Features and application of MDF panels for furniture

Today MDF (fine fraction) is used not only for wall cladding, but also for the production of cabinet furniture. This material is popular due to its durability, heat and moisture resistance, the ability to choose almost any texture and color you like. Manufacturers offer MDF in the form of sheets, panels or facades in ready-made furniture sets. This article discusses the features and nuances of using MDF panels for furniture.

MDF consists of two panels with sawdust pressed between them. The material is more durable and environmentally friendly than chipboard, in the production of which synthetic resins are used.

The advantages of MDF are:

• resistance to scratches and chips;
• high strength, wear and moisture resistance;
• MDF is easy to clean and does not require the use of special cleaning agents;
• the ability to manufacture curved front doors and apply patterns on them by milling;
• MDF furniture looks very similar to solid wood furniture;
• subject to the varnishing technology, you can get the effect of glass cladding;
• such material fits into almost any interior, it imitates almost all types of natural materials and comes in a variety of colors.

With all their advantages, MDF panels also have several significant disadvantages:

• production time is at least three weeks;
• there is no way to "fit" the size of the finished product;
• high price (when compared with the cost of chipboard panels);
• the painted material is difficult to maintain, and the laminated material is not resistant to high temperatures and moisture.

MDF can be divided into several types depending on the method of surface treatment. Plates sanded on one or both sides are well suited for putty and paint. They are most often used for wall and ceiling decoration. Panels with a thickness of more than 12 mm can also be used for flooring, they are used instead of laminate.

PVC film made from synthetic polyvinyl chloride, which becomes plastic when heated. Under the influence of vacuum, the heated film is tightly pressed against the facade blank, and when it cools down, it retains the resulting relief.

Veneered boards - these are slabs, pasted over with thin wood cuts (veneer). Such slabs are very similar to solid wood of valuable species, and therefore their price is quite high.

Another type of MDF, which is mainly used in furniture production, is panels covered with plastic... They do not fade under the sun and can be easily cleaned with any cleaning agent, which is especially important for kitchen furniture. Plastic panels allow the production of curved contours and rounded shapes.

3D Panels - a novelty in the building materials market. The processing of such facades is carried out not only along the contour, but also in the depth of the surface. With the help of milling on the front surface of the facades, various patterns are created "under the tree", "under the waves", "under the sand dunes".The second option for obtaining the 3D effect is repeated painting of MDF, which is then laminated or covered with veneer.

By its shape, MDF can be divided into three types:

• Rack - panels 15-32.5 cm wide and 240-270 cm long. Light strips of material, similar to long laminate boards.
• Tiled - square panels with dimensions from 30x30 to 95x95 cm, similar to large ceramic tiles.
• Sheet - moisture resistant panels with a height of 2800, 2440, 2344 and 2070 mm, width - 1220, 1035 and 695 mm. They resemble the surface of a wall faced with small and medium tiles.

In order to clearly understand what a finished panel of finely dispersed fraction is, it is necessary to have an idea of ​​the process of its production. At the first stage, the necessary raw materials are procured: the logs are cleaned of bark and crushed by special equipment into chips. Then the chips are sorted, washed from various debris (in the form of sand or small stones) and heated with steam.

In the second stage, the chips are crushed in a refiner to release lignin, a binder that allows the wood fibers to form a single material. Various resins can be added for a better bond. Then you can remove air from the resulting mass and send it to molding.

At the third and fourth stages, the mass is rolled out and pressed several times - until the air is completely removed. Then it is cut into finished slabs and cooled. Then grinding is carried out, as well as adjusting the thickness and various defects. This is how you get the usual sanded MDF, on which you can later apply paint, veneer. It can also be laminated.

The most common option is to use MDF only for the facade of furniture, and all other parts of cabinets, shelves and pedestals are made from cheaper chipboard. MDF is appreciated for its ease of processing, aesthetic appearance and the ability to assemble and disassemble the product several times without impairing the strength of its joints.

The production of this material has its own characteristics and consists of several stages.

• Sawing of MDF boards according to the specified dimensions is carried out in special panel saws equipped with circular saws. The panels are fed with the back side up at high speed so that no traces of teeth from the circular saw remain on the ends. To increase the speed of work in the production of identical parts, several plates are stacked on top of each other and fed to the saw in a stack. Several MDF panels are folded and glued to obtain the desired product thickness.
• Bringing the facade or countertop to the final exact dimensions by milling at the corners, along the edge and on the surface. A cutter with an edge radius of 2-3 mm is used to machine the corners of the workpieces in order to remove sharp elements and defects that not only spoil the appearance of the products, but can also lead to injuries. The edges are chamfered to also remove the edge sharpness. Alternating cutters of the required radius, they process the edge itself. With the help of milling, the surface is prepared for painting and polishing - or various patterns are made on the facade blanks. After the end of milling, all surfaces of the resulting product are carefully polished.

• Lamination (lamination) of the facade is the process of covering the treated MDF surface with a special facing film or paper (using membrane vacuum pressing equipment). A special glue is applied to the surface of the workpiece, paper or film is cut off. The facades are laid on paper and placed under a silicone membrane, which squeezes out excess glue from under the coating. After the glue has completely dried, the excess paper or film is carefully cut off.
• Preparing for transportation or storage. It is necessary to pack all MDF parts separately, wrapping them in plastic wrap, so that dust or moisture does not get on the facade. Then several parts are packed in corrugated cardboard to avoid mechanical damage.

To prevent sagging on large parts, packages should not hang from the shelf or stand at the end at an angle to the floor. Transportation is carried out using containers or a car with a closed body. The corners should be additionally wrapped with cardboard to avoid damage during movement.

MDF facades are installed indoors (with air humidity up to 80%). Placement next to stoves or ovens is undesirable, as high temperatures can damage the PVC film. It is advisable not to expose the facades to contact with sharp objects, to avoid impacts and friction.

To care for furniture with a MDF facade, use a soft cloth or sponge and liquid detergents that do not include powder, chlorine, or solvent. If grease stains appear on the facade, you can remove them with a drop of vinegar added to a regular cleaning agent. With proper operation, wet cleaning is required 1-2 times a year, not more often, and the rest of the time, the facades can be wiped with a dry, lint-free cloth.

Work with facades is carried out exclusively on smooth surfaces in order to exclude the appearance of scratches. The protective plastic film from the facades is removed only after the final installation of the furniture.

Classic kitchen made of MDF under solid walnut. The work surface and table top are finished in white to visually highlight the space. Dust and water droplets are less visible on a white surface.

Modern kitchen design with 3D effect on the MDF facade. The upper part of the headset, made in a light color, is connected with the dark lower part by means of the same relief on the cabinet doors.

Bright MDF kitchen with plastic frames on the doors. Such a frame not only looks good on the headset, but also protects the edges of the MDF from deformation under the influence of water, heat and other factors.

How to make furniture from MDF panels, see the next video.