I was wrong about MDF...

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I torture tested MDF vs. Plywood to see how they would hold up to water, weight and fire! The results were unexpected.
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14 янв 2023

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Комментарии : 975

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

Check out the original MDF vs. Plywood video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Vwx3YivaPHk.html

@chuckintexas Год назад

As you can see from the comments below , whether or not to use MDF in a project is of great interest to the folks who clicked-in to watch your Vid . There are some really good comments below that include some good questions and discussions for possible add-on topics for you to explore ! Good job _SO FAR_ 👍!

@cdwesson6761 Год назад

Actually you weren't wrong totally. It's actually a special MDF looking Material called MD-X or MED-X that's made for wet areas, example-around sinks in cabinets. I'm a 3rd generation Wood Craftsman/Cabinet maker with !5-20yrs experience myself.

@guysumpthin2974 Год назад

Douglas fir pine ? Marine plywood ? Missing? You get an f , do it over

@tomypreach Год назад

Did you weigh the wood before and after?

@istrysii Год назад

both MDF vs. Plywood dont like water in the long run and both have there use for things ... if ou take a nice full wood shells you get the same over time ... but agian i only been a carpenter for +30 years, your testing was fun and good ...

@J20Jeepster Год назад

My main observation with MDF is how it warps over time. It seems nice and strong at first but If I have a shelf made from MDF it will sag over time much worse than plywood with the same weight on it.

@kaasmeester5903 Год назад

Agreed, especially if you put a bunch of books on it. The MDF will get saggier and saggier, but ply will hold up pretty well for years.

@rolfbjorn9937 Год назад

Add front lip made of MDF/Ply/Softwood/hardwood. For bonus points support it at the back AND sides.

@colinjohnson5515 Год назад

I have some metal framed MDF shelves in the garage and I flip them every year or so. I’ve also painted them on all sides to try and keep the swelling from high humidity down.

@57thorns Год назад

@@colinjohnson5515 I noticed that the warped plywood in the vide was turned upside down, which of course made it resist better. Your idea of flipping the shelves is of course the way to go, for that very reason. A little bit of "negative" warping reduces the load stress in the middle, until the shelf is warping down again, at which point the load is concentrated in the center. It is just basic geometry,

@johnriff85 Год назад

MDF paints so well, but it definitely needs ample reinforcement.

@Craftlngo Год назад

we used the physical properties of MDF to save our basement in case of flooding. Two tracks of U-shaped aluminium on both sides of a critical doorway, just slightly wider than the thickness of the MDF-Board. A bead of silicone to seal the entrance. If water entered the basement the MDF expanded and closed the gap in the u profile stopping the water to intrude any further.

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

oh, very smart!

@somebodyandthem Год назад

V smart mfer

@Mayhem-Mechanics Год назад

@@Fixthisbuildthat is it though?

@MyMaxKitty Год назад

I don't get it. I'll need to see some photos.

@wernerviehhauser94 Год назад

Yeah, I had this when I came back from holidays and a pine wood cellar door wouldn't open because there had been water pushing through the wall into the room on the other side and the door swelled when the water reached it.....

@Mackinstyle Год назад

Fun bonus idea: measuring the difference in red water volume would help understand just how much is being absorbed by the pieces.

@tannertgf Год назад

I was just about to comment saying he should have weighed the boards pre-soak. Good thinking

@BleachDemon99 Год назад

@@tannertgf or measure the water in the jar before and after….

@brianzmek7272 Год назад

@@BleachDemon99weight would be better as it controls for evaporation

@JohnLadan Год назад

I watched this and the previous video at cheap desk with a painted MDF top. When it gets a tiny scratch, any amount of water (condensation on glasses, spilled drinks, or even from sweat in the summer) causes it to swell and create bumps. There's no fixing it. Stumpy Nubs had a tip to use CA glue to re-seal the mdf, so it won't get worse in those locations, but the desk has pock marks all over it now.

@joesshop3622 Год назад

I had the same issue with a premade composite bench top that's sealed 1/2 flake board w/inner solid 2x6 construction. I skimmed the entire surface with epoxy using a pc of thin styrene about 4x6" and (1/16,.062 1.5mm thk.)Try to not leave ridges as you smear coat by overlapping. Then sand down the micro ridges leftover with a 1/4 sheet sander after its cured and do this till your desired thickness is achieved. Last coat sand progressively finer till 400 or better for a nice low shine finish that's ready to beat up again! LOL EDIT: Sand surface first to 220 or 320 before epoxy coating and between each coat or it will not adhere to the previous smooth surface and chip/peel more easily.

