MDF or free plywood?

Need help with your car stereo system? Have a technical question? Post here.
Post Reply
nutxo
Posts: 1685
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 4:25 pm

MDF or free plywood?

Post by nutxo »

Ive always built my boxes from mdf but yesterday someone gave me enough 1.5 inch plywood to make a box. Is thick plywood as good as mdf/ I mean I see a lot of people building with plywood these days . 20 years ago my crowd would have laughed at em and poked em with sticks and shit, ya know?
ttocs
the Floor Sweeping Hack with Golden Ears
Posts: 14797
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:53 pm

Re: MDF or free plywood?

Post by ttocs »

depends on the grade and what fasteners you plan on using. Plywood does not always like screws and can split and of course if it gets wet like most wood it is really done but if it were a good grade I would consider it but it would need to be GOOD......
what else can I say I am a grumpy asshole most of the time.
User avatar
tonym
Posts: 1653
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2009 6:17 am

Re: MDF or free plywood?

Post by tonym »

I would go MDF all the way....
User avatar
stipud
Voltage Ohms
Posts: 14719
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 1983 4:00 am
Location: Burnaby, BC
Contact:

Re: MDF or free plywood?

Post by stipud »

All my boxes are birch ply. They're really solid and light. But that's higher grade ply... not the choppy stuff. But 1.5" thick??? :shock:
User avatar
Bfowler
Briaans..... BRIAAAAANNNNNNS
Posts: 10769
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:06 am
Location: So easy, a cavewomen could do him

Re: MDF or free plywood?

Post by Bfowler »

nutxo wrote:Ive always built my boxes from mdf but yesterday someone gave me enough 1.5 inch plywood to make a box. Is thick plywood as good as mdf/ I mean I see a lot of people building with plywood these days . 20 years ago my crowd would have laughed at em and poked em with sticks and shit, ya know?

i almost always use 3/4 birch plywood for my boxes now. i have never looked back. mdf is a bit cheaper, but the birch works just fine, and is easier for tnuts to set into, and nicer on my drill bits and saws. its about 1/3 lighter too which is nice

if its good plywood, it will be just fine, probably better then 3/4 mdf.
my ex-girlfriend said "its car audio or me"
i've had tougher choices at a soda machine...
ttocs
the Floor Sweeping Hack with Golden Ears
Posts: 14797
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:53 pm

Re: MDF or free plywood?

Post by ttocs »

you guys are talking baltic burch right? that is good stuff as long as you can afford it but I would not really consider that the traditional plywood that most people think of when saying plywood.
what else can I say I am a grumpy asshole most of the time.
User avatar
finbar
Posts: 380
Joined: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:07 pm
Location: Seattle

Re: MDF or free plywood?

Post by finbar »

I made a box out of 1-1/8" form ply (void free, 11 ply).......... presented well as a sealed SQ sub box, blended nicely with the front stage. If the edge of the 1.5" shows no voids, have at it.
ttocs
the Floor Sweeping Hack with Golden Ears
Posts: 14797
Joined: Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:53 pm

Re: MDF or free plywood?

Post by ttocs »

I would also flex it a little bit(as much as you can 1.5") to listen if you can hear it comming apart. Some plywood does not do well with vibrations and can break down after time I have heard.
what else can I say I am a grumpy asshole most of the time.
User avatar
Bfowler
Briaans..... BRIAAAAANNNNNNS
Posts: 10769
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:06 am
Location: So easy, a cavewomen could do him

Re: MDF or free plywood?

Post by Bfowler »

ttocs wrote:you guys are talking baltic burch right? that is good stuff as long as you can afford it but I would not really consider that the traditional plywood that most people think of when saying plywood.
i'm not sure if its baltic, but its 9 ply for 3/4 inch, and voids in the ply are very few and far between. its generally about $10 more then mdf for a sheet
my ex-girlfriend said "its car audio or me"
i've had tougher choices at a soda machine...
Post Reply