Overheard a supplier say 'MDF is garbage' at the lumber yard counter last week

I was picking up some plywood for a bathroom vanity in Hartford when this older guy at the counter told the kid that MDF is just sawdust and glue and should never be used for anything structural. It got me thinking because I use MDF for painted cabinet doors sometimes and it's been fine. Has anyone here had MDF actually fail on them in a real project?

3 comments

3 Comments

ruby65914d agoMost Upvoted

Ngl, my buddy used MDF for a set of built-in shelves in his garage workshop. Everything was fine for about a year until the humidity kicked in and the shelves started sagging like a wet cardboard box. One day he put a heavy drill on the bottom shelf and the whole thing just crumbled into a pile of dust and glue. He still brings it up every time someone mentions MDF.

violag8014d ago

I mean, MDF's fine if you seal it right lol.

max_cooper2114d ago

Yeah MDF is basically compressed sawdust and glue not built for any real weight or moisture.