@Pentross Год назад

At our shop we sometimes use “marine grade MDF” that’s more stable in situations with water exposure; we use it mainly for doors, in rooms that get lots of humidity

@MAsWorld1 Год назад

Oh yeah “Medex” , more garbage!

@MonsterHobbieShow Год назад

I made shelves a long time ago with MDF and they warped so hard it was more a roller coaster than a shelf even though there was very little weight put on to them (the vertical boards held pretty well which is interesting). I also made another shelve around the same time I made the MDF ones but this one was made from plywood and it is still standing strong even after putting a huge old heavy tv on it for years.

@mailleweaver Год назад

I used hardwood stair treads for rebuilding a bookcase 15 or 20 years ago. Those shelves are still as straight as they were new, even after being fully laden for all that time.

@cdw3423 Год назад

I still think you need to test the MDF deflection over time. I'm reasonably certain if you put the MDF shelf under a load of a full month, it will deflect a lot more than when you first applied the load.

@jasonharrison25 Год назад

This is the biggest problem for me. We all know about the water capabilities, or lack there of, of MDF but not many know of the issue of creep. Under a consistent pressure MDF will slowly deform to a much greater degree then plywood. I've seen MDF shelves with little to no weight on them that where several years old and sagging several inches in the center.

@clawsoon Год назад

@@jasonharrison25 Can confirm - I'm looking at some sagging MDF shelves right now. An even tougher comparison for the MDF than plywood would be solid pine shelves. Having all of the long grain aligned with the direction of bending should make them stiffer than plywood.

@markburton5292 Год назад

That happens on my book shelves. I take the books out and flip the shelves over every now and then.

@cdw3423 Год назад

@@markburton5292 I've wondered how well it would work to get a steel bar a little thinner than your table saw kerf about 1/2" tall and epoxy that in a grove near the front and back of the shelf to stiffen it up. I just wonder if the the epoxy would pull out of the MDF over time. I guess you could drill several small holes and then drive some pin nails in the front edge to hold better. On the back side you could just screw a 3/4 x 1/8" steel strip since that wouldn't be visible.

@robertdinicola9225 Год назад

I used to do a quick and easy closet organiser. All the shelves are sagging. I made another from oak plywood. Its still straight as can be.

@IAMSatisfied Год назад

Brad, I hate to break it to you, but those ARE NOT bags of concrete, but rather concrete mix. 😁 Unlike the plywoods, the types of binders used in MDF produce VOCs that significantly contribute to "sick home syndrome"... and I hate the weight of MDF... moving full sheets of 3/4" gets old really quickly.

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

Oh yeah, I still hate MDF, lol

@1pcfred Год назад

You're all wrong. They're sacks!

@whitedo1 Год назад

I'm a landlord. We own and manage a number of apartment buildings - not high end condos, but 3 - 4 level, wood frame housing for working families. The kitchen cabinets built with 3/4" plywood are nearly indestructible; many are original from the 1960's and 1970's. The MDF cabinets rarely last 10 years.

@731Woodworks Год назад

15:39 lol how excited you got at the failure. Love it! Great tests Brad!

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

I didn't expect the shotgun crack, though it'd just slowly tear. So I wasnt ready for that 😂😂. Happy New Year, Matt!

@IndyGuy09 Год назад

I always appreciate your videos! If you would have flipped the plywood over so it bowed downward, it would have likely been weaker than placing it with the bow upwards. This is the same reason they design flatbed semi trailers to bow upwards when they're not loaded.

@phenel Год назад

considering he had the bowed side flipped down for the MDF, i feel like this was a really ignorant mistake.

@bhamsoxfan72 Год назад

Because the arch is the strongest support for a span...

@Edman116 Год назад

The plywood that my company gets, comes apart from humidity change. I think it's held together by hope.

@nobodynoone2500 Год назад

There are many grades and types of plywood.

@WilliamSlayer Год назад

I have not even seen the video yet ...but 600 pounds of concrete and a flame thrower have got me riveted to the screen!

