Testing MDF vs Plywood - What to Buy?

How about testing oriented strand board against plywood. I would like to see how much weight they can handle on a 24' on center such as roofing. maybe also try 3/8" vs 1/2".

I use MDF on every bench I have. But I seal it with shellac.

now let's go to price next xd

Costing of all these?

amazing content! subscribed!

The cost are flipped in Iceland. MDF is more expensive than plywood for some reason

I would like to see screw holding strength. Put in an eye screw and see how much weight it takes to pull out of a face and out of an edge. My bet is that MDF will not hold a screw well at all.

the strength test doesn’t take into account that more flexibility doesn’t mean less strength. Ex: The Maple bending more than the Pine doesn’t mean the maple will break before the pine under higher loads.

I appreciate the test data, but your conclusions are kinda all over the place in regards to real world use

Great test

There are different quality MDFs too. Including ones that cope much better with damp conditions.

Thanks for the video. However, what you referred to as the strength test is actually the elasticity test. That is how much a beam deflects under a certain load (and you test it for geometrically identical beams but with different materials).

Strength test, on the other hand, is when you increase the load until the beam fails (which has nothing to do with the elasticity). This way you can determine whether a beam is STRONG enough to bear a certain load or not.

This is like watching Project Farm without any scientific ability. I don't mean anything bad by that! I've never used mdf in my career, but I'm beginning to change my mind. There are situations where it's actually the best choice. Thanks for the video.

And yes. What about the cost? Which one is the cheapest?

What about mites ? After a few years the wooden furniture may develop mites and pests. So which material works well in case of mites etc.

I think this just goes to show that the answer is "it depends". What kind of job are you doing. The area where MDF excelled was flatness and the ability to be machined by router. If you're building something that has a very flat with routed edges, then MDF is your go-to. If you wanted to build French Cleats, then MDF is NOT going to work and ply is your friend.

For those of us who have a problem with dust... well... maybe they shouldn't be doing wood working :D :D :D

Hi great video very interesting also I have seen a video where a tv and wall bracket was used to hang on a 12 mm M D F is it ok to use MDF for hanging a tv?

Water? Try the water resistant MDF version - about two bucks more per sheet.
MDF dust is much worse.
You've heard of veneers and paint, right? To survive in wet areas unless MDF needs to be well painted/sealed .
To look good with clear finishes MDF really needs timber veneers. The smell of cut timber beats MDF.
Veneered MDF is more sustainable, if you care about that.

Usability also depends what you are making. MDF is MUCH flatter than timbers BEFORE sanding it or thicknessing.
If you paint it, MDF is as smooth as a baby's bum (with a skilled brush/roller painter, even better sprayed)
For Loudspeakers, MDF trounces timber - Game, Set, Match - better resonance distribution, and sound suppression.
Timber resonates. Great if you're making a stringed instrument - the exact opposite of what's needed for speakers.

The idea is to pick the best material for the job, not to "believe" one is always "better".
Would you use a 911 GT3 as removal van?

Yo también sigo odiando el mdf como tú, ahora tengo mas razones. Gracias por compartir, saludos.

Wouldn't have to worry as much about screw slippage if you used torx or square head screws instead of philips. At least you didn't use flat heads, lol. Those things need to die already.

I use MDF for jigs, sleds, and when building speaker cabinets and subwoofer boxes. Though i did make a pair of 4' tall Transmission line speakers out of Baltic Birch and they came out amazing.

You do know there industry standards for load capacity and for finishing all materials, Right?

People dont use mdf naked like that.
Mdf mostly used for kitchen cabinets or wardrobe. Usually they will paint spray with UV high gloss since the surface is smooth..hence water, heat resistant, plus beautiful.

Interesting test, since you’ve asked, I would much appropriate a test on how well such materials perform for building a workbench (especially the top) ? :) I’ve heard mdf was a great contender as “the best” material for workbench, so I would be most curious to see why. as always thanks for the informative videos !

All these imperial measurements are making my brain hurt! :-)

Go ahead and install a MDF shelf with a five foot span. Tell me how many months it lasts before it sags. It’s just high profit sawdust presswood.

This was insightful, detailed and fun to watch! I am looking to get a bookshelf made and I couldnt figure out for the life of me if plywood or mdf is better ...this helps make the decision ... I still need to figure.out if a tall narrow bookshelf will hold in flatness or bend..

I still don't get how it's possible to use inches. It sounds so complicated!!

