Custom-built bookshelf, chipboard or MDF?

[nimhed]

Hi
I am going to build a built-in bookshelf and am considering building it in 19mm chipboard and then placing a 21mm trim on the edge of the chipboard and sanding it down to level with the chipboard. Everything will then be painted white.

Is there anyone who wants to try to persuade me to build it in MDF instead?

 

[Poperor]

Byggmax sells hobby boards in 19mm MDF, available in different widths from 30cm. Absolutely fantastic for building. I've built a shelf around the fridge in the kitchen with these. No sanding work, nice finish right away, easy to work with. I personally would never consider using chipboard instead. Too much work to make the fronts look nice. Moreover, it's great to avoid having to rip the pieces if the widths fit, one less source of error.
The only downside, costs a bit more than chipboard.

Per

 

[nimhed]

Well, it's obviously the price that I'm stuck on. It would have felt good if we could get below the IKEA-Billy price, and that's not possible with MDF. Another advantage of my solution is that you get a more durable front, as it is made of pine. But overall, I agree with you.

Doesn't MDF bend more than particle board? I'm thinking about shelves filled with books. In my case, there will be two lengths of the shelves, 800 and 1000.

 

[PappasHammare]

It's not for nothing that the carpenters on TV use MDF when they build shelves on-site, etc.
Why would a custom-built and tailor-made shelf always be cheaper than a factory and mass-produced one?

You can never get really nice saw cuts with chipboard. With MDF they become perfectly straight.

 

[byggare henke]

custom made = won't be as cheap. just materials (+wages if you hire a carpenter)
factory carpentry is usually the cheapest. all included. materials and wages.
it's probably possible to get nice cuts in chipboard

 

[nimhed]

sure, you can get nice cuts in chipboard

I also think you can get nice cuts in chipboard. However, the end grain isn't nice, but that's where a trim comes in.

You shouldn't inspect the work when you're doing everything yourself, you would go crazy

 

[byggare henke]

but mdf is probably actually best for your project. just remember to wear a mask when sanding and sawing

 

[nimhed]

Just saw that Bauhaus (they have finally started putting their products online) has MDF boards for a cheap price. Actually much cheaper than Byggmax. With this, the chipboard solution becomes only marginally cheaper and then I have no arguments left for that solution.

Is 19mm enough, or should I go up to 22?

 

[byggare henke]

it's what you think looks best, what you should have in it, and the depth of the shelf

 

[nimhed]

In the bookshelf, there should, somewhat unexpectedly, be books

The depth will be slightly shallower than today's standard (say around 22-24 cm).

So the question is how much a 19mm can handle in weight, I guess it will work.

 

[byggare henke]

I was mostly thinking if you were to get larger books as well,
it might hold but you don't need to have all the bibles in the same place (thick heavy books)

 

[kacke_]

MDF has a high "self-weight" so a small strip under the shelf at the back as support is not wrong, as they will sag a little after a while with a 1m width. Alternatively, also glue a thin strip at the front edge. MDF as sides in a bookshelf is perfect.

/Kacke

 

[Caspár]

Well, it's of course the price that caught my attention. It would feel good if one could get below the IKEA-Billy price, and you don't with MDF. Another advantage with my solution is that you get a more durable front, as it is made of pine. But overall, I agree with you.

Doesn't MDF sag more than particle board? I'm thinking about shelves filled with books. In my case, there will be two lengths for the shelves, 800 and 1000.

You can use particle board and then apply some form of wall cover to it, but on the other hand, you don't gain much as it is an additional cost.
What I wanted to say is that it works and is an alternative.

Good luck!

 

[nimhed]

Mdf has a high "self-weight" so a small strip under the shelf in the back as support is not wrong, as they will sag a little after a while with a 1m width. Alternatively, also glue a thin strip on the front edge. Mdf as sides in a bookshelf is perfect.

/Kacke

Oh well, then we're back to particle board :S Maybe sides in mdf and shelves in particle board with a strip on the front edge.

You can use particle board and then put some form of wall-cover on it, but on the other hand, you don't gain much as it's an additional cost.
What I wanted to say is that it works and is an option.

Good luck!

It should be possible to paint directly, otherwise, I'll lose the motivation before it's finished.

 

[Milkshaken]

Well, then we're back to chipboard :S Maybe sides in MDF and shelves in chipboard with a strip at the front.



It should be possible to paint directly, otherwise I will lose motivation before it's finished.

Actually, you can make brackets from the scrap to support the MDF in the middle.... (Think window bracket)

Adds a nice touch to a bookshelf...