Plywood vs. MDF

**OneThumbLeft** · 10-09-2002, 09:54 AM

I'm planning on making a planner stand with the plans at http://plansnow.com/plnrstnd.html. The plans call for 3/4" plywood and I inadvertently bought what I think is 3/4" mdf with a birch plywood veneer. I'm concerned about the stuff I bought because the plans call for several dado cuts. Should I just go buy some plywood, or is the mdf ok? Thanks in advance.

**aerowood** · 10-09-2002, 10:45 AM

I would not use MDF for a planter stand because it does not react well with water that will most likely be spilled. I would use at the minimnm, extertior grade plywood with a exterior finish such as spar varnish. Teak, cypress or redwood would be my choices of materail.

**aerowood** · 10-09-2002, 10:48 AM

Well I guess I should read the post more closely.I read planter instead of planner. So disregard my previous post

**GBates** · 10-09-2002, 11:16 AM

OTL

You can dado MDF but it won’t take screws well. There are specialty screws you may want to try. I don’t have the plans so I’m not sure but you may be able to modify the plans and use cleats. IMHO, glue alone won’t hold up to planing. If it were me I’d use Plywood.

Gary

"With enough time and money I can do anything"

**OneThumbLeft** · 10-09-2002, 12:00 PM

Well, I can hardly complain. I mispelled "planer" to "planner". Apparently I intended to put my Franklin Planner on a stand!

**OneThumbLeft** · 10-09-2002, 12:02 PM

Thanks, Gary. I'll just go get some plywood. I don't resent the $34 I'm out, I just resent wrestling that stuff home only to have to do it again with plywood.

**Kevin** · 10-09-2002, 12:17 PM

Trust me, you're not out $34 and you will be glad you have the stuff. It will come in handy time and time again for various projects, I use leftover/scrap MDF every day it seems. You will undoubtedly find use for it!