Birch vs MDF

[chjade84]

What are the advantages of Baltic Birch over MDF aside from the aesthetics when building a Table Tuba? After seeing most people on here always using birch I figured that was the way to go. That is, until I read through the plans and called a few lumber yards...

In the plans it says MDF is fine as well as plain 'ol plywood. I called some lumber yards and no one seems to have "Baltic" birch, although they all have regular birch - is it the same thing (or close enough)? The only downside is it's twice the price of MDF.

I haven't worked with either wood before so I don't know if one is a lot easier to work with than another, or any other advantages. I know MDF can be a pain when it comes to fastening, but I'll be using brad nails so that shouldn't be a problem. I don't really want to spend more money than I have to, obviously, and I don't plan on this being used as furniture but rather hidden away.

[Frederic Gelinas]

MDF is heavier and far more fragile. The sawdust is getting in the air and takes a long time to settle. I try to cut MDF outside as much as I can. It also won't resist to humidity.

If it's a fixed installation, I guess MDF is fine.

[SeisTres]

For home stuff I actually have used mdf and it does ok. Like you said, a little tricky on the fastening but if you drill pilot holes, it makes it ok.

And what's the difference you say? For me, the most important is that plywood doesn't crumble like particle board or mdf. Other than that, for home audio, you can get away with mdf.

Also, the regular "birch" has two thin veneer layers which is definitely a game killer for cab building. Other than the name, they have nothing in common.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I called some lumber yards and no one seems to have "Baltic" birch, although they all have regular birch -

Call elsewhere. No lumberyard worth getting your business would not know what Baltic Birch is.

[chjade84]

Quick replies... I like it.

I'd go for plywood but I keep reading things on here about how (and like you mentioned above, seis), certain kinds can get you into trouble. Since I don't know my woods I'm a little hesitant to go that route, but MDF is always the same - for the most part. I'd like a natural wood better if it was around the same cost... any tips on what to look for?

I'll keep calling around Bill. Surprisingly, we don't have many lumber yards around that aren't Lowes/Home Depot/Menards. For being the second largest city in the state, that's kind of sad...

[bzb]

1/2" Baltic birch is used to make skateboards. Marinate on that for a moment.

[jswingchun]

Quick replies... I like it.

I'd go for plywood but I keep reading things on here about how (and like you mentioned above, seis), certain kinds can get you into trouble. Since I don't know my woods I'm a little hesitant to go that route, but MDF is always the same - for the most part. I'd like a natural wood better if it was around the same cost... any tips on what to look for?

I'll keep calling around Bill. Surprisingly, we don't have many lumber yards around that aren't Lowes/Home Depot/Menards. For being the second largest city in the state, that's kind of sad...

Put your location in your profile, it may lead to someone on here knowing right where to send you. If you have a Lowes you could check if they stock Arauco plywood and consider using that. In fact, Menards in my area has it too. I have used it for a lot of builds and it works fine. I have not used Baltic Birch and I'm sure it's nicer than Arauco, but Arauco has to be better than using MDF.

[chjade84]

I have fully marinated and finally found some at a small lumber yard downtown. Other than that, we seem to be all tapped out of BB. lol

It's 5x5 sheets so I'll have to do some calculations to see how many I'll need.

[bzb]

5x5 is exactly what you want. Sounds like you're ready to get thrown on the grill

I'm using Arauco for my T24 internals, BB for the externals. I found Arauco for $29 a sheet (8x4) at Lowe's, but it's completely random whether or not Lowe's will carry it - even the same one may stop ordering it once they're out.

Arauco is nice to work with, as it's lighter than BB, but probably 80% as strong. You can smack it with a hammer and it dents just slightly more than BB would. Much easier to handle the full sheets, though. The problem comes with warping. Either because of its density or because of the fewer plies, it tends to warp on larger panels. Not fun squaring up large subwoofer panels.

BB has far less tendency to warp, unless you leave it out in the rain.

[chjade84]

I was reading some places are starting to get 4x8' sheets of BB. Since I have to do this in the basement, 5x5 is probably the right choice since I'll have to take them down the staircase.

I'm collecting the measurements and then I'll put the shapes into autocad to see how to get the most of the real estate.


I didn't feel like working today anyway.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Surprisingly, we don't have many lumber yards around that aren't Lowes/Home Depot/Menards.

Those aren't lumberyards, they're big box stores that happen to carry lumber.

[el_ingeniero]

Quick replies... I like it.

I'd go for plywood but I keep reading things on here about how (and like you mentioned above, seis), certain kinds can get you into trouble. Since I don't know my woods I'm a little hesitant to go that route, but MDF is always the same - for the most part. I'd like a natural wood better if it was around the same cost... any tips on what to look for?

I'll keep calling around Bill. Surprisingly, we don't have many lumber yards around that aren't Lowes/Home Depot/Menards. For being the second largest city in the state, that's kind of sad...

Actually, the Menards in my area carry 4x8 sheets of BB at 1/2" and 1/4". It's the real thing, the 1/2" stuff has 9 even sized plies and no voids. Avoid the Handy-Panel crap, it's OK for drawer bottoms, but worthless for speaker building. $48/sheet which works out to $1.50 a square foot.
I think they also sell Arauco, although it's not marked as such.

In general, I just like Menards better than Lowes, it has more of that old-fashioned retail feeling, lower prices and all around better quality lumber than Lowe's/HD.

[bossman]

I used 5-ply 1/2" Arauco from Lowes for $26 a sheet on my Table Tuba. It seemed to be a good compromise between cost and quality. I like working with it much better than MDF. That dust from MDF is awful.

[subharmonic]

My local Menards has 1/2" Acura ply (ask for hobby grade or furniture grade ply) and 1/2" BB. I used BB on my outsides of the Tuba 60 and the 1/2" pine on the insides, the rest of my titans and tubas pine all the way. Pine is lighter but has a little warp to it most of the time, make sure you let it rest for a couple days in your work area to adjust to the temp and humidity. The BB has no warp to it at all, easier to work with and more acurate of cuts. On a TT I would go 1/2" pine as the panels are smaller and easier to fix if they aren't the most accurate and for $20-25 a 4x8 sheet when it is on sale if it will take the finish you want.

And like Bill said I would be nervous about any lumber shop not knowing what BB is, that is like a car parts store checking stock on blinker fluid.


If I may add my own theory, I have read on here a couple times of MDF sounding dead in these forums, the reason MDF is used in other speakers is to deaden box resonance (due to mass and supposedly particles absorbing the vibrations). With a folded horn you want the sound to "bounce" down the throat as much as possible, a ply would be a better surface for reflection, the shear size and bracing of the subs take care of resonance.

BTW check your profile and fill out where you are from.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I have read on here a couple times of MDF sounding dead in these forums, the reason MDF is used in other speakers is to deaden box resonance

MDF is fine if you're priorities are for a material that's cheap and takes a veneer well. Otherwise there's nothing to recommend it.