Thread: Fibreboard vs Chipboard

Chipboard is made of particles of wood (usually pine) bonded together under pressure.
The wood and other fibres in mdf etc are much finer than the chips in chipboard.

The resins used in mdf generally have more formaldahyde than chipboard, this chemical combined with the very tiny particle sizes in mdf are the main reasons health concerns are loudly expressed about mdf

mdf and fibreboard is sometimes but not always made of timber, there was a large mdf plant at horsham that made mdf from wheat (and presumably other Grains). It went down the gurgler a few years ago but it may have been sold as a complete manufacturing facility.

Does that mean if I fed some of their MDF to some cows, they'd get fat and when they die, they would be would be perfectly preserved?

I tried some mdf for the first time today to make a new table for my bandsaw. I found it very easy to work and very forgiving.

Originally Posted by echnidna

Chipboard is made of particles of wood (usually pine) bonded together under pressure.
The wood and other fibres in mdf etc are much finer than the chips in chipboard.

The resins used in mdf generally have more formaldahyde than chipboard, this chemical combined with the very tiny particle sizes in mdf are the main reasons health concerns are loudly expressed about mdf

mdf and fibreboard is sometimes but not always made of timber, there was a large mdf plant at horsham that made mdf from wheat (and presumably other Grains). It went down the gurgler a few years ago but it may have been sold as a complete manufacturing facility.

Thanks for the info. It was very useful. It sound though from your description of how these boards are put together, that the fibreboard (aka MDF, right?) would last longer than chipboard. Assuming that both boards are subjected to the same environmental conditions.

Have a look at the current Australian Wood Review. It has an easy to read article on Plywood, Particleboard, and MDF.

Bob