MDF

[basslover34]

All you Sub box guys all know how easy it is to ruin a screw hole in MDF.. that's enough to drive most of us against it for every other reason we can think of LOL

I still use MDF for supporst in boxes... but usually go all fiberglass now with Ply rings for the subs, mind you I don't do as many systems now as I used to back in the day, maybe 3-5 a year now , not the same as 10-15 years ago, Not as much interest around here either I drive down the street bumpin and I get these looks like I'm bothering them... I love it

 

[DB junkie]

Must be nice..... LOL My systems for the last 4 years were one note wonders. Couldn't play music on them. It was painfull having that much money wrapped up into something you couldn't listen to.

Baltic Birch was great till total system power for 2 subs exceeded 20K..... Once total system power for 2 subs hit 40K it was a steel frame lined with BB on the inside....

 

[Tom_cullen]

okay guys lets say for instance, you framed the outside of thank with 2x4 so you used minimal screws and such so you knew it could structually hold the water and all that stuff was good, is'nt the inside going to be coated with epoxy sealant stuff? would it matter weather the mdf was water tight or what because surely its the epoxy thats keeping it water tight? this is a genuine question btw im clueless it just makes sense that if you appropriately sealed the tank it wouldn't matter. I'm no engineer so i dunno i'm just thinking

 

[Issack]

okay guys lets say for instance, you framed the outside of thank with 2x4 so you used minimal screws and such so you knew it could structually hold the water and all that stuff was good, is'nt the inside going to be coated with epoxy sealant stuff? would it matter weather the mdf was water tight or what because surely its the epoxy thats keeping it water tight? this is a genuine question btw im clueless it just makes sense that if you appropriately sealed the tank it wouldn't matter. I'm no engineer so i dunno i'm just thinking

the MDF would push out from in between the studs with all that pressure i would think. maybe not break right away but if would conform and expand. It's just what MDF does.. it warps. it does not have major structural properties under extreem pressure.

And this baltic birch thing... Any cabinet grade plywood that has Veneer on it is pretty much the same interior core. it doesn't matter if it's birch, maple, oak, walnut... it's all cabinet grade ply with a veneer on it that rates how expensive it is.. the veneer is only 1/32 thick .. The ply i made my tank out of is birch and it sells for like 50 bucks a sheet.

Iv'e heard on here that people say that oak ply is the strongest ply.. It's not.. because we are talking about a 32nd thick layer of veneer. the core is the same as the rest..

Cabinet grade ply is straight, strong, and easy to work with..

 

[basslover34]

Not all cabinet grade ply is created equal... a lot of it used low grade inner piles to keep the cost lower, True Baltic Birch uses only quality one, which gives it greater strength although no one here really needs that type of strength and most of us wouldn't notice difference anyway.

 

[CJH]

the MDF would push out from in between the studs with all that pressure i would think. maybe not break right away but if would conform and expand. It's just what MDF does.. it warps. it does not have major structural properties under extreem pressure.

I agree.

And this baltic birch thing... Any cabinet grade plywood that has Veneer on it is pretty much the same interior core. it doesn't matter if it's birch, maple, oak, walnut... it's all cabinet grade ply with a veneer on it that rates how expensive it is.. the veneer is only 1/32 thick .. The ply i made my tank out of is birch and it sells for like 50 bucks a sheet.

Iv'e heard on here that people say that oak ply is the strongest ply.. It's not.. because we are talking about a 32nd thick layer of veneer. the core is the same as the rest..

Cabinet grade ply is straight, strong, and easy to work with..

Baltic Birch and cabinet grade ply do not have a very similar core. I'll try to snap a picture of both side by side this weekend.

 

[Issack]

Ahh so you guys are talking about the Baltic birch ply that is a marine grade of some sort.? that stuff is like 200 bucks a sheet yes.? I had some chunks of that stuff a while back and it's dense like a rock.. but Waaaaay to expensive..lol

you guys are right.. it is a stronger core. But as Basslover said. We really wouldn't know the difference.

 

[greengiant]

depending on where you buy your wood makes a difference. as some have said you can get oak plywood that is only the outer layer. you can also buy "all oak plywood" all the layers are oak and I have had both. there is a huge difference between the strength and weight of each. some stores don't stock the good stuff because they want to appear cheaper and to the average person they wouldn't know the difference looking at the 2. just that one place charges $75 for a sheet and one charges $200 and they think they are comparing apples. MDF COULD work for a tank BUT if it ever leaks it will be a catastrophic failure and most arent prepared to take that chance. alot of tanks will leak at some time in there life and to use a product that will have drastic results is a scary proposition for most of us.

 

[CJH]

Ahh so you guys are talking about the Baltic birch ply that is a marine grade of some sort.? that stuff is like 200 bucks a sheet yes.? I had some chunks of that stuff a while back and it's dense like a rock.. but Waaaaay to expensive..lol

you guys are right.. it is a stronger core. But as Basslover said. We really wouldn't know the difference.

Nowhere near that expensive. If fact BB is known for its low price and high quality. It is the high ply stuff you see used in modern furniture, cabinet drawers, etc. It is almost always finished with its edges exposed due the fact it has zero voids and just flat out looks nice.

In fact it looks so nice that there is now edge banding made to look just like it. How ironic. Edge banding that covered cut edges of sheet material made to look like the cut edge of sheet material.

BB ply would be my first choice to make a plywood tank with dimensions under 60". Inexpensive and strong, but also has a smooth veneer which means your sealant will go further.