cabinet box material

Steven Bornfeld · 2011-08-12T16:12:16+00:00

Sorry if this is considered OT, but I thought people here would know.First-time poster here. I assume the google problem has left some people out, but figured I'd try anyway.We have to select someone to make kitchen cabinets for our house. We are considering a couple of places.One imports his cabinets from Europe. The boxes are made of what he calls "compressed wood".Our other potential place makes cabinets domestically. The boxes are plywood.The term "compressed wood" seems to be a catchall, including fiberboard, MDF, and a variety of other materials. From my ignorant web searching, it seems that most of these are used because they are cheaper (and apparently more uniform). Most sites also say they are heavier, more likely to absorb moisture, possibly more likely to warp, and may be more prone to fasteners (screws, etc.) to pull out. Our European guy says this is how things are done in Europe, and that all the most expensive cabinets are made of "compressed wood". To me that's a non-answer to my concerns.I should also say that I always considered plywood as something that is likely to split when placing screws.Anyone have any opinions regarding "compressed wood" vs. plywood for cabinet boxes? Or am I agonizing over a non-issue?TIA.Steve

Aug 12, 2011 43 Replies

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Father Haskell 14 years ago

Europe they are

Which is what MDF is mostly made of. He did know that, right?

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RicodJour 14 years ago

in Europe they are

Deadly plywood glue is MUCH higher up on the Bullshit-To-Make-A-Sale scale than deadly generic glue.

Lines like the guy told the OP give me headaches. You have to figure out if the guy believes it and is just misinformed, opening up the question of what else he's misinformed about, or just making up stuff to make a sale. Either way it's a red flag and I'd move on from the guy, especially since the OP said the guy had an attitude.

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Steven Bornfeld 14 years ago

He may have convinced himself, but I'm really giving him the benefit of the doubt. He had just returned from a family funeral in Europe--unless he made that up too.

Steve

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Eric 14 years ago

Deadly plywood glue is MUCH higher up on the Bullshit-To-Make-A-Sale scale than deadly generic glue.

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Formaldehyde is a dangerous substance that many MDF products release into household breathing space.

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