4 ms·

I wonder why you consider it a problem. Mdf and variations are much more stable, don't warp due to humidity. For non-premium furniture it's a perfect choice.

angry_moose 3y ago
And those properties make it well suited for things like cabinet panels that don't take load. MDF has poor structural strength, next to zero holding strength for fasteners (the first thing to go on ikea furniture is always the screw holes), and is very prone to water damage.
arwineap 3y ago
MDF bubbles when it gets damp, and completely crumbles away when it gets wet. The price difference between plywood and MDF is not significant; $45 -> $60 in my market, and OSB is even cheaper at $30 (all prices, 4'x8', 1/2" sheets) Why MDF is used, I'll never understand.
- Joker_vD 3y ago
  So that, as I said in my neighbouring comment, "you could pay twice". Why make a piece of furniture that in the end will cost you, the manufacturer, the same but will decrease your sales by about three times because the end product would last three times as long? To recoup the losses, you'd have to charge to the point that you move into the high-end part of the market but at that point you could just as well use solid wood (in fact, you're expected to by the customers).
RoyalHenOil 3y ago
MDF warps and swells worse than any other furniture material I've ever seen. If it's not well sealed against moisture (and laminate alone is not sufficient), it will eventually develop severe flaws if exposed to water or kept in a humid environment. Regular wood (and to a lesser extent plywood) will warp somewhat over time, though rarely enough to affect the function or appearance of the piece. It will swell with humidity, but it won't be permanently disfigured by it. Also, it won't become prone to catastrophic failure because people occasionally spill drinks on it. MDF doesn't have to have these issues; it can be used correctly. It's just very rare to see that in a lot of cheaper furniture.

angry_moose 3y ago

And those properties make it well suited for things like cabinet panels that don't take load. MDF has poor structural strength, next to zero holding strength for fasteners (the first thing to go on ikea furniture is always the screw holes), and is very prone to water damage.

arwineap 3y ago

MDF bubbles when it gets damp, and completely crumbles away when it gets wet. The price difference between plywood and MDF is not significant; $45 -> $60 in my market, and OSB is even cheaper at $30 (all prices, 4'x8', 1/2" sheets) Why MDF is used, I'll never understand.

Joker_vD 3y ago
So that, as I said in my neighbouring comment, "you could pay twice". Why make a piece of furniture that in the end will cost you, the manufacturer, the same but will decrease your sales by about three times because the end product would last three times as long? To recoup the losses, you'd have to charge to the point that you move into the high-end part of the market but at that point you could just as well use solid wood (in fact, you're expected to by the customers).

RoyalHenOil 3y ago

MDF warps and swells worse than any other furniture material I've ever seen. If it's not well sealed against moisture (and laminate alone is not sufficient), it will eventually develop severe flaws if exposed to water or kept in a humid environment. Regular wood (and to a lesser extent plywood) will warp somewhat over time, though rarely enough to affect the function or appearance of the piece. It will swell with humidity, but it won't be permanently disfigured by it. Also, it won't become prone to catastrophic failure because people occasionally spill drinks on it. MDF doesn't have to have these issues; it can be used correctly. It's just very rare to see that in a lot of cheaper furniture.