What stronger mdf or chipboard

stephbond89

Me and the husband are planning to build a tv table (the huge one not flatscreen ) and was wondering which was stronger mdf or chipboard.
Also as where looking at a monster sized sheet 1220 by 2400 is there anyone that delivers these types of product for a reasonable price wickes want 20 quid even tho the shop is 2 miles away it wont fit in the car as the seats dont fold down and i cant carry it as im 29 weeks pregnant
cheers in advance

MX5huggy

Both are ideal for this job. But you should be able to get a better finish with MDF, will a half size sheet do? B & Q sell them or some places will cut it to size for you.

Other wise a local builders merchants should deliver for a bit less.

stephbond89

no because where the woods going is something like 1200 wide by 1500 long and as far as i can see they dont do them in that sort of size

KeithP

Larger B&Qs will cut board to size.

sharkie

Whitten Timber shop on Peckham Hill Street, are quite good, though I felt a little expensive. They will however only do strait cuts.

Some Jewsons also cut sheets. B&Q, first cut is free and the rest cost 50p each.

laurz121

sharkie wrote: »

Whitten Timber shop on Peckham Hill Street, are quite good, though I felt a little expensive. They will however only do strait cuts.

Some Jewsons also cut sheets. B&Q, first cut is free and the rest cost 50p each.

Actually at B&Q the first four cuts are free and as you say in theory it's 50p per cut afterwards however I was always told that that was just to stop people taking the p*** and turning up with a set of plans and expecting the store to cut it to shape for them. I've worked in 3 b&qs and i've never heard of any 'normal' customer being charged for cuts. I think the most I did for someone was around 50 cuts (they did buy a LOT of timber though), the most cuts i've made for someone buying under say 5 sheets is about 10 or 12 cuts I think. Basically provided your request is reasonable they should cut it you.

If you still can't get it in the car you could try hanging around B&Q during the day when tradesmen are likely to be around and as soon as you see someone with a van offer them a fiver or a tenner to pop it home for you

laurz121

ps, as is said above, MDF would be better for the job. In my experience it's stronger (go for 18mm MDF) and you get a much much better finish. If it's being painted then only sand the ends, you don't want to be sanding the smooth face of the MDF.

leveller2911

18mm MDF of the size your looking to use will need supporting in the middile(underneath).Although MDF as said is stronger than chipboard it can bend easily when taking weight laterally because it has no structure as such. Birch faced Ply is structually better and will take a paint finish but its expensive...

If your looking to paint it then go for Moisture resistant MDF as this will take paint better.If you use ordinary MDF you will need to seal the mdf before painting,if you don't the paint will "drag" and you will struggle to get a good finish.....

stephbond89

well i have found a company that will deliver a huge sheet of mdf for 6 quid
http://www.building-supplies-online.co.uk/chipboard-sheets-standard-742-p.asp

Is this the thickness i need i know its the right size etc

Also when you say support it do you mean a straight piece of wood down to the ground or would a length of simple timber screwed underdeath then on a bracket to a wall in the middle of the sheet of wood if you understand where im coming from sorry if you dont ill try and knock up a diagram on paint be ready for my very artistic drawings.

Also we have some mdf primer which worked on our green (yes green kitchien cupboard doors) to turn them into a nice cream colour so we are planning to use the same primer and paint combo as its worked well in the kitchien .

stephbond89

please try and not laugh too hard

stephbond89

so 6mm would just simply go snap ah nuts time to start looking again