One type of decorative material that is widely used for furniture is plywood and MDF.
Plywood is a sheet material made from thin wood veneer layers or "plies" that are glued together with neighboring layers that have their wood grain rotated to each other up to 90 degrees. It is an engineered wood that contains medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particle board from the fabricated board family (chipboard).
Solid wood tends to break and warp along the grain of the wood, especially when used on large boards. By gluing alternate layers with the grain at right angles to each other, Plywood was designed to offset these issues. Generally, the resulting board remains flattered and doesn't break like solid wood.Depending on the form of wood used, plywood is used on the exterior of houses and cabinetry for its structural strength.
MDF (medium-density fiberboard) is an engineered wood product developed by breaking down residual hardwood or softwood into wood fibers, often in a defibrator, mixing it with wax and a resin binder, and applying high temperatures and pressure to form sheets. Generally, MDF is denser than plywood. It is composed of different fibers but may be used as a construction material comparable to plywood in use. It is heavier than particleboard and much denser.The name comes from the distinction of fiberboard densities. HDF means fiberboard with high density, for instance, and LDF means fiberboard of low density.
It is made of wood fibers which are blended in a wax & resin binder soup. The fibers are then packed into a 3/4" sheet of the appropriate thickness, which is very normal. The resulting layer is rough and smooth, flat, and thick. It works well with smooth painted surfaces, can be used with normal woodworking equipment, and since it has no grain pattern, the cuts are normally very smooth.Because of this, it is used and looks fantastic in low-grade cabinets, but it still does not retain fasteners and continues to crack from use over time. It may also be molded or cut into shapes, and for paint grade moldings such as base, casing, or crown, it is most widely used.
Plywood is a material that is environmentally friendly and can be recycled. Though at a cheaper price, MDF is. Then you can compare them and pick the most fitting one.
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