@timdouglass9831 Год назад

Two thoughts: One, I've noticed that both MDF and particle board fail slowly when they have a constant load on them. Shelves that seem fine with a certain weight when built will gradually bow and eventually break over the course of years. I suspect it has to do with changing humidity, but that's just a guess. Second, what is the water resistance rating of the glue in that plywood? I think most ply now uses water-resistant glue, but I know that if you soaked a piece of older standard plywood overnight you would just have a stack of veneer flitches when it dried out. MDF has its uses, but I wouldn't use it for anything that is load-bearing or that has a high probability of getting wet. These tests pretty much reinforce my opinions formed over several decades of using the stuff.

@pmdinaz Год назад

My experience is the same as the outcome of this video except for the solid wood edge version. I haven't done that, but I will now. I'll be using mdf in different ways now. Thanks Brad!!

@c.a.g.1977 Год назад

Brad, this video was very useful and I thank you for all the time and effort you put into it! But seriously: this was fun, you had me laughing out loud, for real!

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

Glad you enjoyed it! 😀

@Gantzz321 Год назад

in what way was this video useful?

@csehszlovakze Год назад

@@Fixthisbuildthat how would OSB fare in this competition?

@Loosehead Год назад

If the materials are in danger of getting wet, use marine ply or waterproof (outdoor) MDF.

@SteveCohenPhilly Год назад

Great video! As far as moisture resistance goes....30 years ago I had Formica counter tops made. The counter top guy told me to paint the underside of the back splash with oil base kilz or oil base primer before he installed it. He said this would keep the particle board from swelling up if the silicon caulk seal should fail. I also paint the underside of the front (especially near a sink). I have had great success with both applications. I would also paint the side of the particle board on the side of the cut out for a sink. I would paint any wood product for this kind of application. (I was a professional painter. I would understand if people are saying, they paint everything.)

@JohnDlugosz Год назад

I think it's ridiculous that the cabinet under/around a sink is made from cheap particle board. You _know_ it will get wet eventually. If I were making custom cabinet work, I would make this one compartment at least out of better material. When I had the opportunity, working under the sink, I laminated a sheet of contractor plastic along the bottom and a few inches up the sides.

@stevebabiak6997 Год назад

@@JohnDlugosz - I do not think the original comment was referring to the cabinets; particle board is the typical material that is used when a laminate countertop is made, so I think the original comment was strictly referring to the particle board that is bonded to the Formica sheet.

@SteveCohenPhilly Год назад

@@stevebabiak6997, You are correct in what I was referring.

@mrfrenzy. Год назад

@@JohnDlugosz I think it's ridiculous to make a cabinet around the sink of any kind of wood. I have a sink and countertop completely made of stainless steel. It does not wear and does not swell. This has been common practice in my country for decades.

@3Hose Год назад

The last plywood deflection test had physics on its side. I would have liked to seen it tested with the bow down as well.

@biancabrooks280 Год назад

My thoughts exactly, I’m p sure it would have bowed down when it was wet, right?

@JeffRL1956 Год назад

It would be interesting to see how exterior grade and marine plywoods compare.

@deadprivacy Год назад

exterior grade plywood doesnt exist. marine ply does.

@azzman73 Год назад

@@deadprivacywhat about tanilised ply?

@deadprivacy Год назад

@@azzman73 itll rot. Everything rots except larch, teak, greenheart, iroko ,sapele, but tgey will rot given the right citcumstance,. Only thing that wont rot is marine ply.

@Bonsailinse Год назад

I don't even work with wood at all and I still watched the whole video. Thanks for being both educating and entertaining!

@john8571 Год назад

Great job! Would be Intersting to see a similar test with exterior sheathing options like OSB, OSB with a weather barrier, and a zip type board. Could even test tape applications on joints, etc.

@williamellis8993 Год назад

Interesting, Brad. The arch in the plywood actually strengthened it. That's why it had less deflection. Look at a large dam and they're arched against the water pressure. Also, you were having entirely too much fun with that torch. Bill

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

yeah, after I saw the bow I figured it might be even stronger....though ugly, lol

@Zengineer Год назад

@@Fixthisbuildthat Look at flat deck semi-truck trailers, you'll see unloaded they are parabolic in order to increase strength and resist deflection. Arch up is much stronger in your test case, and will deflect less.

@XiaoYueMao Год назад

now if that was placed with the arch down, it may not have been as strong

@bhamsoxfan72 Год назад

Or bridge supports...

@Foodgeek Год назад

Very interesting test :) You should also try to see if those smaller boards that were completely submerged would snap under load too. It would require a different jig, but it'd be interesting for sure :)

@Wizarth Год назад

It wasn't until AFTER the MDF snapped that I thought "I wonder if he's wearing steelcaps".

