Ive looked at a couple threads about building plywood tanks. I was looking to start one soon. My question is why dont people use MDF instead of plywood. Is it because of cost? At my home depot the MDF is thicker and stiffer than the plywood they sell. It seems like a good canidate for lining the inside of a tank.
MDF
- Thread starter PredatorTank215
- Start date
BarroomHero;3074173; said:
Didnt know that.
But if your gonna treat it or cover it in fiberglass/Marine epoxy/Pond liner isnt its purpose solely structural?
PredatorTank215;3074177; said:
Im not sure how mdf would hold up if coated with something.
I would say that while plywood may seem to have more flex it is also stronger, due to it being made up of numerous thin layers of wood laid in alternating directions and bonded with glue.
MDF may not have much flex but it is more brittle, for lack of a better word, from my experience.
DB junkie;3074195; said:
MDF dosnt flex. Ive used both and it seems like MDF is stronger. Its almost like concrete board made of wood. As far as weight you already have to build a stand to hold thousands of pound of water. Whats a extra couple hundred pounds?
BarroomHero;3074217; said:
I do agree its more brittle if i were to take a hammer to the corner but as far as evenly distributed weight? If you have bracing under both is serving more as a flat surface. Ive built sub boxes that were dam near impossible to destroy when we tried. Its a strong material.
PredatorTank215;3074232; said:
Im not saying its not strong, just that I think plywood is stronger even though it flexes more.
I think ill try it as building material and see. Unless someone has a past experience building a tank with it?