Tabletop Materials

[Tom Bender]

Planning to make an oval tabletop 47" x 37". Planning to start with 1" sheet stock, add 3" wide edges and veneer it. Mahogany. Two questions;

1. Plywood or MDF? I think either will be strong enough but I haven't worked with MDF. Will the edges and veneer glue on well enough?

2. Paper thin veneer is not going to do it for me. I plan to use shop sawn veneer. I had a good result with Sugar Maple veneer 5/32" thick, which actually surprised me. Any reason to think 1/8" Mahogany glued to MDF will cause problems? Of course I plan to veneer and finish both sides.

[Robert Engel]

Either one will work. Be sure to veneer both sides.

[Andrew Hughes]

I would choose Plywood over Mdf. Because MDF is just so heavy and it will sag here and there if it’s not supported well.
The dust is foul and yucky.