@ColonelSandersLite Год назад

Just before that, at 400 pounds, he was standing over the end of the board when he put that bag of cement on there. That's when I thought "I wonder if he's wearing a cup?"

@umakemesick2 Год назад

I’m digging the Mr. Brad science dad with this testing 😂. Also cool slo-mo at the end where the concrete bags were levitating. Good fun!

@JoeJoeTater Год назад

You have to be really careful when applying heat to MDF. Formaldehyde is usually part of the manufacturing process.

@hanedoggy Год назад

Great video! One interesting thing to add to the water soak test - you could weigh the water cup before and after the test. There could be a difference between surface and internal soaking. Weighing the water would give you the amount of water being held in each wood/mdf sample.

@ChrisChronos Год назад

great video! The biggest problem I have with MDF is that even though it seems like it can hold a lot of weight, it can't do it indefinitely. little by little it will sag more and eventually fail. At least thats my experience with it.

@TheDesignerXD Год назад

The only thing I would say is that by widening your gap that the mdf had to span you built in a flaw to your test because no matter the material, the wider the gap with weight centered on it, the more deflection and lower load capacity it will have. Wish you’d kept the gap the same width as when you were testing to 600 lbs. at that width you might have actually gotten to 1000 lbs. Also, did you consider testing plywood with a hard wood edge banding? That’s the most common method is hobbyists use. Love your content and the conversation.

@MyMaxKitty Год назад

Yep, I wish he kept the same width, too.

@corykrausher8667 Год назад

The only thing I see that could be questionable when you place the weight on the shelf. You've got it dispersed across the two sides more than in the middle. I would be curious if you stacked one row of concrete directly in the middle vertically how much it would hold that would be a better representation of the strength

@IdovShai Год назад

Brad, thank you very much for your time and effort xo

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

😀

@jackx4311 Год назад

Re. the water tests; it would be interesting to see the results using marine ply (as used in boat building) which is made with a glue with resistance to long term water exposure, even under pressure (as when it forms the hull of the boat).

@TonyToad22 Год назад

Interesting and informative video. I work on cabinets (mostly refinishing existing cabinets) and I have the same experience with MDF shelves that I'm reading in the comments about warping over time. I've seen it on both ply and MDF but is certainly more pronounced in MDF. If we don't end up replacing the shelves for whatever reason, I just flip them over.

@mindyhall4638 Год назад

Brad-always appreciate these kinds of educational videos; am wondering if you could do an educational video on LEDs 101? I know you’ve done a couple videos (which I’ve watched) on putting LEDs in your work but feeling like I can’t find a soup to nuts video from design to installation on LEDs in woodwork and think you’d be great at teaching something like that. Thanks for any consideration you give this idea.

@fraserturner112 Год назад

We call it Major Deficiency Fixer because MDF is so versatile, I even use drywall mud on it to blend it into walls

@HaddaClu Год назад

In regards to the wet shelf test when you were wondering why someone might have water on them long term - if someone raises houseplants or has a seedling nursery then you can't avoid a near permanent water presence on the wood. My grandmother did both the plywood shelves all had water stains.

@xephael3485 Год назад

I'll buy the concrete from you since you didn't use it... You just have to pay shipping thanks 👍

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

No problem, I'll send it media mail

@TheHammerknight Год назад

Plywood comes in interior, exterior, marine, and treated. MDF comes in many different types also. You should also show OSB and particle board.

@robertpennington1019 Год назад

Resided a house w/ an MDF like faux t1 11 of sorts. That Georgia Pacifc siding we replaced was falling apart lol. Over time plywood will (can) last a long time when used appropriately.

@wtechboy18 Год назад

Kinda wish you'd have tested to failure on dry vs wet plywood & mdf, like that last test. Also it's probably worth mentioning in the swell tests, that that massive amount of swelling will do things like rip screws through MDF. Even if your shelf doesn't outright fail, it'll weaken and loosen considerably after even limited moisture exposure - not because the board itself is substantially compromised, but because the swelling and shrinking process is so extreme that it shakes the whole structure up.

@elioth.g.w2976 Год назад

Another great video. In the UK we have different grades of MDF big box is worst ( crumbly edge ) , normal MDF and MR MDF ( moisture resistance ). Edit after a little research Medite ( better quality MDF maker ) also do a Flame retardant MDF , no added formaldehyde MDF , Exterior MDF , Breathable MDF , Lightweight MR MDF , Industrial (High density) MDF .

