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What are the differences between MDF and Plywood?

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MDF vs Plywood – Differences

While they look similar, these popular wood composites aren’t interchangeable. Weigh these differences when choosing MDF vs plywood for an easy decision.

On the surface, both MDF and plywood contain real wood but are highly engineered into their finished forms.

MDF starts off with hardwood and softwood fibers, which are glued together with various resins, and then subjected to high heat and pressure to form panels.

Plywood undergoes a similar process, but instead of wood fibers, starts off with very thin layers of wood from peeler logs. At a big-box home improvement store, you’ll find both in sheet forms of different thicknesses and grades—the higher the grade, the higher the price.

What is MDF – Medium Density Fiberboard?

MDF is an engineered wood composite that is similar to particle board, but is much denser and stronger than particle board.

What is MDF?
What is MDF?

Imagine if all of the sawdust was swept up from other wood product manufacturing processes, and then that sawdust was mixed with binders and pressed into large sheets the size of plywood.  Okay, that’s way oversimplified, and it’s not exactly the process they use to make MDF, but that gives you an idea of the makeup of the product.

Because it’s composed of such small wood fibers, there’s no wood grain in MDF.  And because it’s pressed so hard at such high temperatures, there are no voids in MDF like you find in particle board.  Here you can see the visible difference between particle board and MDF, with MDF on the top and particle board on the bottom.

What is Plywood?

What is Plywood?
What is Plywood?
Plywood is also an engineered wood product that is made by pressing and binding sheets of wood veneer together into one solid piece.
Plywood comes not only in different thicknesses, but also in different grades, so you can choose the right one for your project.  Lower grades are used in construction of houses for subfloors and such.  Obviously these types of plywood don’t need to look pretty since they’ll be covered up.

The higher grades of plywood (stain grade, cabinet grade, etc.) are much prettier and smoother.  They have consistent wood grain showing, and generally lack knot holes or other major imperfections.  And cabinet grade plywood is always sanded very smoothly on the surface.

You can also find plywoods in various wood species, like oak, or maple, or pretty much anything else, so that you can get exact look you want for your project.

MDF vs Plywood – Differences

While they look similar, these popular wood composites aren’t interchangeable. Weigh these 11 differences when choosing MDF vs plywood for an easy decision.

On the surface, both MDF and plywood contain real wood but are highly engineered into their finished forms.

MDF starts off with hardwood and softwood fibers, which are glued together with various resins, and then subjected to high heat and pressure to form panels.

Plywood undergoes a similar process, but instead of wood fibers, starts off with very thin layers of wood from peeler logs. At a big-box home improvement store, you’ll find both in sheet forms of different thicknesses and grades—the higher the grade, the higher the price.

In general, MDF is cheaper than plywood

While the price depends on the thickness and grade of the material, in general, MDF costs less than plywood. If there are zero other factors pushing you to one material over another, and you’re watching the bottom line, MDF wins the price wars.

MDF is cheaper than plywood
MDF is cheaper than plywood

Plywood looks more like real wood

Since plywood is made with wood strips, its surfaces take on the solid-wood appearance better than MDF. Higher grades of plywood are smooth and quite attractive, with plenty of grain, yet none of the knotholes that can mar solid wood. MDF, in contrast, has no grain, isn’t as smooth as plywood, and looks like what it is: pressed wood fibers.

MDF weighs more than plywood.

As it’s quite a bit denser than plywood, MDF weighs considerably more. This can be a major issue if you’ll need to lift, hold, or clamp panels in place or construct something that requires an overhead reach, such as elevated shelves.

When it comes to strength, plywood is the winner.

MDF is a softer material than plywood and tends to sag or split under pressure. That’s why it’s important to reinforce it if you’re going to using it to build shelves or other weight-bearing furniture. Plywood also has more flex than MDF, so you can gently bend it to create curves; plus, plywood won’t expand, contract, or warp, even under temperature extremes.

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