What Is MDF Material?

Medium density fibreboard, also known as medium density fiberboard (MDF), is a readily available and inexpensive material. Homeowners and carpenters may choose medium density fiberboard for lightweight projects including making furniture such as bookshelves, storage units and cabinets.

Construction

• Medium density fiberboard consists of hard and soft wood fibers combined with waxes and resins to bind the fibers. Some recipes include straw fibers as a substitute or addition to wood fibers. The manufacturers then apply high temperatures and pressure to form the wood-like panels that are MDF.

Benefits

• Compared to plywood, another inexpensive wood material, medium density fiberboard is denser. MDF also contains no knots, so the person who is working with the material does not need to work around the naturally occurring imperfections when cutting, sanding or otherwise manipulating the material. MDF also lacks the surface grain of real wood and the user can paint it to a smooth finish.

Warning

• People must take care when working with MDF because cutting and sanding causes it to emit a substance called urea formaldehyde. This substance can cause irritation to the eyes and lungs, but users can avoid coming into contact with it by wearing face masks and goggles. It's best to work with MDF in a well-ventilated area.