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

I'd really like to check out some of the MR stuff!

@brucelee3388 Год назад

Plywood also has different 'grades' of glue - the best ('A' bond) is made with Resorcinol resin - they used to make fighter jets with it (De Havilland Vampire for instance) and cheaper ply is made with PVA or Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde as the glue and is only moisture resistant ("C" Bond) and will delaminate if left out in the rain. Resorcinol resin leaves a dark purple glue line which some people don't like while the Melamine is pale and not particularly noticeable

@batchrocketproject4720 Год назад

There's also Trycoya which has the fibres treated before bonding to make the boards water proof. Used for making external doors and building cladding. Claimed to resist decay longer than cedar.

@thomasgcampbell Год назад

Brad, thank you very much for your time and effort.

@meghrajbilwani2526 Месяц назад

Oh my god, you are an answer to my prayers Sir. As an entry level cabinet installer, I will have more confidence facing and explaining to my customers. You answered a dozen important questions in this 10 minute video.....thanks once again.

@djb2012 Год назад

Informative and fun! I just wish you'd done the plywood at the end as well to show the load-bearing difference between them.

@debandmike3380 Год назад

weight distribution. place the weight in the center. you have it spread across the entire width of the board, which test the cleat strength, not the boards. Your results would appear faster that way.

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

If I could point load 1000 pounds that would be great, but it's kinda hard to get all that weight on a small space :)

@Grrrnthumb Год назад

I agree, those two bags on the bottom spread the load way away from the center and actually gives an edge to MDF, making it falsely appear similar to the plywood. You can pointload better by starting with one bag in the center, then next layer is 2 bags perpendicular, then 2 more perpendicular, etc. I've done it (for stacking on a scale), it's possible, you just have to stack carefully.

@batchrocketproject4720 Год назад

I'd love to have seen the edged MDF tested until breaking. For a follow up consider mdf versus moisture resistant (mr) mdf AND acetylated mdf (e.g. Trycoya). The latter has the wood fibres chemically modified before bonding making them hydrophobic. It is claimed to be suitable for structural work outdoors. Very expensive but, if it's as good as claimed, you might get a free sample from the manufacturer. Would be really interesting to see if the considerable extra expense is worth considering for e.g. making perfectly smooth external doors and trim.

@spycedezynuk Год назад

I’d like to see that mostly the trycoya I’ve never used it because it’s ridiculously expensive here if you can find a supplier

@christopheryale6867 8 месяцев назад

These look like a combo of fun, curiosity, and hard work to make. Thanks! For future one’s regarding water exposure: 1) Seeing Marine Plywood in comparison would be interesting to see if/when it’s worth using 2) What easy and fast to apply finishes (and how much) return adequate water protection. Eg how far Water based Poly or Lacquer go vs expoxy. Is soray can sufficient.

@marvinnelson5073 Год назад

Try Medex mdf amazing product, use it for outdoor signs, have one that is close to 30 years old, still good shape, stiffer product too. Testing water resistance of an interior mdf really isn’t fair.

@orrinkelso9295 Год назад

Interesting information. Thanks for spending the time doing it. But after building cabinets for 50 years. There is no comparison in the quality and strength of the cabinet between MDF and plywood. The plywood is going to be much lighter and much stronger because all of the joints are far stronger with plywood.

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

couldn't agree more!

@jek__ Год назад

Great tests, data, and presentation! Easy subscribe Would be interesting to see how different woods fare in more realistic conditions - say a room with high humidity over the course of a few months. The wicking action I think helps the plywood dry faster, but that wouldnt necessarily be so relevant if the air itself was moist. Would be a hard test to do though, something so subtle over a long time vs something more extreme over a short time. Maybe a decent humid air test setup could be constructed within a plastic box with a little fan inside and then stuck in the garage for a few months It's a relevant point that warped wood can be stronger than flat wood, if you utilize the curvature to help distribute the force like you did in the shelf deformation test. Whereas I cant think of any situation where wettened mdf would ever get better The slowmo breaking looked like a cartoon with how much faster the wood floor broke out vs how long it took the concrete to start falling lol

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

yeah, that slow mo was fun to watch 😀

@IanGreenleaf Год назад

I would also like to see a test of strength under consistent weight over time, and maybe humidity + weight over time. The thing that always makes me hesitant to use MDF is thinking of all the crappy MDF shelves I've known in my life that have permanently bowed by inches. I have a big-box utility shelf in my basement where one of the levels is basically a bowl now. It seems like MDF continues to sag more and more in a way that plywood doesn't-but of course I don't have experimental data to be sure that plywood would have performed better in those same conditions.

