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How bad is MDF for bass bin building?

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meatball View Drop Down
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    Posted: 20 October 2014 at 6:22pm
I have always bought / built cabs out of ply as a rule. However I've been offered some 1850s but are made from MDF. Regards to sound quality, I've heard these particular bins many times over the years and sound great. Also if I were to get them what will be best to put on the wood to protect it from moisture if I even can really? B-)
wumpstompbump
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Meat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2014 at 6:30pm
It's just fragile and totally falls to bit when it gets really wet. If you can keep them dry then no problems; MDF is denser than birch and quite stiff so it sounds good.
Don't test the champignon sound
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote GEB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2014 at 7:03pm
Never had a problem either. Got cabs still that are many years old and fine.

As said its denser but not as strong as ply. Keep it painted well to protect from water.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dub Specialist Sound Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2014 at 7:23pm
As above keep it well protected paint wise, corner pieces, solid bracing in cabs sorted no reason whats so ever to last many many years, had them and seen nuff cabs over the years and still going....

dont forget many old skool cabs built out of chipboard...many still around..





Musical Roots Reggae Vibration is Life! for music is sound...sound is vibration...vibration is energy... and energy begets life. Therein lies my passion!...MUSIC IS LIFE...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KidCreole Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2014 at 7:57pm
There is crap MDF and there is good MDF. There is also HDF

If you can get your hands on some green mdf for a cheap price use that
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 October 2014 at 8:02pm
medite is one of the best, green medite is moister resistant....
 
if there is no signs of water damage, then they should be ok... the cheaper hard wood mdf is crap, the fibres break up on the joins, regardless of glue....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Earplug Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 October 2014 at 11:08am
"the cheaper hard wood mdf is crap, the fibres break up on the joins, regardless of glue...."

And self-tapper screw threads start rotting, T-nuts fall out, etc, etc...


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote APC321 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 October 2014 at 11:12pm
Mdf boxes are not worth so much when you come to sell them on, and will be harder to sell compared to the same boxes made from good quality plywood.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ceharden Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 October 2014 at 11:36pm
I've started using biscuit joints on my MDF prototypes, probably helps quite a lot with the joint strength.  Generally I prototype in MDF and would consider using it for install cabs but anything going on the road has to be ply.
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meatball View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote meatball Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 October 2014 at 12:17pm
thanks for the advice guys, these have been well looked after so i cant see any issues arising. as i said ive partied in front of these many times from 10 years back and always was impressed.
wumpstompbump
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote snowflake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 October 2014 at 12:53pm
bass cabs need to be stiff so that energy isn't wasted vibrating the box. to be as stiff MDF needs to be 25% thicker than ply. as MDF is also denser than ply you end up with an MDF cab that is 40% heavier than the equivalent ply cab. Or you could use same thickness MDF but brace it so the unsupported panel dimensions are halved.

Edited by snowflake - 23 October 2014 at 12:59pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bitSmasher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 October 2014 at 10:05pm
When I moved house I set a "no mdf" rule for my workshop. A year later it's something I'm thankful of, that stuff is horrid to work with and makes nasty dust.
If you're just buying 2nd hand boxes, then consider the purchase to be for the driver only and pay whatever that is worth.
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