Manufactured Board

Question 1

What are the pros of manufactured boards?

Answer 1

Cheap
Alter properties (water/fire)
Strength (no grain - uniform)
Sizes (standard 8ft x 4ft - 2440mm x 1220mm)
Thicknesses (standard 3mm, 5mm, ….. 37mm
Readily available
Not going to warp, twist, shrink as much (glue)
Insect Resistant (insects die from glue)

Question 2

What are the cons of manufactured boards?

Answer 2

Not attractive (aesthetics)
Poor workability

Question 3

Advantages of Chipboard?

Answer 3

Relatively light
Inexpensive
Low density

Question 4

Disadvantages of Chipboard

Answer 4

Brittle
Very poor workability
limited workability
has to be veneered / painted or ugly

Question 5

Advantages of MDF

Answer 5

More dense than chipboard
easier to work than chipboard
fine fibres held together with glue

Question 6

Disadvantages of MDF

Answer 6

Edges are rough (have to be sealed or primed before painting)
Difficult to work by hand

Question 7

Blockboard

Answer 7

Alternating grain - less likely to warp
Stronger than chipboard or MDF
Easier to work
Can be worked by hand
Thin strips of wood glued together with veneer

Question 8

Advantages of Plywood

Answer 8

Strong (uniform strength in all directions)
Light
Great strength to weight ratio
Very stable
can be made waterproof

Question 9

Disadvantages of Plywood

Answer 9

MUST BE CAREFUL ABOUT COST
-> hardwoods expensive (birch plywood)