@-_-John-_- Год назад

Built custom cabinetry, shelving and whatnot for 30+ years and have never heard any tradesman call it "edge banding". 'Finished edge', 'nosing', 'front edge', 'trim boards', 'front supports'... probably a bunch more names for it. We always use 'edge banding' if it's just a veneer over the edge of the shelf material.

@JesusSandovalSerrano Год назад

The thing that's hardest to test, but that I've observed in the real world is how in humid environments over time the ambient moisture tends to soak into MDF and make it sponge up, and weaken then fall apart. Which is why when I was looking at vanities for my bathroom remodel, I looked specifically for wood construction and immediately nixed any that had any mention of MDF

@kyleh6962 Год назад

Really interesting on the MDF with hardwood face, might actually consider that for shelving when I wouldn't have before.

@dajur1 Год назад

You can make plywood much stronger by adding a hardwood face as well. Plywood shelving is much better than MDF, especially if it isn't a built-in and will be moved occasionally.

@batchrocketproject4720 Год назад

I've often used edged mdf for shelves with excellent results.

@MCsCreations Год назад

Fantastic testing, Brad! Really well done! 😃 My problem with MDF is that it's REALLY humid here where I live... So, if I buy MDF and there are scraps left... They turn into mud in about 6 months. 😬 BUT... There's the waterproof MDF (which I forgot the name)... And I still need to try it! Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

@Marcus_Caius Год назад

Marine Grade MDF?

@MCsCreations Год назад

@@Marcus_Caius Could be. I don't really remember the name.

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

yes, I've heard of that waterproof MDF and I need to get my hands on some!

@aladdin4d Год назад

Generically, it's just called moisture resistant mdf. It's available under a variety of names from different manufacturers. MR50 is the top rating in the US.

@joshpit2003 Год назад

Advantech. It's not waterproof, it's water-resistant, and only slightly. It's designed to allow for sub-floor installation without the fear of a rain or two killing the floor. It will still fail in prolonged water, and it still sucks to get it wet. There is a good video out there from a flooring company that explains the biggest drawback: Once MDF / Advantech is wet, it loses pretty much all nail-holding power, forever. Said video explains and shows this (along with the swelling), and is the reason that company will not warranty any nail-installed floor over MDF (or advantech). Plywood > MDF. Screws > Nails. The only reason either are used is speed and price.

@xenaguy01 Год назад

During Christmas week of 1984, my wife, 9 yr old son and I went to my mother's house 100 miles south for a week. Temps dropped to about 22 degrees Fahrenheit, enough to freeze the water pipes in my mobile home. It was a 1969 model, built with 3/4" MDF flooring. The water covered the kitchen, living room, and hallway floors, all carpeted. We tore up the carpets and replaced them, and over the next 6 months, the floors started sagging between joists. I had to pull up the new carpeting, and replace the flooring. I used 3/4" CDX plywood (I think about $8.00/sheet at the time) and it's still there, having had pet water spills and another 2-day flood sit on it. I'd probably have had to replace MDF at least twice more.

@EODChaosWo1f Год назад

that slow mo at the end there was actually awesome and felt like a will e and road runner moment lol.

@rhkips Год назад

That new MDF snap-dance is gonna be a big hit at the club! :D What really got me was the sealed MDF still swelling like crazy. In the past I've used SMD Sunflash fiberglass resin to seal MDF, but after seeing this, I'm changing my materials list for a couple sheltered outdoor projects to avoid MDF entirely. Thank you!

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

You bet! 💃

@mezmerizer0266 Год назад

An outdoor paint primer works better

@marcuskolloen9214 Год назад

I use a ton of mdf, but I only use Finsa fibrapan hidrofugo mdf which is moisture resistant. I left a piece submerged in water for about 24 hours and it was exactly the same size and shape. Would be really interesting to se you test different types of mr mdf and maybe marine ply 😊

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

that's so cool

@homer009x Год назад

Are you in Europe? MR mdf is hard to source in North America.

@qfudgedoggy Год назад

Ive seen some cool colored MDF as well...I saw in the Hooked on Wood channel. Don't think it's as easily available here in the US.

