Birch vs MDF

[chjade84]

Almost got all the pieces from 2 5x5 sheets.

I think I'll need a third anyway since I'm bound to screw at least one cut up.

[chjade84]

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.

My local Menards has 1/2" Acura ply (ask for hobby grade or furniture grade ply) and 1/2" BB.

So I called my local Menards... they have it too. 4x8 sheets. $0.01 more per sq ft than the other lumber yard with the 5x5 sheets.

I guess I'll go there since I could get all my cuts out of 2 sheets and save some $$ over wasting most of a 3rd 5x5 sheet. So thanks for the heads up!





All that ^^ work in CAD... WASTED!

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.

To be fair, I don't think they didn't know what it was, they just don't carry it. Actually, the guy at the first place kept repeating "Malted Birch?" but since he said they just had standard birch I didn't feel the need to correct him.

[el_ingeniero]

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.

My local Menards has 1/2" Acura ply (ask for hobby grade or furniture grade ply) and 1/2" BB.

So I called my local Menards... they have it too. 4x8 sheets. $0.01 more per sq ft than the other lumber yard with the 5x5 sheets.

I guess I'll go there since I could get all my cuts out of 2 sheets and save some $$ over wasting most of a 3rd 5x5 sheet. So thanks for the heads up!

All that ^^ work in CAD... WASTED!

You're lucky. Here, the best price for 5x5 sheet of 1/2" BB is $43 each.

[bzb]

The two lumberyards I get mine from know it as two different things. The one that supplies construction materials just calls it Russian birch, the one that carries all the specialty hardwoods calls it Baltic. From what I can tell, they come from the exact same place with the same markings on the ends.

[chjade84]

You're lucky. Here, the best price for 5x5 sheet of 1/2" BB is $43 each.

Yea, 5x5 sheets are $41.19 and the 4x8 sheets are $52.99.

3 x $41.19 = $123.57 but 2x $52.99 = $105.98

So I'll save $17.59 + the extra gas for the additional 40 min round trip it would take me to get to the lumber yard that's NOT 5 miles from my house.

The two lumberyards I get mine from know it as two different things. The one that supplies construction materials just calls it Russian birch, the one that carries all the specialty hardwoods calls it Baltic. From what I can tell, they come from the exact same place with the same markings on the ends.

That makes some sense considering it's, I guess, from the areas near Russia which is right near the 'Baltic' states.

[chjade84]

Well I got all the info I needed from you guys - and all in 1 afternoon! Thanks!


Mods, feel free to move this thread to a more relevant section; if there is one. I originally posted it here since it was a quick question about building a TT, but since it's turned into quite the discussion on wood, perhaps it would be better suited for a different sub-forum.

[DJPhatman]

Mods, feel free to move this thread to a more relevant section; if there is one. I originally posted it here since it was a quick question about building a TT, but since it's turned into quite the discussion on wood, perhaps it would be better suited for a different sub-forum.

Naaaa. Thread hi-jacks are so common around here, it's when it doesn't happen that you start to wonder!

[BoostFab]

you should be careful of the 4x8 sheet that claims to be birch, most of them are chinese birch...stay away from these chinese birch that have thin laminate layers on the outside

btw

use this program to plan out your cutsheet; it's faster than trying to do the layout in cad
http://delphiforfun.org/programs/cutlist.htm

[BrentEvans]

The two lumberyards I get mine from know it as two different things. The one that supplies construction materials just calls it Russian birch, the one that carries all the specialty hardwoods calls it Baltic. From what I can tell, they come from the exact same place with the same markings on the ends.

When I went looking a while back, I found some "Russian Birch" at a local yard that had the veneers. Never hurts to check.

[loudsubz]

I have never had an issue with MDF. I used to always build sub boxes, and even built a few for the marine enviroment and with the moisture I havn't run into any issues. I do give it a thumbs down because if you do drop it and its a hard fall it can split unlike plywood which has a little give, but for the most part I really had no issues with MDF.

[BoostFab]

I have never had an issue with MDF. I used to always build sub boxes, and even built a few for the marine enviroment and with the moisture I havn't run into any issues. I do give it a thumbs down because if you do drop it and its a hard fall it can split unlike plywood which has a little give, but for the most part I really had no issues with MDF.

MDF is fine for home audio since you don't move them around much. But for live sound and mobile dj's, moving a truck load of horn cabs made from MDF can be tiresome from all the weight.

[chjade84]

you should be careful of the 4x8 sheet that claims to be birch, most of them are chinese birch...stay away from these chinese birch that have thin laminate layers on the outside

This appears to be the good stuff. 9 plys all the same thickness.


Here's the build thread.

http://billfitzmaurice.info/forum/viewt ... 30&t=14089

[loudsubz]

I have never had an issue with MDF. I used to always build sub boxes, and even built a few for the marine enviroment and with the moisture I havn't run into any issues. I do give it a thumbs down because if you do drop it and its a hard fall it can split unlike plywood which has a little give, but for the most part I really had no issues with MDF.

MDF is fine for home audio since you don't move them around much. But for live sound and mobile dj's, moving a truck load of horn cabs made from MDF can be tiresome from all the weight.

Yeah I would not want to be lugging around all that weight...plus if you dropped a cab I would fear it exploding vs the extra give plywood adds.

[Kgveteran]

I think for my garage sub, I'll need plywood or BB. With the summer humidity in the NE and the cars the garage in the winter, all the snow melting.......

I wish OSB was workable LOL

[koturban]

I'm prepping to build the THT LP. I only seem to be able to find 5 X 5 sheets of BB. Since the outer panels of the LP are 72", they won't work unless I join them with a tongue-and-groove. (Not my first preference)

Any ideas?