MDF - Medium Density FiberboardMDF or Medium Density Fiberboard is an engineered wood product originally developed exclusively for furniture, but it's many uses have made it one of the most popular composite materials in recent years. For instance, it is used extensively in kitchens and bathrooms, and in a growing number of applications as a solid wood replacement product when there is no need to have wood grain showing. Much like particleboard, MDF consists of wood particles and resin. However, unlike particle board, the wood particles, which are cooked and pressure steamed, are also separated uniformly to make a fine, consistent material. The manufacturer then binds the wood particles with an adhesive and heat presses the composite into sheets. Here are some key features of MDF: - MDF is uniform, dense, smooth, and free of knots and grain patterns, making it an excellent substitute for solid wood in many applications
- Moderate density and consistency give it excellent machining characteristics.
- MDF has greater moisture tolerance than particleboard.
- Performs better in harsher conditions.
You might wonder why we don't use MDF in all of our tables rather than the Thermally Fused Melmine as our Standard table top material. Melamine performs very well in all situations, is easier to work with and is more light weight than the MDF. The weight difference is not much, but is a factor in shipping and handling the table. We recommend MDF for your use if the table is spending more of its life in outdoor or more extreme use.
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