Had to pick between birch ply and MDF for a built-in last week

Went with birch ply cause the customer wanted it to last. Saved maybe $200 with MDF but man the ply was a pain to cut clean on my table saw. Chipped edges in a couple spots. Customer happy though. Anyone else run into this choice and pick the wrong one?

3 comments

3 Comments

adamr1422d ago

Did you try scoring the cut line first with a utility knife to keep the saw from tearing out, or was it not that kind of chipping?

the_max22d ago

Scoring the cut line definitely helps but I still get tear out on birch ply sometimes if the blade isn't sharp enough. Ran a 40 tooth combo blade through mine and it still left some fuzz on the bottom edge. Had to hit it with sandpaper before assembly. MDF would have been cleaner but that stuff swells up if a glass gets sweated on it. Customer wanted something that wouldn't fall apart after a few years so ply was the right call even if it fought me the whole way.

the_spencer21d ago

3M makes a blue tape that's basically low-tack and sticks just enough to keep the plywood fibers from lifting. @adamr14 's utility knife trick works good too, I do both on Baltic birch before I cut. Saves me a sanding step on the back side, which is nice when you're making 50 cuts for a single cabinet.