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Is MDF good for drawer bottoms?
I use 3\8 MDF for drawer bottoms. I find it plenty strong and stable.
How do you account for wood movement?
You can’t keep wood from moving, but these tips and strategies can help you avoid problems.
- AVOID MITERS OUTDOORS.
- PLAN FOR DECK BOARD MOVEMENT.
- ALLOW EXPANSION SPACE FOR WOOD FLOORS.
- LET TABLETOPS FLOAT.
- LET WOOD ACCLIMATE.
- AVOID WIDE BOARDS.
- MANUFACTURED WOOD HOLDS PAINT BETTER.
- PREFINISH TONGUE-AND-GROOVE.
What kind of wood do you use for drawer bottoms?
The most common materials for drawer bottoms are 1⁄4″ hardboard or plywood. For small and medium-size drawers, hardboard will stand up to a moderate amount of weight. For a heavier load, you can step up to plywood. Baltic birch plywood is a great choice.
Can you use MDF for drawers?
MDF is an abbreviation for medium-density fiberboard, which is a type of wood particle boards. MDF sheets are not the same as chipboard or plywood. The reason why MDF is an ideal choice for drawer-building is because it cuts and sands well.
How thick should a drawer bottom be?
3/8″ thick plywood is the best overall thickness for drawer bottoms and is available for Maple, Birch, Beech, Cherry, and Walnut. 1/4″ and 1/2″ thickness is available for all wood species and in White or Almond Melamine as well as other options.
Does plywood expand with heat?
Plywood and wood expand upon heating, as do practically all known solids. The average coefficient of linear thermal expansion is about 3.4 x 10-6 inch/inch per degree F for a plywood panel with 60 percent of the plies or less running perpendicular to the face.
What can I use to make drawer fronts out of MDF?
A few possible solutions: 1. Build the boxes out of plywood or MDF which would, in the first case, reduce the movement by half, or, with an MDF box, the movement would be the same. 2. Mount the fronts so that they can float, using screws with oversize holes to allow for the movement.
What kind of wood is a drawer front made out of?
In any case, the more typical door construction is to make the frame out of solid wood, for joint strength, with an MDF panel. All our drawer fronts and doors on a commercial cupboards are MDF. The drawer fronts are attached with 6 screws – no problems for 10 years.
When do drawer fronts start to have problems?
Most drawer fronts are narrow enough that the difference in movement isn’t great enough to cause damaging stress, but wider drawer fronts, starting around 8″ or so might start having problems, especially if the front were glued on, in climates that have a wide swings in humidity during the year.
What can I use to limit the movement of wood?
You can also limit wood movement by using more dimensionally-stable materials such as MDF or plywood rather than solid wood. Keep in mind that many factors contribute to wood movement, including material, species, climate, and grain direction.