Wood Composites

Question 1

MDF advantages

Answer 1

Cheap, various thickness, recycling of waste wood, veneers and laminates can be applied.

Question 2

MDF uses

Answer 2

Block models, small bases, building and furniture, kitchen units.

Question 2

MDF disadvantages

Answer 2

Goes soggy with water, heavy, dust is produced when sawn.

Question 3

Chipboard advantages

Answer 3

Inexpensive, comes in normal, medium and high density forms.

Question 4

Chipboard disadvantages

Answer 4

Not very strong, brittle, easily damaged edges, difficult to shape, finishes poorly, becomes waterlogged and not strong.

Question 5

Chipboard uses

Answer 5

Work surfaces in kitchen, flat pack furniture, internal fire doors.

Question 6

Hardboard advantages

Answer 6

Not expensive.

Question 7

Hardboard disadvantages

Answer 7

Brittle, goes soggy with water, tears easily, difficult to finish, not strong, only smooth on one side.

Question 8

Hardboard uses

Answer 8

Covering panels, levelling floors.

Question 9

Plywood advantages

Answer 9

Very strong as layers are at 90 degrees to each other, stable, good quality finish.

Question 10

Plywood disadvantages

Answer 10

Can spilt when cut if becomes wet, usually more expensive than boards, if no finish applied knots can fall out.

Question 11

Plywood uses

Answer 11

Containers, flooring, flat pack furniture, boats.

Question 12

Block board advantages

Answer 12

Cheaper than plywood, good resistance to warping.

Question 13

Block board disadvantages

Answer 13

Not strong.

Question 14

Block board uses

Answer 14

Furniture, kitchen cutting boards.

Question 15

Lamination advantages

Answer 15

Very stable due to veneer, don’t misshape, cheaper than solid woods.

Question 16

Lamination disadvantages

Answer 16

Not as aesthetic as solid woods, often need a paint of finish to make them look better.

Question 17

Lamination uses

Answer 17

Plywood is mainly used, flat pack furniture.