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MDF or plywood?

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Peter Tremblay Offline
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#12
04-26-2018, 12:49 PM
Hello,

I am planing on making a few templates for the router table.

Would you recommend MDF or plywood for the most sturdy and durable template.

What thickness?
Peter

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SteveS Offline
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#13
04-26-2018, 01:12 PM
Depends on how many copies you intend on using it for. If it will be used extensively I'd go for 1/2" thick ply. MDF seems too soft for long term use.
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KC Offline
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#14
04-26-2018, 04:46 PM
(04-26-2018, 01:12 PM)SteveS Wrote: Depends on how many copies you intend on using it for. If it will be used extensively I'd go for 1/2" thick ply. MDF seems too soft for long term use.

I  probably used three leg templates for near 200 dining chairs over the years.  MDF is easier to shape, in my experience.
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Cecil Offline
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#15
04-26-2018, 09:15 PM
(04-26-2018, 01:12 PM)SteveS Wrote: Depends on how many copies you intend on using it for. If it will be used extensively I'd go for 1/2" thick ply. MDF seems too soft for long term use.

^^^This.  I use MDF, but I don't do production work.
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CLETUS Offline
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#16
04-26-2018, 01:24 PM
5mm luan works great for templates.
Mark

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Bill Wilson Offline
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#17
04-26-2018, 01:26 PM
I would likely choose plywood, simply because I hate cutting MDF.
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John Mihich Offline
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#18
04-26-2018, 05:23 PM
I tend to use 1/2 birch plywood.  They do hold up for years.  I have some that at 15 years old which I use a lot.  It's light, easy to cut, and fairly cheap.
John

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jteneyck Offline
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#19
04-26-2018, 05:36 PM
1/4" MDF.  Uniform "grain" and much easier to shape.   

John
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wood-chips Offline
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#20
04-26-2018, 07:51 PM
I've had good success with 1/4" tempered hardboard. Easy to shape and much more durable that MDF.
If you use plywood you have to deal with possible voids.
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Peter Tremblay Offline
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#21
04-26-2018, 09:28 PM
(04-26-2018, 07:51 PM)wood-chips Wrote: I've had good success with 1/4" tempered hardboard. Easy to shape and much more durable that MDF.
If you use plywood you have to deal with possible voids.

What's tempered hardboard?
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