot or Lowes will not have void free versions and that can cause issues with weak spots in the enclosure.