Watched this video and the one you have doing the "absorption" tests, end-wise soak and surface soak.
Good testing....HOWEVER...you obviously must be unfamiliar with the product that ELIMINATES the absorption problem with MDF....MEDEX !!
The original MDF is "Medite"(named such by its originator, the "Medford Corporation", here in SW Oregon)what is now commonly known as MDF..medium density fiberboard. The "Medco" folks then came up with "Medex", a water-resistant form of MDF...the "..ex" denoting EXTERIOR USE.
In my 40+years of building all manner of custom woodworking, I have often been tasked with painted exterior trim. Absolutely NOTHING in the "wood world" is better than "Medex", particularly if the edge treatment is shaped(round over, cove, ogee, crown moulding, etc.)prior to painting.
TRY MEDEX...you will LOVE the end result.
Would love to see the "absorption test" performed on MEDEX next time...please.
BTW...have used latex, polyurethane (both latex acrylic and oil-based) as well as "exterior lacquer" on MDF and MEDEX, both...with much success, some projects going on 10+years, and still looking good with normal "paint maintenance" practices.

Merci pour les tests ! Vraiment très intéressant 👍

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i love your chanell man cool stuff thanks for sharing

Try Analine wood dyes, you wont go back to stain. Dyes show the grain so much better.

MDF has grain! It is stronger in one axis, like OSB. When bent in one direction it will snap, but in the other direction it will split. It make a big diference if using it for shelves!

Definite bias against MDF.

I built a set bookcases some years ago out of plywood and another out of MDF. What I found over the years is, the MDF takes a set and moves a whole lot more than plywood does. MDF also handles moisture (humidity, not wet) very poorly compared to plywood.

plywood will go back if you let it dry

but WHO THE HECK stains mdf? there is nothing to see there... MDF was made for painting... but staining? no way

how whould a osb sheet fair

Was that Oscar DeLaHoya in heels or gym shoes?? 🤔😂😂😂

My god, I’d give my left arm to have one of those plywood moving carts at work. Being in lumber alone a lot of the time, makes it tough to maneuver plywood a lot. 😫

A woodworker who is afraid of dust?!

In a real world extreme damage scenario. I neglected my shop for over a year. During that year unbeknownst to me the roof was severely damaged over my wood storage area. When I went back to the shop about 18 months later My heart broke and I made some observations. I had MDF (3 sheets), Maple plywood (7 sheets), A random piece of cheap pine, and I had maple and hickory lumber (1x8ish) mostly. All of this wood was exposed about the same. Mainly the bottom 3" of edges were exposed to water over and over throughout the year. The 4x8 pieces of MDF were basically a large pile of goo with about half of the MDF remaining. The plywood had about 5 inches at the bottom that was swollen and twisted. The Hickory and maple had about 1/2 an inch at the bottom and about 1/4" edge damage to the edges. So after many years of crying and gastro intestinal distress. I went back and the MDF was a complete pile of goo with about a 3 inch misshapen swollen piece remaining. The plywood was basically the same and so was the lumber. All of my Delta industrial tools require a bit of restoration and a healthy supply of Evaporust. But the plywood is salvageable and so is the lumber.

Note there are many, many , kinds of plywood. You can get the thick solid layers like you had in the pine but in hardwood: the famous Baltic Birch and ApplePly as seen on TV. You can get hardwood veneers in different thicknesses and quality, single or double faced. You noted the knot in the edge: you can get plywood that has no knots in the second layer, again single or double sided. Or you can get plywood that has no knots at all.
You can even get laminated sheets that are wood plys in the middle but MDF on the faces!
Also, if you don't like the dust of MDF, and you say the lack of grain loses strength, why not look into OSB (chip board, shelf board) for your cheapness needs? Some "shelf boards" are made with crumbs that are much larger than the compressed dust of MDF, but again lack grain. OSB is made with large pieces of wood.

164.2? Are you body shaming me? Hahahaha jk.

Without watching this video I'll give you the answer. It depends on the use. MDF is amazing in paint or color lacquer situations where the ability to tool shape, consistency, and a smooth finish are the most important. It has to be sealed all the way around though and shouldn't be used where it is likely to come in constant contact with water. It's useless for staining (obviously) and has no natural beauty. It is a man made Medium Density Fiber (yep that's what it stands for) pressed together and bonded with a "water resistant" glue.

i am a flatbed truck driver for a flooring company. I work out of the plant that makes MDF to be made into "hard wood" flooring. you ever hate something because you see and touch it alot?