Organizing your tools will make a difference in how you do things at the workshop because all of your tools have their own “home,” and you know where they are. Many people find a French cleat, a molding with a 30-45 degrees slope, ideal for securing a cabinet, mirror, artwork, or mechanical hand tools to a wall. A French cleat can be made using plywood, but how about fiberboards?
You can use medium-density fiberboard (MDF) for a French cleat, but they may not be as strong and durable as plywood. Plywood has better stability and better resistance to moisture than MDF. It’s best to work with plywood if you need to hang heavy-duty equipment.
It is not that MDF is not good, but it depends on the project you want to do. In the end, you want to use the best material that can make your French cleat last longer, which is what we will discuss in this article.
Why Build a French Cleat?
A French cleat is a perfect solution if you have ever struggled to hang a large mirror or cabinet in your house or workshop. Sometimes, your anchors do not level with each other, which is painful to see. Thankfully, you can fix this problem with a French cleat.
The French cleat is a pair of interlocking pieces that mount on the wall while the other holds the things you want to hang. It uses a long bar that you can level during installation. This organization design is undoubtedly innovative, allowing you to keep things in place while also saving on precious space.
Building a French Cleat
To build a French cleat, take two wood pieces, and make a 45 degrees angle for each of the edges. One part is fastened to the wall, with its edge facing upwards, whereas the other piece is placed on the back of the things you want to hang on the wall, with its edge facing down. There is no need to screw or nail your items to the wall when using a French cleat.
There is no need to use any glue or fasteners, either. You only need to slide its cleat onto the wall-mounted cleat to hang your items. Many people like having a French cleat in their homes to organize items of all kinds due to its simplicity and versatility.
MDF vs. Plywood: What’s the Difference?
Both MDF and plywood are made of wood, but they are different in strength and quality. MDF and plywood both contain glue. When comparing the two, you may notice that plywood is closest to standard lumber because it is made of skinny wood layers.
These thin layers are sandwiched using glue, heat, and pressure. Since each layer is laid 90 degrees on the layer below and above it, the grain patterns always face different directions. When the wood layers are arranged this way, the plywood becomes more robust and resistant to splits.
On the other hand, MDF does not act like plywood. MDF is made of fine wood fibers combined with a resin binder and wax, formed into panels using pressure and high temperature. MDF has no grain to it or any lumber running through it.
Unlike plywood, MDF feels cheap, like the cheap cabinets most of us may have probably bought before. However, just because MDF is a fiberboard does not mean it is not good or cannot be used for a French cleat.
Since MDF uses more delicate fibers, the material looks smoother than plywood. For aesthetic reasons, you might prefer MDF to plywood. It looks nice and holds your things the way they should be. MDF is cheaper than plywood, so if you are concerned about costs, you may want to look at MDF instead.
Cost
A ¾-inch (1.91-cm) MDF panel could cost you about $35, while a ½-inch (1.27-cm) thick sheet will cost less than that. There is also the ¼-inch (0.64-cm) sheet, also known as a backing board, which costs about $20 only. Plywood will cost you more, depending on the plywood type you choose. There are hundreds of different products with various grades for different uses.
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Some grades are better than others. You should check the interior and exterior of your plywood for the difference in surface quality. Some plywoods have better-looking surfaces than others, while others have different thicknesses.
You might be able to get plywood that costs similar to an MDF, like B/C grade plywood. This kind of plywood may not have both of its surfaces pretty, hence the low price. Better quality plywood may cost you around between $50 and $65 per sheet.
Strength and Durability
Both MDF and plywood are great for shelvings, built-ins, and cabinets, although their functions can go beyond those. Whether you choose MDF or plywood, you will want to cut them into small pieces to make what you need.
Suppose you’re going to build a French cleat to keep heavy-duty tools like a driller or a portable saw. In that case, you will want to use plywood instead, as it can handle heavy weights better than MDF does.
If you want to use MDF for your French cleat, though, you may want to give it proper vertical support to ensure that the center of your French cleat will not sag in time. Unlike MDF, plywood is more resistant to sagginess, so it will serve you longer than a French cleat made of MDF would. Plywood edges won’t dent or break easily.
Plywood typically does not look as good as MDF, but the treated one can resist fungal growth. On the other hand, untreated plywood will eventually delaminate, and the layers will break apart. It would be best not to use plywood outside.
- The face of the panel is made from real birch wood, the natural grain is visible on each and every panel, the hard-surfaced and sanded wood board will not easily stretch, flex or bend like traditional canvas
- Each pack of 4 panels are uniform in size, and have 1/8 thick smooth natural unique wood texture surface with sanded edges. Each art board has undergone strict quality inspection to confirm that there are no problems before shipped
- Structured and smooth unfinished cradle boards are suitable for creators of all levels who likes painting
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MDF does not do well outdoors, either, simply because it is not meant to be used outside. It will inevitably deteriorate, especially when it gets into contact with water as the wood behaves like a sponge. You can paint the MDF, but the paint will eventually come off, and when this happens, the MDF will be badly damaged.
After a while, the damaged MDF will turn into mush. Keep in mind that it is okay to use MDF if your French cleat will hang indoors. While some companies have produced MDF that is more resistant to moisture, it is still MDF, and it will spoil quicker than wood.
Aesthetic
Both MDF and plywood are beautiful on their own, and they look great when painted. However, MDF is not a stain-grade product — it does not have a wood surface. Plywood, on the contrary, has a stainable body because its top layer is actual wood.
Plywood looks great when varnished, and you can see the wood pattern clearly on the surface. There is no reason to paint the wood as that will only hide the wood’s natural beauty. Unless you want to color your French cleat to give it the “IKEA” look, you might want to stick with plywood.
- Deep Penetrating waterproofer
- Dual Action UV protection
- Mildew & Algae resistant coating
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Neither MDF nor plywood has good-looking edges. With MDF, you will see a grainy texture, while with plywood, you will see the layering sandwich. Since neither one of these materials have nice-looking edges, it may be necessary to cover the edges with some lamination.
Workability
When it comes to cutting MDF and plywood, both materials can cut well. The only difference is MDF tends to have a smoother-looking cut than plywood. Plywood edges also tend to have tear-outs, resulting in unattractive cuts.
MDF does not hold screws, as well as plywood. Your MDF might break when you drill screws into your French cleat bar. On the other hand, plywood will not break apart when deeply screwed, making it superior to MDF in this aspect.
Final Thoughts
Although you can use medium-density fiberboard (MDF) to build a French cleat, you may want to consider using plywood instead, as it is much stronger and more durable than MDF. Plywood is also more stable and more resistant to moisture than MDF. Plywood doesn’t feel cheap and looks beautiful even when not painted.
Due to how it is made, MDF doesn’t handle screws as well as plywood does. The last thing you want is your French cleat breaking apart months after it’s made. In the end, you want to work with a French cleat that can serve you longer.