Introduction to Reconstituted Wood Products
We’ll explain the differences between plywood and reconstituted wood products, such as OSB, MDF and particle board, and help you decide which one to use for your next project. Reconstituted wood products are made by mixing leftover wood parts with glue or resin at high heat and pressure. Since they don’t have a grain pattern, they won’t bow or warp like traditional plywood.
Some items and sizes may not be stocked in stores but are available via Special Order.
What's MDF Board?
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is a waste-wood product that's made with fine wood fiber. It's often used in furniture, shelving, cabinetry and moulding. It's easily milled with any power tool and resists tear-out. Typical finishes include laminate, veneer and paint. MDF is available finished and unfinished in many forms, sizes and thicknesses including 49-inch-by-97-inch panels and pre-cut shelving from 4 feet to 8 feet long. MDF moulding comes in 8-foot to 16-foot lengths.
What's Particle Board?
Particle board is a waste-wood product that's made by mixing sawdust with adhesives. Although it won't bow or warp like plywood, it can swell and become unstable when exposed to water. The main uses are for furniture, underlayment and as substrate for countertops. It can be milled with all power tools and has moderate tear-out. Laminate and veneer finishes are the most common. Particle board comes in 4-foot-by-8-foot panels; 1/2-inch- to 1-inch-thick pre-cut shelving boards come in various sizes.
What's OSB Board?
Oriented strand board (OSB) is an engineered wood product that's made with flakes or large chips of wood. The panels are formed from layers glued together with their strands at 90-degree angles to one another. The cross-orientation of the layers adds strength to the panels and makes OSB well-suited for use as a structure board in sheathing and underlayment. It can be cut with all power saws but since it's a structure board, it's not suited to shaping, sanding or other milling operations.
While OSB is mainly used as an underlayment, paint and primer will adhere to it for projects that require finishing. OSB panels are 4-feet-by-8-feet in size with a thickness of 1/4 inch to 3/4 inches. It's also available in tongue and groove panels.
What's Plywood?
Plywood is an engineered wood product that's manufactured by thin layers of wood veneer glued together. There are different types of plywood for specific jobs. Exterior plywood uses waterproof glue for outdoor construction. Hardwood plywood, made from layered hardwood veneer, is used for its durability and attractive look in furniture. Plywood receives grades (ranging from A to D) based on the number of blemishes on the product.
Particle Board vs. MDF Plywood
Particle board and MDF are alternative materials to solid wood. They’re commonly used to make affordable home décor pieces and furniture. MDF is a type of engineered wood made from a combination of wood fibers and glue. Particle board is made from a combination of sawdust and resin that’s been pressed together. Though both have their advantages, particle board is preferred as a cheaper alternative to MDF. It’s more affordable than solid wood, plywood and MDF. It’s also lightweight — making it easy to move around — and made with recycled materials. You can expect particle board to last up to 25 years, whereas MDF has a more limited lifetime of around 10 years. If cost is a more important factor in your purchasing decision than appearance and strength, then particle board is the ideal choice.