@homer009x Год назад

@@qfudgedoggy it’s not. It’s made in Europe. Portugal makes some of the best. What’s available here is imported and thus not cost effective.

@marcuskolloen9214 Год назад

@@homer009x yes, im located in Norway 😊

@god-we1bb Год назад

Well done mate But just saying, it would be easier to weight whe wood before and after soaking them in water, to see how much they have gained

@bhamsoxfan72 Год назад

Brad, I would have liked to have seen one more shelf tested - the radiata plywood with a hardwood face... I suspect that would be quite a bit stronger than the MDF/hardwood shelf.

@MarcosScheeren Год назад

Haven't watch the video yet but taking from the last one one of the issues with MDF is long term load, so it bents permanently over time.

@xephael3485 Год назад

You need to buy some Ikea furniture it's MDF plus cardboard..🤪

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

Yeah, thought of that one. Seemed boring though 😂

@trafficsignalman Год назад

Thanks for running the tests! I was surprised at the performance of the MDF.

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

I think it took to heart the old "bend, don't break" adage😀

@duke1281 Год назад

THANK YOU!! My girlfriend has always thought I was using the word 'Deflected' wrong when doing DIY stuff around the house.... YOU sir have proven her wrong.. 😎😁

@ceeyaaa Год назад

This was amazing. I never know why I watch your videos since I do make anything but for some reason they are fascinating. You are such a nerd about exactness…that’s not an insult😂

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

"Nerd about exactness" I love that, lol

@drudarby4269 6 месяцев назад

I laughed way too hard at "Thank you very much for your time and effort" 🤣

@BronkBuilt Год назад

I hear what you are saying... If you want a thicker face profile on your shelving, get some 3/4" MDF and soak it in water. Boom! Much less expensive thicker shelf.

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

😂

@MikkoRantalainen Год назад

5:35 I hope you used metric units for these tests. It's pretty each to see how much more accurate the millimeter scale would be in this test alone. Plus metric is much better overall for all use cases, except for some historical context.

@craig4451 Год назад

We Americans wouldn't understand...

@kthwkr Год назад

When it comes to shelfs I have found it's about what happens after 5 years. And often the shelfs that didn't warp at all and weren't seriously loaded end up sagging tremendously. Take the shelf off and it is a permanent bend.

@carterscustomrods Год назад

Another thing worth noting... marine grade mdf exists. In my humid environment of SW Florida, regular mdf is nearly worthless (unless you have $50k worth of plastidip lol).

@datbubby Год назад

@silver_crone Год назад

This was so entertaining to watch! Scratched that geek itch with your %Swole chart for sure. I’m even a non-builder-handyperson type and this was great to watch. Well done

@T313COmun1s7 Год назад

So the take away here is, don't let wood get wet. Awesome, thank you.

@racer72 Год назад

Built a platform to hold my front load washer and dryer. Used 1 inch MDF for the deck. That was 8 years ago. Recently had to remove the washer and dryer, absolutely no issues with the MDF.

@GuiltyPleasures Год назад

Plywood was placed bow-up. The bow, acting as an arch, is the source of the increased strength. Had you placed it bow-down, it would have deflected more. Thanks for the video. Was a lot of fun. First time I've seen your channel.

@evancombs1091 2 месяца назад

I really appreciate you taking the time to make videos like this. Awesome job!

@LemonZ89 Год назад

Brad, that is not concrete (yet!). It is partially cement. Concrete that is not mixed with water is called mortar! :)

@ShadowHauk Год назад

One of the tests we used to do, when testing for the effects of moisture on a building material, is to run wet/dry cycles. More than long-term exposure to moisture, I think you'll find that the number of wet/dry cycles a material can withstand will surprise you, especially with mdf vs a wooden laminate like plywood.

@ShadowHauk Год назад

Yup. I used to work for a building products company and spent at least one day a week in the lab, running similar kinds of tests.

@sapelesteve Год назад

Excellent testing Brad & that slow-mo at the end of the video is classic! 😂😂👍👍

@maddawgnoll Год назад

You should've thrown a sheet of MDO into the mix. Since it's got an mdf overlay. From my understanding mdo is pretty much waterproof. It's an exterior glue used instead of interior, which I know will play a major role in these style of tests

@xbxb Год назад

There's definitely high quality MDF out there, but in the perspective of a furniture/small item online that is made from MDF, it is plagued with low quality MDF. It crumbles, bent, vinyl stickers peeling off, water damage will literally ruin it, etc.

