Why MDF? (1 Viewer)

[Javier_Huerta]

Brian and Mark: thank you very much for your input! Since the subs I'll be building aren't exactly top of the line (though I do expect them to kick some serious bass waves, they are a pair of 12" with nice response curves and Xmax) I'll build them out of 3/4" MDF all around, with the braces made out of 1/2" MDF, since I already got that from the wood store.
It was interesting, cutting my own panels (the guy there showed me how to do it) and talking to him. When I asked him about MDF, he told me "oh, that's like cardboard made out of wood!"
Can MDF be stained? I was wondering that when I saw it. If not, I guess I'll coat it with a couple of clearcoats, sand it, and then paint it with automotive paint.
This hobby is fascinating

 

[Brett DiMichele]

Javier,

3/4 for the walls and 1/2" should be fine for the braceing.

Make sure you calculate the displacement of the driver and
the bracing and the ports if you go ported, to arrive at
the true internal volume.

Nope you can't stain MDF it doesn't have a grain like wood
though it does have a "grain" (the direction the laminations
flow in) but it is not really a wood grain so even if it
could be stained it wouldn't look like anything other than
stained paper...

After the box is all glued and cured you can sand the out
side of the box and shoot it with some good automotive sandable
oxide primer and then paint it with a good base coat/clear
coat enamel paint and buff it out..You can do any color finish
your heart desires with paint.

 

[Arthur_King]

Javier,

From looking on the internet, ive seen quite a few websites that refer to MDF in spanish as aglomerados de fibra. Im not sure if that is accurate, but thats what ive found. I would also see if someone on the boards here that lives in texas, arizona, NM, or california, near the border, can find a "friendly salesperson" that speaks both languages and could probably clarify it for you.

Daffy Arthur King