Identification

• It is easy to tell medium density fiberboard from other woods. There will be no wood grain, and the edges will be smoother than the edges of a regular piece of wood. When cut, medium density fiberboard gives off fine sawdust, but will saw away with a much cleaner edge than planks of wood. Medium density fiberboard also does not give splinters, and does not have to be sanded.
  
  

History

• Medium density fiberboard first became mass produced in the 1980s. This was due to the capabilities of grinding, heating, and squeezing the wood pieces that had not been available in the past. There are several forms of resins that are used to make medium density fiberboard, which were not available before 1980. Since then, medium density fiberboard has become a popular building tool for contractors and do-it-yourselfers alike. Fiberboard is popular because it is lightweight, cuts well, is easy to finish, and performs greatly in curved projects.
  
  

Function

• The original function of medium density fiberboard was to make use of all the left over wood pieces remaining from other projects. People believed that if they could come up with a way to re-form the left over wood, then they would be able to save trees and the environment by not wasting any of the wood. This idea worked fairly well, as fiberboard has become a quite popular building material. However, the process of making the fiberboard is somewhat harmful to the environment due to the gases produced during the forming of the boards.
  
  

Benefits

• There are many great benefits to using medium density fiberboard. It saves trees from being needlessly cut down and it uses the extra bits of wood from other projects. It is easy to cover with veneers, because of the smooth texture of the wood. Painting fiberboard is a breeze as well, also because of its smooth surface. Another great benefit is the fact that medium density fiberboard is flexible, and provides an easy way to curve the wood. This is a great help for construction projects.
  
  

Warning

• Medium density fiberboard has its drawbacks as well. One of the largest drawbacks is the fact that when water is absorbed into the wood, it swells and breaks, causing it to become unusable. It also contains chemicals that are bad for the lungs and air. Screws used on the edge of fiber boards generally cause the wood to splinter and break.