@edwarddrost5299 Год назад

After MDF has been wet, it's no longer structurally sound, but I still use it for forms, templates, and router carving projects. I glue a few layers together and use the router to make dishes and trays, then cover with epoxy or polyurethane and paint. If it's so far gone that it's flaky and brittle, it makes some pretty hot fires, once it completely dries again.

@colin5577 Год назад

Brad, than you very much for your time and effort. This was great.

@scgoddard81 Год назад

Good content on these two videos. I'm curious what the absorbion weight is on the various materials. Also what the duration of time is to get each material back to near-new moisture content. Could also use a wood moisture meter to measure. Just some thoughts.

@lurklingX Год назад

❤ (the vid i didn't know i needed! also, love how you talk fast and there isn't dead space. quicker to get info while researching, etc. :D )

@nrdy2theXtreme Год назад

Your slow motion MDF snapping was a case study in why you should wear steel toe boots, you didn't react until after the load had contacted the floor.

@geojelly9830 Год назад

Brad, thank you very much for your time and effort

@trackrat62 Год назад

The design of those supports used in the final test tool me right back to Statics class

@ericrichardson3332 Год назад

Mdf is bonded with a wax and resin binder with high temperature and pressure, which is most likely why the surface resists water, but the cut edges allow more water in. As with any wood end grains not sealed, allow water to soak in due to the structure of the wood being straw like fibers

@m2pmd70 Год назад

Would be interesting to add particle board to your tests. When I used to design and build melamine furniture, we almost always used MDF for verticals and particle for horizontals - especially where we needed less flex, like shelving.

@OldsmobileCutlass1969Va Год назад

Once partial board wood gets wet... It's completely useless! The swollen wood breaks the bonding agent and it reverts back to just sawdust.

@m2pmd70 Год назад

Yeah, it definitely wouldn't do well with submersion... I was mostly just pointing out that it is "better" than MDF in certain applications.

@froabbit586 Год назад

The triple scream is the best part of the whole video😂

@chrisdzak3903 Год назад

“Me nails” still gets me every time. 😂

@ScottWalshWoodworking Год назад

if I put my arms in water for 24hrs, how many % swole will they be?

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

Just don't get out of the pool or you'll go from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Arnold Palmer 😂

@samstone2007 Год назад

Dude is killing it. Great tests and presentation. Fellow Tennessean to boot! Go Vols!

@mich89626 Год назад

I had a couple two gallon jugs of water on an MDF shelf. One of the jugs leaked and soaked into the MDF. The shelf dried but it has a permanent bow in it now. I just flipped it upside down to help counteract the bow.

@Fixthisbuildthat Год назад

yup, in that situation it's probably okay as long as it didn't swell up massively

@Kingcob7 Год назад

lol when you rubbed one of the boards wet boards it gave me the most unexpected nails on a chalkboard feeling i've ever had around 8:30

@tedspens 10 месяцев назад

An interesting thing, I removed MDF baseboards in a flooded basement, 6" deep, severely soaked, and it remained fully, dimensionally stable. It was so flexible I could almost bend a 5 foot radius without snapping it, but it didn't swell one bit. The only reason we threw it in the dumpster is because of mold. Else, we could have let it dry and reinstall it. I think it's a different MDF than sheet goods, because I've seen them double in thickness when soaked. I like the t-shurt.

@CuddleTrouble Год назад

There's a water resistant MDF called Armorite. I've never used it before and would be interested in seeing it tested.

@pedrobelluzzo Год назад

All my life I had (and still have) furniture made out of MDF/MDP because it's cheaper, and my experience is : 1- The most common dammage is caused by screws and things placed in the side. 2 - As all MDF furniture sold on common stores are laminated, water in the face does nothing to it, but if the water goes to the corner, it will expand and ruin it (most times you can still use the furniture, but it will be ugly as hell). 3 - As MDF is used in cheaper furniture, I feel that the money saving in the structure of the furniture is always more limiting than the material. For example, I had a bookcase plank that fell of due to the weight of the books, but the plank itself only got damaged where the support pins were placed. There were only 2 pins on each side, and no screws. If they also had some screws or at least 2 more pins, it would have lived to this day.

@markcollins457 Год назад

From someone who has replaced a considerable amount of flooring in mobile homes manufactured housing or a trailer once it gets saturated once and has carpet or vinyl floor attached it always fails.