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Plywood & MDF (Chorus 1)


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Two "Chorus 1" questions:

 

1. Why did they use both plywood (front/back) AND mdf (sides/top/bottom) in the Chorus 1's ? 

 

2. Why veneer the INTERIOR side of an mdf side panel (see pic)

20210306_173441~2_resized_1.jpg

Interior side panel pic, & front motorboard ply on the R

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Pulled from the webs:

 

"It is absolutely necessary to veneer both sides of any substrate to “balance” the panel. If one side of a panel is left exposed, it will absorb ambient moisture at a different rate than the side that is veneered. This unbalanced situation will cause the panel to bow or crown and the problems associated with working with panels that aren’t flat should be obvious.

 

The answer is to veneer the backs of these panels with a backer sheet, not the expensive walnut veneer that you’re using on the face. Backer sheets may be any wood veneer of lower grade or seconds that aren’t suitable to be sold as first quality. Because these aren’t seen, the flaws or defects aren’t a factor. In short, it’s well worth the investment of a few more dollars to insure a stable and longer lasting veneer panel."

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Then I have a 3rd question 😃

 

I wonder what the cost difference was between a sheet of "double veneered" mdf -vs- the birch plywood they used for the front & rears? Was it a significant savings?

 

If not, (significant savings) why didn't they just use plywood on all 4 sides... accoustics?

 

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12 hours ago, jjptkd said:

If one side of a panel is left exposed, it will absorb ambient moisture at a different rate than the side that is veneered. This unbalanced situation will cause the panel to bow or crown and the problems associated with working with panels that aren’t flat should be obvious.

 

 

Then I could also see how it may have been easier to hot glue the factory corner bracing to a smooth veneered interior panel vs a plain mdf one. 

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Plywood was chosen for the front and back because it was a "known quantity" with respect to general strength and screw holding power, particularly for the woofer.  Today those structural choices can be made with more "knowledge under the belt". 

 

The balancing of layers in plywood and MDF panels has been correctly expressed above.  Layers are virtually always odd numbers.

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17 hours ago, 4JaxJags said:

If not, (significant savings) why didn't they just use plywood on all 4 sides... accoustics?

 

MDF is higher density than plywood, so there is probably an acoustical advantage when use in speaker cabinets.

 

I believe one of the main reasons that furniture companies use veneered MDF and particle board for 99% of dining table tops and many cabinets is because it stays FLAT. So the wood products companies make lots of veneered MDF, and that is what many speaker shops buy and made their cabinets with.

 

Keep your cabinets dry and don't drop them and they are just fine. Even if they were made of all plywood, keep them dry and don't drop them. 🙂

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