MDO PLYWOOD

[SteveH]

Well, no one else will do it, so I will. Being as it's your first post and everything, WELCOME TO THE FORUM, RWhitley.

Everyone, RWhitley is a friend of mine and just wanted to let everyone know I'm resposible for getting him started in this madness.

Bob, please put some pictures in your album here so everyone can see how you are doing.

[rwhitley]

Thanks Steve... I did post some pics this afternoon, wasn't too sure what I was doing but finally got them posted.
By the way, you didn't have to twist my arm too much.

[Steve Frederick]

Hey RW!
The frame looks sweet!!
With all those clips to bolt the body down, she'll never budge!!
That shop is making me turn green! Space...The final frontier...
BTW, Welcome!!

[Steve_Cox]

Thanks Steve... I did post some pics this afternoon, wasn't too sure what I was doing but finally got them posted.
By the way, you didn't have to twist my arm too much.

I also welcome you RW, saw the pics, yup another teardrop in the making!! Definitly a serious case of shop envy going on here too!!

Steve in ST Augustine

[SteveH]

I'm shure worried about the strength of RWhitley's frame...he had to use some old left over 2" X 2" X 3/16" tubing. Don't know if it will be any where near strong enough!

[madjack]

...welcome RW, any friend of Steve's is always welcome here(actually any one is welcome to join the madness)
madjack

[doug hodder]

Shil is correct....MDF is only interior use...MDO is an entirely different critter....mdf is particals fused with a glue, medium density fiber......MDO is Medium density overlay....made for exterior use...A ply for exterior sign use....typically has a smooth white top finish, but also available in primed... that you can lay vinyl down on....I would seal up the edges on it for tear building....but it is designed for exterior use...most of the temporary building signs...IE coming soon, type stuff..this is what is used.....doug

[rwhitley]

Thanks for the welcome and the info fellows. I think I will take a look at the MDO before I make a decision on wall material. I appreciate the compliments on the shop, it is a pleasure to work in, except during the middle of the summer. It's a little too hot most of the day down here in south Texas.

[Paulyboy]

MDO uses a paper backing and MDF uses a fiber style backing
Ive used both while building cabinets.The scrap pieces got thrown outside on the firewood pile.I didnt think the MDO held up very well to the weather and the MDF was worse yet.I guess I didnt compare the pieces to regular plywood though.Comparitively,Thinking back,I bet the MDO would have withstood more weather than the unskinned plywood.

I don't know where u got yer MDO, but I just recently resurrected a piece of scrap that was next to my driveway, in the elements for 3 years, that had everything from car fluids to battery acid to weed killer poured all over it. Th epaper faces were on both sides, so one had constant contact with the earth, while the otherwas given all the abuse. No delamination, ne swelling of the plys, cleaned up with TSP, and away we went!

[tony.latham]

Thanks for sharing this.

I've been searching for some sheets with the best finishing for my kitchen cabinets. Can I use these for kitchen cabinets?

You could... but you'd lose the wood grain. It's generally used in the sign industry.

I like Baltic birch plywood for this.





Tony

[bdosborn]

I've used MDF to build speaker cabinets <snip> Oops, wrong wood!

Bruce

[MickinOz]

I've used MDO to build speaker cabinets, its super dense and heavy so it doesn't resonate much. It's really messy to work with since it's basically glued sawdust. I don't care for it myself, I'd much rather use baltic birch plywood. But it would work for a cabinet face. I don't think it likes water much, you might want to see how it holds up to a few splashes if you use it in your galley.

Bruce

Are you confusing MDO, plywood with medium density overlay, with MDF, medium density fibre board?
MDO is plywood, MDF is basically glued sawdust.

[bdosborn]

Yup, I was talking about MDF.
Never mind.

Bruce

[troubleScottie]

BTW MDO was often available in 5'x10' sheets. So a 10' TD could be built with a single sheet, no joints.

That said, my local obvious suppliers (not box stores) have not been stocking 5x10 sheets, only 4x8 sheets.