MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)

MDF (medium density fiberboard) presses fine wood fibers, bonded with resin, into a dense, perfectly flat, grain-free panel -- denser and more uniform than particleboard, but without plywood's layered strength. Its complete lack of visible grain and dead-flat surface make it an exceptional substrate for paint, which is why it's the standard choice for painted cabinet doors, shop jigs, and templates where a flawless painted finish matters more than appearance in the bare wood itself.

It machines cleanly and holds crisp detail well (router-carved MDF signage and molding profiles are common), but the resin content is genuinely abrasive to cutting edges -- router bits and saw blades dull noticeably faster in MDF than in solid wood or plywood. It also swells and doesn't recover if it gets wet.

Its cut edges are porous and drink finish unevenly, so any edge that will be seen wants edge banding or careful filling. And the dust deserves more respect than solid wood dust: MDF breaks down to a much finer particle, which stays airborne longer and goes deeper into the lungs. Dust collection and a real respirator, not a paper mask.