3mm MR MDF - Group Buy

[Droogs]

ATTN MODs Not sure if this is allowed or the right place, if not then happy for you to move or get rid

After having spent the last year basically looking for a supplier of the above, I may have finally done so. It seems to be impossible to find a supplier here in blighty and so I've had to go further afield as it were. They are a German manufacturer who produce a variety of sheet products and are called Hobatex. having spoken to a nice lady there by email they replied yesterday they they could possibly provide 3mm MRMDF but i would need to let them know quantities, sizes and expected uses for the sheets.
now on and off, i've been in contact with our very own Custard over the last year as we've both been needing to find a supplier as we use it as a very shapeable (bendy, curvy) substrate for veneering. So before I get back in contact with them i'm thinking that there may be a few others here who would like to have some sheets, probably 4 x8ish in size.

If you do, then please put a comment below and I'll let you know how things progress.

Rgds
Droogs

 

[davin]

I use 2mm mdf quite a lot (for laminating. forming etc) I can get it "off the shelf" from a supplier near to me,
http://www.wenbans.com/ £8 a sheet.
I am sure that I have bought it from other suppliiers as well.
Does the extra 1mm make a real difference?

 

[petermillard]

You can get 3mm in smaller sheets from Wickes (~600 x 1800) or SLHardwoods and Champions do 4mm in full sheets, if that helps?

Pete

 

[Sporky McGuffin]

Is that moisture resistant though?

 

[custard]

I'd prefer 2mm but it's the Moisture Resistant bit that's important for me, and 3mm is the thinnest MR MDF I've found.

I use it for veneering. I take a core of the best quality Birch ply I can find, pass it through the drum sander to get a uniform thickness, skin it both sides with 3mm MR MDF, then apply saw cut veneer and lippings.

The ply core gives strength, rigidity, and a solid anchor for loose tenons and fastenings. The MR MDF gives an ultra smooth surface for the veneer and prevents any telegraphing through from the ply surface.

I've experimented with MR MDF versus standard MDF, and the difference is significant. You can hold MR MDF in the steam from a kettle, or submerge it in warm water for a few minutes, and it'll retain it's integrity. Where as regular MDF turns into Weetabix pretty much immediately.

UK supplies of 3mm MR MDF are dwindling, Meddite's minimum order is several container loads, so I've been looking at alternatives before Droogs arrived like the 7th Cavalry. I've tried skinning the ply with 6mm MR MDF, but that's not ideal and adds a lot of weight. I've tried going straight onto Poplar Ply but the dimensional issues are no different from Birch Ply. Veneering straight onto Sika Block is another option, that's what most of the workshops use for super yacht fit outs, but the cost is unbelievable. I could lay a 1.2-1.5mm mm thick saw cut veneer down before the final veneer, but that adds a fair bit of extra build time. And the final option was veneering straight onto a very fancy German ply that's formed entirely from Beech, but the cost is high and supplies are unreliable.

 

[davin]

No the 2mm I use is not MR.
Could you layer up 1.5 mm aero ply? Thats what we used to use for curved veneered cabinet doors?
Expensive but then quality always is.
I am intriqued as to the kind of work you do Custard, sounds very high end.
Me, just finished some fitted wardrobes and floating shelves this week. The shelves were quite high!
Being a Finn we are about to sit down for our Christmas meal. So happy Christmas to all forummers.......

 

[petermillard]

Is that moisture resistant though?

No, indeed I missed that part of the OP and do appreciate the difference. Never seen anything thinner than 6mm MRMDF locally, and clearly not alone in that :/

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

And regarding the comment in the first post re is this ok. Absolutely. This kind of cooperative behaviour is exactly the reason connecting technologies like this can be so useful. It's an excellent way to benefit from this resource.

 

[Droogs]

bump