MDF vs Plywood here?

[Ryan Leduc]

Sorry if this isn't the right forum, I am trying to decide here. I plan to copy these plans for the most part and make this for my daughter for Christmas. I feel like I have read previously about not using MDF is a lot of situations. Link is below and I'm working on determining how I will do it. https://www.buildsomething.com/plans...ress-Up-Closet

[Von Bickley]

Plywood for me... I don't use MDF.

[Jerry Bruette]

MDF might be flatter than ply, unless you go with birch or other cabinet ply. But I would think the Kreg screws would hold better in the ply.

[Ryan Leduc]

Plywood for me... I don't use MDF.

MDF might be flatter than ply, unless you go with birch or other cabinet ply. But I would think the Kreg screws would hold better in the ply.

Seems like that will end up being the road I go down. Just looking for the best available option around me at this point. I'm sure by the time I decide plywood will jump in price again too.

[Lee Schierer]

Mdf gives you a paint ready surface without much work, but doesn't hold screws very well. Plywood, depending upon the grade isn't as ready for painting, but does hold screws better and is a little more durable than mdf. If I were building that, I would probably make the doors frame and panel with poplar as the frame and 1/4" plywood as the panel. Make the sides and from plywood. If more than one child will eventually use it, spend a bit more on materials to last through multiple children. Consider donating it to a church or day care when your child(ren) out grow it.

[Brian Tymchak]

As others have said, MDF is not good about holding screws. In this case, if the cabinet is to be free standing, as shown in the picture, I definitely would go with plywood, as a free standing cabinet will be subject to lateral forces which strain the joints.