Construction techniques using manufactured boards

Plywood - Working Techniques

Thin sheets require support when being sawn and a fine-toothed saw should be used. When sawing across outside plies, take care to avoid tearing of the under-ply: cutting with a marking knife or chisel is necessary if a clean cut is required. Planing of faces is difficult; sanding is preferable. Care is necessary when planing edges as some end grain must be planed. Solid core types need special care when planing the end grain of the core. For external use, plywood must be of the waterproof type, glued with better-quality veneer, and the face and edges must be sealed with paint or a clear finish to prevent checking, particularly at ends. Use the type of ply suitable for the job.

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Particle Board - Working Techniques

All hand and power woodworking tools can be used. Edge tools must be kept sharp. When sawing to size, support the sheet as it is liable to break near the end of the cut. Use a fine-toothed saw.

The board may be glued edge to edge to increase width or use offcuts. Butt, trench and rebated joints are most satisfactory types of construction joints. For drawer fronts and similar work, rebate and butt joints are preferable to dovetails. Apply adhesive to both faces: edges require two coats because of absorption (see Fig. 1). When using screws, bore the necessary shank and core holes for the full length of the screw. Screws with a full-length thread are recommended (for example, self-tapping, 'shakeproof type 17' or 'twin fast'). Do not keep turning the screw once it has taken the full pressure as it may tear away fibres, thus losing strength. Sheets should be stacked flat in a dry place. Veneered sheets should be stored with veneered face down and should be covered as a protection against reflected heat.

Figure 1. Examples of corner joints for particle board

Figure 2. Typical edge treatments for particle board

Hardboard (Masonite) - Working techniques

To stabilise moisture content, sheets should be wetted on the back and stacked flat 24 hours before use. Use a sharp, fine-toothed saw for cutting and support the sheet near the cut. Butted edges should be covered or V jointed. Carcase construction requires a frame or corner members.

MDF - Working Techniques

The working techniques for MDF are similar to those for particle board, with the exception that due to MDF's uniform texture, no edge treatment is needed. This allows such things as face routing to be done (for example on kitchen cupboard doors, which are then sprayed with a durable paint finish to give a spectacular effect).

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