WOODWORKING
high temperature and pressure. MDF is more condensed and more compressed than plywood. Edges, therefore, may
be routered cleanly and sanded with little effort. Entire projects can be made from MDF, the tops, the shelves, the
face frames, the drawer fronts, and more.
Advantages:
- Edges are easily routered and sanded.
- Easily painted
- Minimal sanding
- Can use for the entire project
- Cheaper than wood
Disadvantages: - Cannot be stained
- Does not look like wood
Particleboard or Pressboard
For projects where beauty and strength is not a concern and price
is a factor, particleboard is an option. Particleboard, sometimes called
pressboard or chipboard, is an engineered wood product
manufactured from wood particles, such as wood chips, sawmill
shavings, or even saw dust. These materials are combined with a
synthetic resin or some other suitable binder and pressed together,
forming what we call a composite material.
Particleboard is rated according to its density, or how compressed
the composite material is, the higher the grade, the denser the
particles. This is important for determining strength and the ability of
the particleboard to hold tightly to a screw fastener. Though
particleboard is denser than conventional wood, it is the lightest and
weakest type of fiberboard used for construction. On the other hand,
medium-density fiberboard and high-density fiberboard (hardboard) are stronger and denser than
particleboard.
A major disadvantage of particleboard is that it is very prone to expansion and discoloration due to
moisture, particularly when it is not covered with paint or another sealer. Therefore, it is rarely used
outdoors or places that have high levels of moisture, with the exception of some bathrooms, kitchens and
laundries, where it is commonly used as an underlayment beneath a continuous sheet of vinyl flooring. It
does, however, have some advantages when it comes to constructing the cabinet box and shelves. For
example, it is well suited for attaching cabinet door hinges to the sides of frameless cabinets. Plywood has
the potential to feather off in sheaves when extreme weight is placed on the hinges. In contrast, particle
board holds the screws in place under similar weight.[1] Additionally, particleboard is favored for cabinet
shelves that need to span a long width (30"or more) since it will not bow under the weight like plywood.
Advantages:
- Cheap.
- Good underlayment for vinyl or tile backer board
- Holds screws in place
- Good for shelves spanning 30” or more
Disadvantages: - Chips when routering
- Prone to expansion and discoloration due to moisture
- Does not look like wood
Masonite
Masonite is a type of hardboard similar to particle board and medium-density fiberboard, but is denser,
much stronger, and harder. Thus, it is also called “hardboard.” Because it is made out of exploded wood
fibers that have been highly compressed, it offers some valuable characteristics. It differs from particle
board in that the bonding of the wood fibers requires no additional materials, although resin is often added.
Unlike particle board, it will not split or crack. It is used in construction and furniture. Hardboard is
Unit II: Understanding Wood